Rover 216 SLI R8- Distributor / head gasket problem - MG-Rover.org Forums

stevlee · 25-06-2007, 11:55

Hi all, just in middle of taking the engine head off to replace the head gasket (chocolate milkshake in oil) on the Honda engined Rover 216 R8. When taking the distributor off from the 3 screws bolted to the engine. Noticed the connecting metal to the engine bay is a bit wobbly. I can move the metal plate at least 2 to 3mm each way. With a knife poking at the gap, I can see that it is still connected in the middle. Is this normal???
Will it affect compression on the engine once I have fixed the head gasket + thermostat + water pump? thanks

donnyvfr · 25-06-2007, 12:11

and i hope cam belt also

stevlee · 25-06-2007, 13:40

cambelt only changed 1 year ago ~ 6000 miles ago. Belt condition still looks good when I took it off on the weekend. I am just more concerned if the engine is worth fixing with the problem I found ? thanks

empsburna · 25-06-2007, 13:41

Sorry, don't understand what the problem is?

stevlee · 25-06-2007, 14:06

Problem is: The part of the engine bay metal which the distributor is screwed into is not secure. After taking the distributor off to fix the head gasket I find that I can bend the metal bit 2 to 3 mm each side.

a) Is this movement normal for this engine? as I have not replaced the distributor on this engine before

donnyvfr · 25-06-2007, 15:06

any chance of a picture?

stevlee · 26-06-2007, 17:15

Here are the photos showing the crack.. bear with me this is my first image post here.. hope it works... You can see from the photo there is a distinct crack line across the engine frame where the distributor is screwed into... I can wiggle the metal frame at least 2-3mm each way. I want to know people opinion if this is normal ?? Should I still continue to fix the head gasket, will this crack cause loss of compression ?? or I should scrap this lovely R8...

shufti · 26-06-2007, 21:17

It's not a crack. The top of the head has a machined face where the cam cover sits. The bottom part of the dizzy housing is in line with this face hence the 'crack'. The top part of the housing is a cap which bolts down onto the bottom part.
This joint has nothing to do with compression what so ever.

As for the play in the cap I'm not sure as I haven't had to remove one but why did you take the bolts out of the cap?

stevlee · 28-06-2007, 10:27

Thanks for the reply. I had to take it off to remove the head cover. Good news so far so I can continue the head gasket R8 project this weekend.

25-06-2007, 11:55	#1
stevlee Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 21	Rover 216 SLI R8- Distributor / head gasket problem Hi all, just in middle of taking the engine head off to replace the head gasket (chocolate milkshake in oil) on the Honda engined Rover 216 R8. When taking the distributor off from the 3 screws bolted to the engine. Noticed the connecting metal to the engine bay is a bit wobbly. I can move the metal plate at least 2 to 3mm each way. With a knife poking at the gap, I can see that it is still connected in the middle. Is this normal??? Will it affect compression on the engine once I have fixed the head gasket + thermostat + water pump? thanks

25-06-2007, 12:11	#2
donnyvfr Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 150	cambelt and i hope cam belt also

25-06-2007, 13:40	#3
stevlee Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 21	cambelt cambelt only changed 1 year ago ~ 6000 miles ago. Belt condition still looks good when I took it off on the weekend. I am just more concerned if the engine is worth fixing with the problem I found ? thanks

25-06-2007, 15:06	#6
donnyvfr Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 150	picture any chance of a picture?

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25-06-2007, 13:41	#4
empsburna Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Car: Other Manufacturer Posts: 34,945	Sorry, don't understand what the problem is?

25-06-2007, 14:06	#5
stevlee Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 21	Problem is: The part of the engine bay metal which the distributor is screwed into is not secure. After taking the distributor off to fix the head gasket I find that I can bend the metal bit 2 to 3 mm each side. a) Is this movement normal for this engine? as I have not replaced the distributor on this engine before

26-06-2007, 17:15	#7
stevlee Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 21	Here are the photos showing the crack.. bear with me this is my first image post here.. hope it works... You can see from the photo there is a distinct crack line across the engine frame where the distributor is screwed into... I can wiggle the metal frame at least 2-3mm each way. I want to know people opinion if this is normal ?? Should I still continue to fix the head gasket, will this crack cause loss of compression ?? or I should scrap this lovely R8...

26-06-2007, 21:17	#8
shufti Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Car: MG ZS 180 Mk2 Ignition Blue hatch Posts: 317	It's not a crack. The top of the head has a machined face where the cam cover sits. The bottom part of the dizzy housing is in line with this face hence the 'crack'. The top part of the housing is a cap which bolts down onto the bottom part. This joint has nothing to do with compression what so ever. As for the play in the cap I'm not sure as I haven't had to remove one but why did you take the bolts out of the cap?

28-06-2007, 10:27	#9
stevlee Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Car: Rover 200 (-95) Posts: 21	Thanks for the reply. I had to take it off to remove the head cover. Good news so far so I can continue the head gasket R8 project this weekend.

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