The time has finally come...

[outdoordan]

Hi everyone.

This is the BJ73 in the snow, with the new wheels and tyres fitted... bit of a rubbish photo but hey...

20180318_095656 by Dan, on Flickr

this is the increasingly unstable, abused and unreliable engine that's in it...

20180313_151429 by Dan, on Flickr

... and this is what's being fitted in two weeks time when it gets back from George in Chesterfield...

20180225_164611 by Dan, on Flickr

I'll be documenting it on here. The plan is to have it fitted and test driven by the 1th April for a trip to Scotlnd on the 20th.

Wish me luck.

OD

 

[Chris]

George in Chesterfield? Do I know him? What's he do?

 

[Rodger]

George is the VM diesel specialist and a very helpful guy.

 

[outdoordan]

So... it's done. I'll post a thread with all the pics and info soon. It has been a nightmare. If it runs without any issues it will be a miracle. I am starting to fall out of love with the VM.

 

[doyle61]

Looking forward to the update lad. Fingers crossed it works out for you

 

[outdoordan]

Thanks Doyle.

I've just opened a bottle of wine and I have to post a letter for the missus and the pub is only 20 yards from the post box. This tells you all you need to know about how things worked out.

Plumbed in the last of the hoses this morning. Did fluids. Tried to start. Dead. No diesel at injectors. Spent an hour trying to bleed the pump... new cut off solenoid fitted so i knew it wasnt that. Gave up. Bit the bullet. Fitted a spare one I knew was working.

Finished about six. Ran it up for twenty minutes... sounds lovely... as quiet as Ive ever heard a VM run.

However. It's blowing smoke out of the crank breather like mad. Shut it down. Let it cool a bit. Re torqued the head bolts which involves taking out the injectors. Re tightened injectors. couldnt get to required torque on a couple... didnt have the guts to keep going cos I know the stud will just rip out.

Started it up again. Ignore the smoke. Sounds sweet. Hang on... its chuffing out of n0.2 injector. Nipped it up as it was running and BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG... Injector blows out. Stud snapped.

Shortly afterwards I opened the wine.

We were supposed to be going to scotland in it on Friday. Now we're going in the missus Polo.

Can we start a VM powered owners sub forum for the poor unfortunates who own one of these b@st@rd things.

Right.

Letter box calls.

OD

 

[clivehorridge]

Bummer

What more to say? Maybe open another bottle.

Bad news indeed, commiserations...

 

[outdoordan]

Finished this morning. Test drove. Went without a hitch... apart from a loose connection at battery. Runs beautifully, no smoke.

Yesterday when I ran it up for the initial 20 mins before re-torquing head bolts it was belching smoke from crank case. I feared the worst. Spent an hour on the phone with Iwan discussing it (and junk food)... (thanks Bud).

Read up about it last night/this morning. Best explanation is new rings not sealing to cylinder wall properly... lots of reading about how to best run in new rings. Took it out this morning. Drove according to best method I could find.

On return home blowby much reduced. Expecting it to improve further.

Pics of the whole project below. I'll post a 'how to" guide when I get round to it. So behind with work it could be months.

Anyway. Thanks for all the support and advice.

Before:

20180313_151429 by Dan
After:

73_20 by Dan

=========================================================

73_1 by Dan, on Flickr

73_3 by Dan, on Flickr

73_4 by Dan, on Flickr

73_5 by Dan, on Flickr

73_6 by Dan, on Flickr

73_8 by Dan, on Flickr

73_9 by Dan, on Flickr

73_10 by Dan, on Flickr

73_12 by Dan, on Flickr

73_14 by Dan, on Flickr

73_18 by Dan, on Flickr

73_19 by Dan, on Flickr

73_20 by Dan, on Flickr

 

[clivehorridge]

Well, theres logic to the explanation and if there’s a marked improvement already, then only time will tell.

Best of luck with the self-heal, run it in with varying engine speeds AFAIK and I’ve got my fingers crossed.....

 

[outdoordan]

Thanks Clive