Club 80-90 Forums

hello all,
just been for run in my 1982 2.0 cu after 3 weeks of sitting idle (only started once about a week ago) had the usual tapping whilst oil pressure built up but this time it was joined by a popping/back firing in all gears so my questions are as follows...
1 whilst shining torch at fuel filter next to tank, fuel level whilst idling varied between 1/4 and 1/2 sometimes appearing to be below level of outlet tube making me think air coming through or blocked filter .... how do you clean filter????? (plug ends when disconnected ?? prime fuel lines after??
apoligies for simple question but only able to find info saying clean it nowhere tells you how and having very little mech knowhow i'd like to carry out this job without getting covered in fuel!!!

2 recently found two small holes on silencer flange to tail pipe area no bigger than a pea and i'm talking petit pois!!! could this cause popping??

3 just bought some gaskets for rocker covers and was wandering if necessary to drain oil to change them and if so what are peoples thoughts on re using the oil ( only done 100 miles since oil change)?!?!? also idiots guide on doing this job would be helpful only ask as read somewhere not much oil in the rockers.

been floating around on forum for a while and find im becoming increasingly reliant on the vast knowledge held within the mind boggling threads ,bought my van jan this year leisure drive hightop ... ran great til now .. interior bit tired as previous owners neglected it for couple of years before selling so went about refurbishing it to give new look .... many hours have been spent climbing my forever growing learning curve ... its been hard at times but the inspiration i've gained from like minded folk on here has kept me going through out and i'd like to say A BIG THANKYOU to one and all ... keep up the good work i'm sure im not the only one that appreciates the time and effort spent by all

steve

I suspect your problems are inlet manifold/carb related, but it won't hurt to replace the fuel filter anyway (and they're cheap).

For both the fuel filter and the rocker covers, gravity is your friend!

Find a hill, embankment or something you can drive up, or jack up the van as required. Make sure the wheels are firmly chocked before going underneath (after chocking the van, take the handbrake off and let it roll onto the chocks, if they won't hold it now, they won't hold it when you're under it, now put the handbrake back on).

For the fuel filter, you want to get the rear of the van as high as possible to reduce the amount of fuel that will drain out. If the tank is nearly empty and you get the rear high enough, it won't leak at all. In any case, have a bucket ready to catch the fuel (pour it into a jerry can when it's finished draining, then back into the tank when you're done). Fuel filter is attached to two short bits of rubber pipe, one connects to the fuel tank, the other to the plastic fuel line running under the van. Replace the filter AND these bits of pipe. While you're there, replace the bit of pipe on the return line if you have one (same place, other side of the van). Replace any other bits of fuel line while you're at it, it'll be 30 years old and well past it's best. (Fuel tank breather pipes and engine bay) You'll need a couple of metres of pipe total and a bunch of clips, peace of mind for £20!

For the rocker covers, park or jack the van up so it's leaning sideways and do one side at a time, get enough of an angle and you won't lose any oil. The rocker covers are held on with a spring clip, pass a bit of thin rope round this clip and give a sharp tug downwards to remove, don't use a screwdriver to pry it off! Remove the old gasket, clean the rocker cover and inspect it, if it looks rusty or if there are any pinholes when you hold it up to a bight light, replace. Smear some fresh oil on both sides of the new gasket, put it in the rocker cover, replace rocker cover and fight the spring back on, simple as that!

Cheers for advice 82jew makes perfect sense now, fuel filter and lines fairly new as previous owner had elect pump fitted, checked filter on carb inlet which very clean no debris in it at all had a poke around and found split hose ..its coming from vacuum unit and going into back of carb , the existing hose had no clips on ..should it have?? I ll source a new hose and see how I get on... Whilst digging found that grommit holding c shaped pin to throttle return spring worn and loose would it be wise to change spring and c pin at same or is this unnecessary at this stage?

82camper wrote:fuel filter and lines fairly new as previous owner had elect pump fitted, checked filter on carb inlet which very clean no debris in it at all

Worth double-checking that there's not another long-neglected filter in the line somewhere before that one...

I changed my fuel filter on the flat by using a couple of clamps either side on the rubber pipe, only lost the fuel that was in the filter. There is another one in the engine bay but that was clear.

might be worth doing a search on a second fuel filter in the engine bay..... if its not the cone one in the carb - but a separate stand alone filter in the engine bay - the forum advice seems to be - get rid of it!

Searched for second filter and thankfully found nothing, replaced vac unit to carb hose and also fuel pipe breaking up around carb inlet ,wasnt through but very close luckily had enough to cut damage off and reattatch , changed rocker gaskets using rope to pull clip down ... Cleaned up faces lightly oiled gasket replaced rocker cover then scratched head for a while as those clips are a bugger to get started definitely a technique to it!! Engine running sweet now and im a happy man
Needless to say carrying out these jobs has brought many others to my attention.. That's the way my t25 cookie crumbles literally!!

82camper wrote: also fuel pipe breaking up around carb inlet ,wasnt through but very close luckily had enough to cut damage off and reattatch

Replace the fuel pipe, the rest will be in the same condition as the bit you cut off.

It's probably not even £1 per metre and you only need a bit...