Allegro Club International

[Jim Lavery]

Hi all, when i start up the car first thing in the morning i get quite a lot of blue smoke. For the rest of it use through the day this does not happen. Opinions would be appriciated especially if you know the answer.
It's a 1300 estate.
Thanks Jim
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Jim

[Laurence]

Those symptons do seem like the classic valve stem seal leak if the blue smoke quickly clears on start-up.

I would remove the cylinder head for a rebuild & have new valves & valve guides with new stem seals fitted. The valve seats will have to be re-cut so it will be a good idea to have hardened valve seats fitted to cope with unleaded petrol.

Have the the head planed if necassary (most likely necassarry) & the pushrods shortened by the same amount as the head planing.

With the cylinder head removed, check the condition of the cylinder bores & pistons fit for wear etc.

A reputable local engine machine shop should be able to do the job for you & supplya top-end (de-coke) gasket set for you to refit the head.

[Jim Lavery]

Thanks Laurence. Thought that might be the answer but someone suggested that the oil scraper rings on the pistons may have gone.
I did a comp. check and got 165 on number one and 155 on 2,3&4 is that ok or should they be higher?
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Jim

[J Dawson]

The rings will also likely be worn. At the bottom of a long hill, when accelerating, is there smoke from the exhaust?

It is not a problem as long as you are happy with the oil consumption. Otherwise a full engine rebuild is the only answer.
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Austin - you can DEPEND on it!

1976 Allegro 1100 4-dr saloon

Squeak, rattle & roll

[Jim Lavery]

Thanks for the info. As the tax runs out in December i was thinking of putting it on sorn and rebuilding the engine so it seems the decision has been made for me. On the brighter side it will allow me to spruce up the engine bay.
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Jim

[Laurence]

A compression check won't reveal the condition of the oil control (scraper) rings. A leak-down test will be a better indicator of engine condition, you'll have to take it to a garage for that though unless you know someone with the apparatus who could bring it to your place.

I wouldn't buy one of those cheap reconditioned engines, they machine everything to maximum so they only have to buy one oversize component rather than the next size up as required.

Haynes Tuning the A-series Engine by David Vizard H620, SpeedPro Series The 1275cc A-Series High-Performance Manual Des Hammill, SpeedPro Series How to Power Tune the BMC/BLMC/Rover 1275 A-Series Engine Des Hammill are good reads