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Andicog

Member
So, I've owned my Tithonus for a few months now, it's constantly smoked when cold and seems to have a slight misfire, having had the injectors sorted and fitting new glow plugs my local diesel specialist diagnosed a worn and leaking pump so it went in to be done, they did the pump but found it still ran lumpy and asked if they could check bottom crank pulley, turns out that the pulley woodruff slot had wear and the cambelt was well past its best so they replaced the lot only to find it still ran lumpy, they ran a compression check and found low compression on number 1 cylinder, they took the head off suspecting head gasket troubles but found number 1 piston was 4 to 5 mm low at tdc, then the sump came off and they found this. . .

Looks like the previous owner forgot to tell me it's had a drink of water, So now it's had a new rod, rings on one cylinder and a hone, hopefully this has sorted it for now! Testament to the old lump that 2 weeks before I'd done 300 miles round Wales and done the Strata Florida.
 
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Yikes! That is major. Good job you got it running again.
I'm a believer in the 2.5NA, but due to the history of a hydrauliced engine, you should be swapping this out for a rebuilt one, and cutting your losses. It wouldn't be that expensive to put in a tdi, particularly from a wrecked Disco or something. I assume yours is RHD. At a minimum, this repair you've done should allow you time to rebuild another 2.5, and put that in; I don't know if I'd go that route though.

Your valves, pushrods, tappets, timing belt and pullys, camshaft, and bearings are all suspect after the engine was hydrauliced , it should be a temporary engine at this stage, rather than putting any new money into it.
 
Its almost an unstoppable engine, very stubborn. I stuck with my NA and rebuilt it as its very easy maintinence and all my diff's and gearboxes are very sound as it has such low stress running through it. Just gotta live in the slow lane when travelling further afield.
 
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Well the previous owner had just rebuilt the head and fitted new stem seals in an effort to reduce the smoke, he of course knew nothing of it being in water . . . He was the first owner from the MOD and ran it round for over a year, suppose the army could have done the damage before release. I was planning on a Mercedes 606 conversion but do like the plod along nature of the 2.5 n a so it will probably stay a while.
 
Where do you guys get the idea that the 2.5 NA is a slow plodder?
Mine will cruise at 85 all day, with a top speed in excess of 90!
She returns 30+ mpg unless I am really hoofing her, and she was well worth having a new galv chassis fitted!
Unfortunately she's off the road at the moment, waiting for my shattered wris an busted ankle to heal, so it may be another 5 months or so before we can be reunited!
 
Well I've driven a few ex army 90 and none of them got near 70 mph let alone 90mph , my 110 when sick would struggle to do 60, all of them struggled with long climbs as well. I don't mind it as it has a certain charm but it's no ball of fire.
 
Andicog said:
Well I've driven a few ex army 90 and none of them got near 70 mph let alone 90mph , my 110 when sick would struggle to do 60, all of them struggled with long climbs as well. I don't mind it as it has a certain charm but it's no ball of fire.
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The difference is that I tuned her, using a medical stethescope for the settings, and because I don't trust anyone else ... especially those with 'Tuning Manuals'!! :rolleyes:
The engine 'talks to me' and tells me exactly what is wrong, and where ;);)
 
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Well I've just been down the motorway, speedo showing 110 (kmh) as I came off the slip road and into normal traffic my engine spoke to me, it said " hammer me again like that and I'll make you deaf" . . . . . :)
 
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I am able to listen to either the radio or some music when she's going at full chat, and she doesn't have any soundproofing! :cool::cool:
Doozils do not have to be rattle buckets! :D:D:D
 
Do you need to turn the music down to hear the voice from the engine or do you keep your 'medical stethoscope' permanently in your ears just in case? Sorry, I'm delving into sarcasm now.
 
Bent two conrods on a 200di stripped / cut con rods to remove they where that bent. Been running great since rebuild over 18 months ago did a hone new rings shells two conrods ,lapped valves and re assembled.
 
It's amazing that they still run, rod on mine had to have one side ground off to remove it, so much smoother to drive now.
 
Andicog said:
Do you need to turn the music down to hear the voice from the engine or do you keep your 'medical stethoscope' permanently in your ears just in case? Sorry, I'm delving into sarcasm now.
Click to expand...
I hear my engine humming it's tune to me all the time without having to turn the radio down at all, and, in common with most people who use stethescopes, we don't have them superglued into our lugs! :D:D:D
 
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