A-series basic assessment

Head off

Remove rocker cover, shaft and rockers along with pushrods. Number rods. Remove nuts (sometimes studs release first). Tap head with a mallet to break it free from gasket. Lift head off and set aside.

Assess the water jacket

Remove the water pump pulley to access the pump housing. Careful extract the bolts to release the housing. They are prone to seizing in the block. Check water jacket for furring and silt. If the water jacket is very rough remove the core plugs to clean it all out using a descaler. Only do this once the head is back on if you are not stripping the engine fully.

Clean it

Plug apertures to stop water ingress. Use a degreaser and jet wash with caution. Start by scraping the worst of the filth off with a knife. Once clean, remove ancillaries and break from box.

Assess the bores

Turn engine – feel for tightness. Look in bores for scoring. Feel cylinder walls at the top for ‘lip’ which signifies wear. Check for cracking or corrosion on the block face. Rock pistons to feel for slop. Fill bores with penetrating fluid and leave overnight. It should drain through evenly.

Assess the head

Clean head surface thoroughly and then put a straight edge on it to check for warping. Check visually for cracks or damage. Check push rod ends for wear. Check valves for recession (have they sunk into their seat?). Remove valves, check seats for pitting and damage. If required lap the valves back in (reuse the valves in original seats). If not refit. If required removed bypass hose union and fit new item (pictured). Consider having unleaded seats fitted if the valves have recessed.