Well I've covered about 500 miles since the car was registered last Saturday and yesterday me and the missus decided to take the 'Tin Lizzy' to the garden centre in Bury St Edmunds to pick up a couple of things, (any excuse for a blat!). Anyway after a pleasant poodle through the back roads for a few miles we hit the A14, then it was pedal to metal straight into the outside lane up to about 70mph. Big cheesy grins all around were replaced by worried looks as the engine started banging clanging, popping and banging some more We limped the next half a mile to the next exit and into MFI car park. With no tools aboard, I remembered that a fellow Locostbuilder, matty_64's dad Simon, who had helped me out a couple of times before, lived nearby and I had his number in my mobile. A quick call was all that was required for him to abandon his ironing and get him along with some tools. He was there within 10 minutes with enough gear to carry out a full engine rebuild!
After removing the rocker cover we discovered that the rocker shaft had come loose and a couple of the bolts were almost all the way out.
We tightened the bolts to the correct torque (Simon had brought a torque wrench and knew off the top of his head the correct setting...naturally) and within minutes all was well again!
I had a lucky escape. I could have sworn I checked those bolts when i torqued the head down after initially running the engine...but that was a year ago.
. Anyway, massive thanks to Simon for coming to my rescue.
It just shows the power of this forum without which most of us wouldn't be on the road in our own creations and indulging in a fascinating hobby and meeting great people.
Cheers
Jon

Sounds like Simon might be in-line for a couple of beers nice when things work out well!

Come on Jon - you've only just got on the road! You don't want to go and break it already!

And how the hell did you manage to got through 500 miles in a week!

David

this is what it's all about

I've learnt from experience that just about any bolt on a xflow can be rattled loose.

We had a very similar thing happen at a Trackday two years ago - the rocker post bolts loosened themselves. At first we whipped of the cover and I reset the valve clearances but the noise got worse... Eventually someone peering over a shoulder said "Why is there a few mm of clearance under that bolt head?". A couple of quick tightens and we were back on the track again.

I would have loved to see anyone in the many Skylines and EVOs even remove their rocker cover...

Cheers

100 miles after getting on the road the engines coming out to re-fit the starter ring. A new ring was fitted during the build by a local company, won't be using them again in a hurry!

I'ts a good idea to go over the car and check/tighten all nuts/bolts /screws etc even things you know you tightened when you built the car.Also check cycle wing mountings for cracks etc . Guess how I know?

Yeah but....You know how it is! Too busy having fun!
That's sound advice though.
See some of you at the weekend. Looking forward to it.
Ciao!