Rocker cover removal.

[Kelv]

How the fook do you get the rocker cover off?

all bolts are removed, it lifts about half an inch but won't go any further.
even the camshaft a look free, and I'd say even the pulleys, they lift about half inch but its then as if it purely won't go any further.

no bolts are missed, everything around the area is free and clear.

i only wanted to lift the head off to see the state of the internals after its Monday failure, but an hour giving it abuse I had to call it quits and head home before frustration took over.

 

[Russ_16v]

You should really remove the pulleys, but it will come off if you get violent lol (I did that one of my scrap F4R's I have, just got a bit violent with it and the top comes off complete with cams and pulleys)

 

[Kelv]

Ah really, no way to hold the pulleys tight now as there is no cambelt anymore.

i know its optimistic, but peering in the inlet and exhaust ports the valves seem to look straight, and I half hope the head may have survived.
i know it probably hasn't, but I don't want to get too medievle with it and damage anything just incase a small glimpse of hope is there.

 

[jon_r]

Yeah, you needed to take the pulleys off first. Best bet is to try and lock them out using the old belt if you've not got the locking tool.

 

[Kelv]

Jon, do you know what size Allen key it requires for the inlet camshaft?

the exhaust camshaft appears to be an 18mm nut.

 

[MG cup]

Stupid design eh, if it wasn't for this you could easily re-seal the rocker cover without touching the timing.

iirc it's 16 or 18mm Kelv, do you not have a sump plug set?

Camshaft bolt and nut are 16mm or 18mm, Renaults favourite sizes although they use 8,10,11,12,13,16,18mm that I have came across, its most mixed bag of sizes I have seen on a car in a while tbh.

 

[Laine_16v]

14mm Hex for depahser bolt cover, and 18mm for the pulley bolts.

 

[Kelv]

Next one, and possibly a daft Q.

​is it atall possible to lift the engine out the top of the bay leaving the gearbox in situ?

 

[Laine_16v]

I guess you could do it, but it would be an utterly soul destroying experience.

 

[Bluebeard]

Yes. I've done it and i'm a moron.

 

[Kelv]

Subframe off and drop it all completely then I assume, as I'm guessing the box and engine won't come out the top complete?

 

[Dan@SJM]

It'll come out the top easily. Take the slam panel off and it practically falls out.

 

[Bluebeard]

Subframe off and drop it all completely then I assume, as I'm guessing the box and engine won't come out the top complete?

At the risk of repeating myself.
​

Yes. I've done it and i'm a moron.

 

[f0xy]

Entire assembly comes out through the top fine

 

[Kelv]

That's handy.
i was having trouble separating the drivers side driveshaft earlier so I assumed it may have been easier to leave the box in place.

i really thought it would be an easy task, took longer to remove the loom, Exh manifold and all pipework than I used to be able to get a Cossie engine out.
unless its just fatigue creeping in to my old bones these days

 

[Kelv]

Dan, I assumed you were calling yourself a moron as it was one nasty task to do, and you were calling yourself that for trying it.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Dan, I assume you were calling yourself a moron as it was one nasty task to do, and you wouldn't do it again

No he's just saying he's a moron.


x


Did you remove the manifold entirely? Or just undo it from the head?

 

[Bluebeard]

Dan, I assumed you were calling yourself a moron as it was one nasty task to do, and you were calling yourself that for trying it.

So you basically assumed i'm more intelligent than I actually am... lol is all I can say to that.

 

[Kelv]

Manifold is removed from head and dropped back so its sat against the bulkhead.
Its certainly clear from the engine.

just seems that there is only an inch if I'm lucky between the pulleys and chassis rail, I didn't think the engine would be able to move over to one side enough to lift out without the flywheel snagging on the box.

 

[Kelv]

Dan

 

[Dan@SJM]

Lift and twist

Lift it engine first and it'll come out with the gearbox following.

 

[Bluebeard]

We lifted it out engine first, gearbox last if that makes sense. Then when putting it back in, gearbox in first, engine last.

​(At angles, not seperately)

 

[Kelv]

I get what you mean, cheers both.

Dan SJM, how the heck do you seperate the drivers driveshaft from the ggearbox?
its out of the hub, its also go the centre support removed, but for the life of me I cannot get it out of the box.

 

[Dan@SJM]

It should just slide off. If not I use a drift and tap the inner cv joint between that and the centre bearing. Couple of gentle taps will see it free.

Have you remove the 3 bolts or the 2 bolts that hold the securing plate?

 

[Kelv]

As above, the centre support is removed mate, along with the plate within it that seperates.

 

[Dan@SJM]

I leave the support bolted to the block. Just undo the 2 bolts holding the plate.

 

[Laine_16v]

If you hoist the engine up even at an angle where it sits the crank pulley and gearbox will wedge on the chassis. you need to hoist a little and then drag the crane away from the car to pull the engine forward then continue to hoist and it comes out far easier.