four20 Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 my '95 Roger King 1760cc X flow is still going well and is competitive in sprints and hillclimbs locally but recently i've noticed that on the way home after a fast trip up the motorway, when i stop at the first set of lights and the engine drops to tickover, the oil pressure drops to near zero and there's an ominous knocking from the engine. if i increase the revs a shade it goes away and the oil pressure lifts a little but not enough to be reassuring. (can't remember the psi off hand, sorry). engine oil level is correct and of the recommended variety from caterham and is only about 2000 miles old. is this a sign of something developing, like clapped out big ends or am i being paranoid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Drop the sump and have a look? Richy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger King Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Since it's eighteen years old, I'm assuming it's done a bit of work. Likely to be either worn oil pump or bearings, particularly since it knocks a bit. You really need to check it out before a bit of wear and tear turns into something major. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 appreciate that, thanks Roger - gives my suspicions a finite direction and something to do over the winter. by the way, don't suppose you have a typical torque curve for this particular state of tune have you. it would be interesting to see what develops where. thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger King Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Can you let me have the engine number or the name of the owner who had the engine done? I can't promise any info, but it will help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 22, 2013 Author Share Posted October 22, 2013 morning Roger, reg: N384RRY engine#: VR 01 10 259 date fitted: 23/11/01 owner then: Dave Gilbertson, Dorset am i right in thinking that you don't work on these beasties any more? if so, do you know anybody this side of london who does and how much i'm likely to need from my piggy bank! thanks in anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger King Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 That engine has a 244 camshaft and with the other work done I would expect peak torque somewhere between 4500rpm and 5000rpm. Obviously, I don't know what exhaust you're running on it these days so this is just an approximation. To be honest, it's ten years since I last built a Crossflow and I don't really know who can be recommended these days. I should ask around for opinions from others who've had work done recently. Cost will depend on what is needed, but if you're lucky you'll just need new shells and probably a new oil pump - is it still wet sump? But don't jump to the conclusion that this has to be bearings. That's a good way to miss something of importance. It might pay you to drop the sump and have a look first. That might save a lot of bother later. Edited by - Roger King on 22 Oct 2013 21:17:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger King Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Good news. I've just found the test sheet for the car. These are at the wheels figures, so less than flywheel figures. It is also the most pessimistic rolling road I ever used. There used to be another rolling road in the area where this would have shown well over 150bhp at the wheels! Although that would be exaggerating somewhat to say the least. RPM BHP LbFt 2000 29 73 2500 39 82 3000 54 94 3500 66 99 4000 76 100 4500 96 112 5000 108 113 5500 116 111 6000 121 106 6500 116 94 I should have added that although the BHP figures are as measured at the wheels, the torque figs aren't what you really see at the wheels at all since torque is affected by gearing (you get more torque at the wheels in 3rd gear than 4th for example). So the torque figs here are really what the engine would be producing at the flwheel if the BHP figs were also from the flywheel. Hope that's clear? In any event, the real torque and power figures at the flwheel will be higher than quoted here because significant power is absorbed by the transmission and the tyres. The main thing is that these figs shows the shape of the torque curve. Typically, an engine of this spec will give around 135 LbFt at the flywheel. Edited by - Roger King on 22 Oct 2013 22:53:30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon C Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 To be honest, it's ten years since I last built a Crossflow and I don't really know who can be recommended these days Not a cheap exercise but boy what a result....Rob Morley, Ratrace & a Beautiful xflow Edited by - Whoosh on 22 Oct 2013 21:40:20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 22, 2013 Author Share Posted October 22, 2013 thanks for all the work roger, it has pointed me in the right direction. yes, it still has a wet sump and given that it has spent the last 2 years thrashing round gurston, crystal palace and combe on trackdays and sprints i think the dry sump conversion would be wise and also adds weight to the big end theory. although i'm not particularly fast i managed to win my class last week by a combination of several flukes and some severe weather which has given me fresh impetus and i'm minded to do a complete refresh with gearbox oil change and anything else you can think of that might be thinking of wearing out. although i'm mechanically fairly competent i'd give this to someone definately competent and james whiting in ashford advertises in lowflying and is not far away. thanks again. tony booth. whoosh - thanks i'll check that one out too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Hi Tony, ISTR that you pedalled your x/flow pretty well at Crystal Palace last May and narrowly missed out on 3rd. Well done on your recent class win. See you at Crystal Palace next year..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 22, 2013 Author Share Posted October 22, 2013 thanks chris, i find the palace a frustrating place to drive and i've nodded off at night many times wondering how to get round that twiddly bit at the top. fortunately my nearest rival this last coupla years taught me about braking into corners. he did it so well that i beat him last time out which sums up the great atmosphere in the paddock and keeps me getting up at dark o'clock to get to the track. see you in may whoosh - that's mechanical porn, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 22, 2013 Area Representative Share Posted October 22, 2013 An endorsement from me for Rob Morley's work too. (Even if Potters Bar is not west of London) Edited by - Golf Juliet Tango on 22 Oct 2013 23:15:09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Green Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Quoting four20: fortunately my nearest rival this last coupla years taught me about braking into corners. he did it so well that i beat him last time out which sums up the great atmosphere in the paddock and keeps me getting up at dark o'clock to get to the track. Yeah, I won't be doing that again Or fluffing my gearchanges off the start line... (Driver excuse number...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 still think my win was a fluke nick,those syvlas should have wiped the floor with us - look forward to trying again next year though. and the tankard looks nice. Edited by - four20 on 23 Oct 2013 11:55:59 Edited by - four20 on 23 Oct 2013 11:56:44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Green Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 No, no fluke: Right run at the right time. Take 'em any way you can get 'em Edited by - Nick Green on 23 Oct 2013 14:14:15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 final update, i've decided to go for an upgrade to 2L zetec with james whiting and looking forward to another 40 horses and a wider torque curve. might get a bit closer to the Sylvas too. a full service from someone who knows what they're doing will set my mind at rest for next year too - this car is almost old enough to vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Green Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Well that's my excuse for next season already sorted then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 James used to maintain my Supersprint. Top man and genuinely nice bloke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 and he rides a Norton Atlas - double top man. trouble with the engine change is it puts me in a different class in sprints - against a 3L Noble for example. Edited by - four20 on 25 Oct 2013 19:03:51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Yeah, but you're be going a lot faster now 😬 Hope you enjoy your Zetec as much as I do mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 mmmmmm...speed. cheers chris, the bank balance has taken a mighty hit but the old engine should be minimally damaged so i'm hoping to check that out and sell it on if there's a market......anyone looking for a fast AX blocked crossflow, slightly foxed? Edited by - four20 on 25 Oct 2013 22:01:34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Tony, If you have no luck selling the engine as a 'working' unit it may be worth considering stripping down and selling the components separately. This is what I did after dropping a piston and snapping the camshaft! I managed £600 alone just for my 1800 AX block (which miraculously was undamaged). Basically I changed everything forward of the gearbox and raised just under £2k, which went a considerable way to repairing the dent in the bank balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four20 Posted October 26, 2013 Author Share Posted October 26, 2013 thanks for that chris, the new engine isn't far off what i paid for the car so any returns will be welcome. i think i've caught the big ends before any serious damage has been done though so the engine should be in fairly good nick. atb tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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