Update on the mishap with the timing belt and loose bolt......
The small bolt that came out and rode around the crank sprocket is actually one of 3 that holds the back top half of the plastic timing belt cover to the motor.
Damages .... the timing belt jumped several teeth on the cam sprockets so bent all the valves with no compression in any cylinder.
Anyway, with the kind assistance of another local Morgan owner we removed the head and dismantled the cams. Sourced a new timing belt here in Oz and new set of valves and complete head gasket kit from FW Thorntons in UK.
A local engine rebuilder set the new valves in last week and yesterday finally got it all back together. Started first up, so let it run at a fast idle to warm up a bit then a drive for about a mile and a half and all seems to be going well. Coming back to home, just about to put it back in the shed and the engine just died ???
Tried to restart, it gave a couple of half hearted coughs then just winds over with no attempt at firing.
Any suggestions ?
I have checked the timing belt hasn't moved, removed one of the spark plugs and appears to be spark (from what I can see at a distance in daylight!!), compression OK in the cylinder I tried, fuel pump is clicking away like it normally does when ignition turned on and I could smell fuel when the spark plug was out, checked all the wires I'd undone have been plugged back in, checked fuses. (We didn't remove any of the attachments on the inlet manifold when dismantling as we were able to undo the manifold bolts and pull it to the side enough to get the head out.}
Thinking maybe a sensor of some sort could be the culprit?
Not sure how to go about tracking it down if it's electronic?
Col.
ps: Have used Loctite on the threads of the bolts holding the timing belt plastic cover housing in place so hopefully won't happen again!! I'd recommend anyone with a M16 Rover motor to take the front timing belt housing cover off and just double check those bolts in the back cover to make sure none are coming loose - -- a costly exercise otherwise ...
