I have recently diagnosed the above in my 2001 Azure Blue beauty
I intend to go the Honda route at some time in the future simply because I just can’t argue myself out of the reliability factor. I do really love the K (the sound at high revs does something for me and every passenger thats ever been in the car from old aunts to boy racer friends, and I think the question of originality is very important also ), but I enjoy touring with the odd track day thrown in and the thought of driving spiritedly through European mountain passes and not having that nagging question of is today the day for the Second big bang always wins out. Oh, and if the Edwards boys would honour me with one of their conversions they look soo damn cool!
Well, thats the “K” V “Honda” dabate out of the way for me at least.
My intention is to give myself a couple of years before the conversion (long term plan as I intend the Exige to be with me for a long time)
So the heads coming off and I know that she will need checking for hardness, warping and cracks.
RE hardness - what is the best way for checking this, sending it away to a specialist (if so to who would be best?) or buying a tool for this (in which case where?)
I’m aware that if the head is F**ked then the conversion factor comes back into play as I would want a new head which puts the equation back in the favour of the conversion sooner rather than later. That being a partial build + - �1000 v Con �9 - �10000.(I do have a v.good mechanic friend that can do the HGF for mates rates you see).
Regarding other improvements that can be made at this time, reliability being the issue rather than performance, she’s still fast enough in 190 guise to scare the Bejasus out of me anyway
What would our experts suggest?
Thank you all for your time in reading this monologue and thank you all (from an addicted Lurker (Mr Peske’s phrase, Hi Rob)for your always enjoyable and informative postings.
Thanks guys.
Hope you are both well, that goes for Martin, Steve and anyone else I’ve had the good fortune to bump into from the forum.
Vicky sends you her best wishes also.
Always around just don’t always get time to post.
RE IDG
Have searched long and hard but there doesn’t seem to be anything definitive especially regarding a hardness test but will keep looking.
Thought about contacting Dave Andrews but searched the net and once again can’t find his number. Also I would imagine he’s very busy and I didn’t want to appear too cheeky.
Other than the head test it seems the most important part will be the head gasket itself. I’ve seen a motorsport one from Eliseparts but I don’t know if this would be the best to use or if there’s a better one.
Also, there’s talk of an “oil rail” but I’m not sure what this is and if it’s applicable. Sorry bit of a numpty with the technical stuff
Wiil change the head bolts, tappets and all other head gubbins, new cambelt, remote thermo, and anything that looks like it could do with refreshing.
As I said looking to get a couple more years from the old girl so don’t want to go too crazy and don’t want to rebuild to sell because I would like to keep the original engine.
Out of interest does anyone know the whereabouts of No 1,2 and 3 as I have number 4 and wonder if you think this would make her more desirable in the long term. Not interested purely from the financail aspect but do you think I’m wrong in thinking that it makes her even more special to me.
The head hardness is somthing that seems to be a newer way of checking, however the main item to check still is the liner heights. This coupled with a decent head gasket (speak to DVA) should be enough to see the car okay. Does it have Air-con, if not get a remote thermostat housing on there, that will help the future longevity.
It is probably worth having the head rebuilt assuming it’s okay, I had this done on mine when the K was still in there and it made a big improvement as all the exhaust valves were cracked. They aren’t that expensive.
![http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/adaptation/pics/PennyFarthing.jpg[/image]](http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/adaptation/pics/PennyFarthing.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}