Land Rover Series 3 Restoration - What’s that Knocking Noise? - Part 83

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Hey! I think you should find another little pin. The pin holds the rocker shaft in orientation, and it probably won’t go anywhere if one is missing… But I think that the pin goes through the wall of the rocker shaft, into the hollow centre which carries oil to the rockers. If that’s the case it’s probably leaving a big hole which will be robbing oil pressure from the rocker shaft. I can’t 100% remember if this is how the pin interacts with the shaft, but it’s worth checking because you want the oil to be forced through the rocker bearings and out of the hole in the top of each rocker, not a big easy hole in the middle. Hope I’m not wasting your time if I’m wrong about this - it’s been a couple of years since I had my rocker shaft apart. Great to see the Landy again! Hope you’re doing well.

[@My911]

Hi Geoffrey, thanks for that. I am looking for a pin but need to pull my finger out and actually get one. It’s mad how work takes over… all well over here thanks. Hope you are well too. Great to see your videos again. Very helpful indeed. Speak soon.

[@kev050177]

Feel your pain mate, flipping things! Hope you get it sorted!

[@My911]

Thanks Kevin. I will. 👍

[@agee8322]

I have just had same happen - 3+4 are down. I thought initially that it was REALLY bad detonation so tried all the ignition fix's, no change. Ran it with rocker cover off, all valves operating. Has to be head gasket. S3 3MB 2.25 petrol.

[@My911]

Let me know how you get on. My gasket is on order. I am going for composite this time. Used copper before.

[@agee8322]

@@My911 it seems to be the copper gasket is the culprit in most cases. I wont be doing the job as the remainder of the engine might well be in need of a complete top and bottom end overhaul. If that is the case, l might well opt for a diesel option.

[@upscaleshack]

Timing for the 8:1 ("high" compression version) should be anywhere from 3-6 degrees BTDC. With two adjacent cylinders low on compression I would suspect a head gasket. Any sign of water in the oil or oil in the water? Any sign of bubbling compression into the coolant while it's running?

[@My911]

Hi Matt, since it happened I haven’t been able to get it to start. But I will check the coolant and oil. Thanks.

[@chrisgreenwood271]

Does the manual ask for wide open throttle when doing a compression test. Difficult to tell from the noise, nearest thing I had on mine like that under acceleration was a very stretched timing chain, would flap around under load, when we changed it it had that much slack it had worn away some of the timing cover.

[@My911]

Thanks Chris, I will check. I replaced the timing chain components during the rebuild but used blue box parts. The top cog didn’t have the extra hole for the locking tab retainer (if you know what I mean) so i wasn’t very happy with the parts. Probably should have just left the old stuff in there. When I removed the timing cover for the first time, the chain guides was just flapping and the small bolt was just laying in there.

[@kevinreeves6875]

Sorry boet head gasket. Mine went without warning a week ago and it sounded the same as yours ,limped home and measured temp on the exhaust manifold and 3 and 4 were about 50 dag cooler on idle. Took head off over weekend and it had blown between 3 and 4. Also no water in oil or oil in water. I did a top end overhaul last year and used a copper gasket. Big mistake I should have used a composite one. Fitted new composite one torqued down in 2 stages and now running like sewing machine again. Will try and put some prices. Hint if u have a crane it takes about 1 hr to lift head with manifold off

[@My911]

Hi Kevin thanks for that. I used tue copper gasket too! I have an engine hoist. 👍

[@MrSamowen1992]

Hi There - I have a similar issue it’s a Series 1. Did you figure out what the problem was?

[@My911]

Hi, thanks for your message. I did. It was a blown head gasket between cylinders 1/2 and 3/4. I repaired the issue over a few videos, this is the first of them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nonEqYqol96Baq8si=ph2bZEXymrcaeSes Good luck with yours. When you do the job, don’t forget to re-space the tappets, set the timing and then lastly the carb. All needs doing after a new head gasket. Regards Joël

[@maximglendower]

I would lay my money on head gasket blown between 1 and 2. Also in your video you said low compression when you were looking at the timing, at 8:1 that’s the high compression version.

[@My911]

Hi, Ok, thanks. Yes, I meant to say High compression. 😅 Looks like the Head will have to come off.

[@ACHowes]

I suspect that your head gasket has blown between cylinders 1&2. I think your ignition timing would be ok as your Landrover was running fine before the issue. My money is on the head gasket. Kind regards, Adam.

[@My911]

Thanks Adam, seems to be pointing that way. Oh dear. The question is why it may have blown with so little miles.

[@fireball9709]

I had the same thing happen to mine and it turned out to be timing and point gap. fixed that and problem gone.

[@My911]

Thanks, I will endeavour to reset the timing first. Before I pull the head that is.

[@fireball9709]

@@My911 don't forget the gap mine was a bit wide and caused it to miss at higher rpm, which caused the knocking.

[@graemelliott3942]

I’d redo the compression with the throttle open all the way.

[@My911]

Ok, thanks Gream, will do.

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

I assume you meant to say firing BEFORE TDC?? Not after??? That is a very rattly tappy noise... That does not inspire confidence..... Good luck Sir. The compression test, I sort of like to redo those if they are low, after I shoot motor oil in the cylinder.... that might not be "according to Hoyle", but... If compression comes up, then maybe the rings were dry, or maybe there is a ring problem.... If compression does NOT come up, then you're thinking valves, headgasket, stuff like that.... That is just me speculating out loud. I feel like, if it were me, I would get it to a Tech one way or another, and get them to listen to it..... We could speculate all day... Before you drive yourself nuts, or start disassembling the whole engine, get it looked at.... I'm not sure how a car wash would cause that.... but I hate those coincidences....

[@My911]

Hi Patrick, nice to hear from you. Yes, I did mean before TDC. I tried the oil trick and no improvement. But I only put in little bit of oil. It hasn’t started since it happened so getting it to a shop is not happening right now. 😕

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

It’s the sound of a wee bit of 911 jealousy from the Landy. Why should *she* get all the attention. Humph. Clack clack clack.

[@My911]

😅😅😅😅

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

@@My911 Sounds like detonation. Maybe timing slipped, caused det and that blew a head gasket? You’re on the right track I would say. Test the coolant for exhaust. Pressure test the cooling system. Borescope the bores. Compression test should be WOT. With the rad cap off, you should see cylinder gas bubbling in the water. Crank it with a timing light to check the timing. It doesn’t need to run.

[@My911]

Ok, thanks. I have a tester kit for exhaust gases in the coolant.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

@@My911 Good luck!

[@My911]

Thanks

[@Steve-bo6ht]

Have listened to your noise and sounds very similar to a problem I had a couple of years ago on my 2.25 petrol series 3, I opted to removing the head as I was changing the head gasket due to the dreaded mayonnaise under the rocker cover. I tracked the noise down to a worn camshaft lobe and tappet roller bearing. It's a possibility if you have time to grab the head off take out the push rod tappets and shine a bright light down into the block and turn the cam over by hand to check for lobe wear and that your pushrods are straight. If this is not the case and you find the engine satisfactory it could be the brass spigot bearing that is situated in the middle of the flywheel I had this worn on another series 3 and it sounded like it was coming from the engine bay but after a long inspection I eventually got underneath the vehicle with a long screwdriver to my ear and found the sound emanating from the gearbox bellhousing.

[@My911]

Hi Steve thanks for this helpful tip. I have since diagnosed it as a blown head gasket but use that screwdriver trick a lot. I also use a hose for the same thing which also works very well. 👍