Tonight's Three Newbie Questions!

[jonnyconcrete]

Question 1. Are the head exhaust gaskets exclusively Lotus, or is there a Halfords alternative, I need one in a hurry?

Question 2. Electronic ignition on the way...how can I set TDC on number 1 with both valves closed, without taking off the cam box cover (not sure I want to risk the gasket)?

Question 3. Which end is number 1?

[dusty]

Question 1. Are the head exhaust gaskets exclusively Lotus, or is there a Halfords alternative, I need one in a hurry?

Question 2. Electronic ignition on the way...how can I set TDC on number 1 with both valves closed, without taking off the cam box cover (not sure I want to risk the gasket)?

Question 3. Which end is number 1?

1. Halfords won't have them, could probably get gasket paper from a motor factors. But if a job's worth doing......

2.remove the spark plug and put your thumb over the hole, TDC on number one (At the front) is the compression stroke so you should feel pressure in the cylinder.

3. answered above..

Cheers
Jon

[types26/36]

[quote="jonnyconcrete"]Question 1. Are the head exhaust gaskets exclusively Lotus,
quote]

You can use VW Beetle (air cooled) exhaust gaskets with slight modification

[paddy]

how can I set TDC on number 1 with both valves closed, without taking off the cam box cover?

Even easier is remove the oil filler cap. You can see the exhaust cam for the #4 cylinder (ie the one nearest the windscreen). When #1 is at TDC on compression, #4 will have the exhaust just closing and inlet just opening - so the cam will be pointing down towards the valve instead of up.

Paddy

[Robbie693]

Similar to Paddy, Miles Wilkins suggests that when at TDC the cam lobes on no. 4 should be pointing toward one another when on the end of the compression stroke.

Robbie

[CBUEB1771]

how can I set TDC on number 1 with both valves closed, without taking off the cam box cover

You can also remove the oil filler cap and observe the position of the exhaust cam lobe on #4. With #1 at TDC at the end of the compression stroke #4 will be at TDC at the end of the exhaust stroke and so the #4 exhaust valve will still be open on the overlap.

[jonnyconcrete]

Thanks guys, I have a new one...loosen the plugs until they are on maybe 1 thread...and as the pistons move, you can here the compression strokes in turn as they move through the block!