Update time.

I bought a compression tester, which read precisely zero on all cylinders. As the engine ran and the car was perfectly drivable, it was a fair deduction that the gauge was faulty. I returned it to the supplier, who emailed back saying essentially 'yes it's faulty isn't it' - gosh it's good to know I'm not going mad sometimes. Replacement on its way, but not here yet.

Fast forward to today - Mac came round with his working compression tester, which read a consistent 160psi on all 4 cylinders. Hurrah, a solid head and head gasket. We took the rocker cover off anyway and inspected the tappets. All were perfectly correct, in fact a fraction too tight, and the rocker assembly was in beautiful condition:


What this playing around did reveal was the source of the problem - the gasket between the exhaust manifold and the downpipe had failed, and there was a pretty major exhaust leak coming from the join. This explains the diesel puttering, the hesitation and lack of power. Now I just need to find a gasket, and figure out how best to replace it, but at least it's a pretty innocuous problem compared to the potential of OMGHGF. Mac also suspected the manifold gasket itself might also be leaky, but I'll replace the downpipe gasket first and see what difference that makes.

I do like finding out what is causing a problem, even if it hasn't quite been solved yet!

Been there with the exhaust manifold to downpipe gasket in the recent past. Did I not do a write-up on it yet?

Be prepared to whip the manifolds off. Undoing the nuts that hold the downpipe to the manifold may be your undoing. Am I right in thinking BHX has the forward facing manifold/downpipe flange and the downpipe loops back on itself? Dead easy to deal with if the car is LHD, pain in the hole on RHD.

Victor Reinz is the gasket daddy btw.

Yes, it's the forward facing downpipe. I've found what I think is the correct gasket on Victor Reinz, it certainly looks like the one in the parts manual: http://outcat-cs.tecdoc.net/ows/en/AF55 ... ramesetJsp

However, I can't figure out how on earth to order one - do you know where supplies them? GSF stock the brand but don't have that part, and nothing on eBay.

That link is no use as it's a session thing and that session is no longer valid!

Danny at Dafhobby stocks the correct gasket (although he has it labelled for a 1.3 343) - the Volvo part number he gives is correct (3104301).

Mac.

I have the correct gasket here.

Good to read it's not OMGHGF! Sounds like a relatively painless fix, I'd still change that coolant though

Thanks Rich, but I'm happy to get it from Dafhobby - keep it in case you need it!

Have all the motor factors in Cambridge closed down?

I find the phone works wonders compared to this new-fangled interweb thingy.

STOP
being a grump.
Mac.

I tried several motor factors in Cambridge for a new exhaust for my '77. 'Got nuffink mate' was the overwhelming response. So I think they may blow a gasket if I ask for an exhaust gasket, which is surely more specialised than the exhaust itself.

Sion, a bendy bit of pipe that takes up loads of stock room isn't going to be kept for a 20 year-old car, let alone a 37 year-old one.

That gasket is an oddity. The Reinz headset for the B14.3E, B14.4S (that's their catalogue designation, not based in reality such as aftermarket catalogues being about as reliable as fat bloke down the pub.) has the old stylee downpipe to manifold gasket in it. Granted, it took a local supplier to me three days to get a Reinz set here as it takes a while for the supplies raft to float over.

Yes the initial problem at the factors is "Reg no. please?". I just roll with that now. "What engine is it for?". To which I say "B14.0E, but it's not in your catalogue", "tell you what, let's stop bollocksing around and just get me in a couple of Victor Reinz 71-22426-10"

Right-to Mac. Grump? Moi?

Oui - vous

Mac.

Vielen dank.

behöver inte tacka mig - du är fortfarande en grump!



Mac.