Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Contary to popular rumor I ain't dead yet. I have been led astray and gone off on a couple of dead end trails. But to prove a point I have (hopefully) cured an anoying oil leak. This one came from one of the drain tubes on either side of the Rapier's cylinder head taking excess oil from the cam boxes back to the crank-case. The brass (olive) fitting in the inlet side of the head had decided to leak, not just drop or  two but copious quantities ending up on the floor and blown back along the chassis. Most annoying and embarrassing If the car was parked somewhere other than in its own garage.  I have an of cut of some shag pile carpet that acts as a "nappy" spread out on the floor where the Rapier stands. 

This morning I decided that today was the "day" and after completing some domestic chores the rest of the day was clear.  Starting around 10.30/11.00 o'clock I had the carburettors and inlet manifold off along with the Distributor cap and sparkplug leads so I could get a clear path to the problem. Next The fittings had to be screwed up or down depending where you looking. Unfortunately it is impossible to remove the drain tube without first removing the cylinder head which in a car with two overhead cams becomes a major job. With the fittings screwed don (or up) it was a simple matter to clean out the thread, apply sone teflon tape and finally a light smear of silastic. Something I attempt to avoid but it does have its uses. The fittings could then be tightened again starting with the top (leaking one) first so it could be screwed right home. With any stray oil cleaned away I could then start to re-fit the carburettors. BUT Lunch time took precedence. This meant that I did not restart on the job until about 2,00 PM. It is now just after 5.00 PM and the Rapieris all back together and the engine running again. I have left it idling for about 15 minutes and no sign of run-away oil but I really need to take it for a drive to be certain that I have been successful in curing the leak. Fingers crossed.  All in all the job would have taken between four and five hours. Probably 10 hours if I had been paying an "expert"to do it.