Marshall
Member
Registered: 10th Nov 05
Location: Boston, Lincs Drives: 1.4 Sport & 2.2 astra
User status: Offline
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Bought this Astra a couple of weeks ago.
2001
Mk4 sri
2.2 16v
irmscher kit, alloys and exhaust
only 50,000 miles on the clock
Previous owners bought it for £2700 6 months ago, but sold it to me for £800 due to engine clatter/knock/ noise. After listening to it i thought it was just the chain, as these engines have history of tensioner and oil nozzle issues (especially the early ones like this). So with the price of both genuine chains, gaskets and a full service set costing me about 300 i thought i would buy it.
So strip it down and find the timing chain slack and the tensioner jammed in. I fitted a new balance shaft chain kit aswell, whilst i was in there. Struck it up and still had the same noise. 
Then proceeded to strip again and check my work over. I work for Renault, so this was the first chain i had ever done. I found that my new timing tensioner was not pushing out. i assumed this was down to me not releasing it. (It has a ratchet in the piston aswell as being hydraulic). In the end i fitted the tensioner released to ensure it was correct, but afterwards it i still had the same noise. I would later discover this was down to a lack of oil pressure.
Convinced the chain was correct i now started to look at other areas.
I carried out a compression test to check for any valve train issue.
cyl 1 150 psi
cyl 2 180 psi
cyl 3 180 psi
cyl 4 180 psi
Also cyl 1 spark plug was oily.
I now wanted to test for the noise with the load off No. 1. Since the z22se has a 1 peice coil pack, i had to fit a closed up spark plug to check this. the noise was very slightly reduced.
Due the knock sound of the noise, although transmitting to the top end, i decided to check the No. 1 big end for play. I took the sump off and felt the cap for slack. There was A LOT of movement.
Upon removal of the cap, it had spun the bearings and mullered the crank journal, con rod, and cap. This also explains the lack of oil pressure at my tensioner, as the oil would have been pissing out the crank, with the bearings overlapped.
Healthy journal on No.4
Wrecked journal on No.1. didn't bother measuring it, but has taken over a mm buy looking at it.
note the air gap between the cap and shell.
I was a bit gutted since the engine had only done 50k, but these things happen. Was going to price up a short engine, but with the oil on the plug, low compression, and amount of play that was in the big end, im fairly certain the piston has met the valves.
Im now look for a full engine. Will be looking a salvaged lumps, but think i can get a recon'd lump for similar price. I'll be in contact with Vege in the week, does anyone know of any other places to try?
[Edited on 11-10-2008 by Marshall]
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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How much did the chain etc cost?
Put an LET in it 
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Marshall
Member
Registered: 10th Nov 05
Location: Boston, Lincs Drives: 1.4 Sport & 2.2 astra
User status: Offline
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timing chain kit was 93.60
balance chain kit 103.50
thats trade from vauxhall, plus VAT.
Have considered a zlet, but would prefer to keep with the 2.2, so i can reuse my ancilaries and buy the bare minimum of parts. keep costs down.
was only meant to be a winter runabout.
[Edited on 11-10-2008 by Marshall]
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Marshall
Member
Registered: 10th Nov 05
Location: Boston, Lincs Drives: 1.4 Sport & 2.2 astra
User status: Offline
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Someone has just pointed out to me that the numbers in the reg. add up to 13.  
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