Citroen XM Forum

That's what I like to hear!

Well, there is no one in the Cheltenham area that does cylinder head skimming. There is one place in Stroud, who, I have just found out, don't have a brilliant reputation. They actually managed to writeoff someone's engine.... But I have found a good company in Bromsgrove who I know have experience in 2.1 heads. So that's next weeks job. Bit busy for the next few days annoyingly.
However I have cleaned up the valves now. They all look okay ....I think.

That sounds like progress in the right direction Russ and well done for your perseverance! With regards, Matthew T.

I just hope this project works out Matthew!

Would someone mind casting a critical eye over my valves. I know this is hard to do via photos, but a general idea would help tremendously. As far as I can see the valve seats don't look pitted, but I haven't lapped them yet of course.

They have normal minor pitting. Lapping with course then fine paste will sort that.

Don't forget to really clean out the grinding paste after. Engines aren't designed to run with abraasive paste circulating in them.

An easy method of keeping them in order is to push the stems through a flap of a cardboard box.

Don't worry Will they are being kept in a marked up stiff piece of cardboard all in order. Im being extremely careful about that.

Thanks for tips. Hopefully they can continue doing a good job!

Head has now been pressure tested and skimmed. Dropped it off yesterday and picked it up today. I had to go to MJA Engineering in Bromsgrove. We have no head skimming place in our local area after the only place, closed last Christmas due to the owner sadly passed away from cancer.
I was expecting it to take a week to do for some reason, so delighted I have it back so quickly. They wanted to do the pressure test to make sure it was all fine. I didn't mind as it confirms it's all okay.
Can get on with valve lapping now.

What's that mark on No1 pre-chamber?

They would normally do such a job straight away...they want to get paid.

I gave one to Mrs DM to take in and she had it back by the same afternoon.

I could have done the same, i got the phone call to pick it up yesterday afternoon, but it was a bit late to go dashing up and get it.

Not sure what the mark is. It's smooth and doesn't rub off!

Update on proceedings.

Valves were lapped in the week. Head cleaned again and I now have some seals and gaskets. Though not the head gasket yet. I want to be careful I get the right one.

I bought a Payen gasket kit of eBay, that has the manifold, exhaust and relating gaskets for the coolant pipes ect.
It does also include valve stem oil seals. I didn't buy the kit for the valve stem oil seals, didn't know it had them to be honest. I bought it for the collection of strangely hard to find coolant gaskets. Now the thing I would like like to know and have some people's opinions on, is the kit was made in 2000. That makes the oil seals 17 years old. Are they still good to use do you think? Or should I be cautious and just get new ones. The last thing I want to do is pop them in and for them to fail almost right away. I'm kind of thinking just get new. They are cheap enough.