struggling for power

Thank you all for the replies,

don't get me wrong, i have the tedency to respect machines, cars and their running gear included, more so now that my P6 is unknown quantity to me. This happened before when i first got my Austin 1100, but it did not prevent me from making full use (and a little more!) of what little performance it had, soon after.
This was 12 years before when i was younger and the zippy 1100 felt more like a toy. Now the Rover is a whole world apart and perhaps the familiarisation period will be longer but after this i intend to use the car for what it was built, cruising in the fast lane included!
 
I'm just about to start work on my 2200sc auto. just before i laid the car up i noticed various engine problems, although i would go if you put your foot down!

What do you all make of these compression readings?

1=140psi 2=160psi 3=50psi 4=150psi

the reading on cylinder 3 was the same on wet and dry test. i'm going to take the head off next week to have a look. is it likely to be a piston problem as well with such a low reading?

my plan is to take the head to northern reborers in newcastle and have them look at it. as a keen novice mechanic am i likely to be able to replace and set the valves myself?

are the valve clearances set with the head on or off the car?? ???
 
You could have; a broken piston ring or rings,a cracked piston,a split in the bore, a cracked head,a blown head gasket,a cracked valve,a recessed valve,or is sticking open a bit ??? ???
you should check the valve clearances on 3 before you remove the head! if theres no gap,its probably a worn, recessed valve seat! you can try a re shim with head on!! but if it works,it will only prolong the inevitable seat replacement
have lots of fun finding out :p
 
There's obviously something fairly seriously wrong with no3 cylinder, Pilkie has suggested pretty much all the posibilities and as he says check the things that don't require head removal first, but I suspect the head is going to have to come off.

As for perfomance and sustained high rpm running etc, all I can say is that I thrashed my 2.2TC to within an inch of its life, going well past the red line several times a day (used as my daily driver for 2 years), especially at one point when I had the timing gear bolted in and was doing 0-60 runs ! (10.5 seconds was my best)

It never really complained other than the points needing to be adjusted regularly !
The gearbox was already very noisy when I bought it and I expected it to fail at any time, but it never did, in 12 years of ownership.

I also managed a run up the A1 at an indicated 115 mph (whatever that is in real terms) and it was quite happy, but very noisy ! (and windy)
 
webmaster said:
I also managed a run up the A1 at an indicated 115 mph (whatever that is in real terms) and it was quite happy, but very noisy ! (and windy)
Click to expand...
ITS REALLY ONLY 70mph OFFICER!!! HONEST!! :p
 
ok. i'll start by checking the clearance on 3 cylinder. it very obviously hunts when idling but is still good for 80 - 90 mph. no massive noises. a slight tinkling which i suspect is timing chain, again only at idling, disappears when revved. i'll pick your brains soon again i'm sure!
 
webmaster said:
As for perfomance and sustained high rpm running etc, all I can say is that I thrashed my 2.2TC to within an inch of its life, going well past the red line several times a day (used as my daily driver for 2 years), especially at one point when I had the timing gear bolted in and was doing 0-60 runs ! (10.5 seconds was my best)

It never really complained other than the points needing to be adjusted regularly !
The gearbox was already very noisy when I bought it and I expected it to fail at any time, but it never did, in 12 years of ownership.

I also managed a run up the A1 at an indicated 115 mph (whatever that is in real terms) and it was quite happy, but very noisy ! (and windy)
Click to expand...
Thanks Richard,

that is really encouraging, i was gentle with it until now, after all it was sleeping for 4 years!

The next time i am taking it out (now i am doing the carpets) i will be more brave! The new sound insulation will probably keep me from thinking that it tries too hard.

Good news about the gearbox too, as mine is also noisy. But i guess i will eventually take it out to fix it. I can't stand driving around knowing that something is wrong with it...
 
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