Resurrecting the ZS: With pictures

As for the chassis being the same as the DC2, maybe very loosely based on it, even our DC2 Integra Si is very different to the Type R, the ARB's would not fit with out modification.

Just because the ARB's are a different diameter it hardly means the entire chassis (or monocoque in this case) is very different.
 
Because my woman is awesome. :D

I do like the car, I have to admit. These days I don't have much spare dough lying around, so 150 odd BHP combined with super-cheap tax and low insurance are a good combination for me.

Epically bad wind-noise and 120k on the clock go against it, but this is the first bit of engine work it's ever had done. Time to treat it I suppose. :)

Yesterday I did a fair bit, stripped down the old head down to the cam, removed the alternator belt and also injector pipes and all wiring, battery etc. Just need to snip the cambelt and injector pump belt, and whip the head off to see where it's failed.
 
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Been busy with rebuilding the replacement head, so not many updates.

Basically, the camshaft seals are a doddle to replace when the shaft itself is out, so these will be done.
Also, I've been lapping the valves in as this head had pretty poor compression - not amazingly bad once the seats had been given a clean, but if you're making this much effort you may aswell do it properly.

Removing valve springs is 'interesting', god I had no idea how much force it'd take on the compressor to get them out!

All out, and jumbo straws to indicate where they came from:
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Some were a little coked up! :eek:
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Lapping:
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Using the sink (wish it was stainless steel!) as a handy place to facilitate valve replacement:
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The springs were a bit of a PITA as they're quite recessed on the L series. But I got there in the end. :)
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More coming soon! :)
 
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Head is now off, and clear to see where the gasket has failed. It's actually due to corrosion, which is a shock. It did have water as coolant when I bought it, so suppose it must have been like that for a while.

Stripped the head down to re-use the camshaft carrier and the pulleys, and will be finishing lapping the valves in and re-assembling the hybrid head tonight.
 
Head is now off, and clear to see where the gasket has failed. It's actually due to corrosion, which is a shock. It did have water as coolant when I bought it, so suppose it must have been like that for a while.

Stripped the head down to re-use the camshaft carrier and the pulleys, and will be finishing lapping the valves in and re-assembling the hybrid head tonight.
i had an old 216GTi like that, but it was the block that had been warn away by all the crap in the water, the block was only about 1mm thick where it failed it had be shotblasted away that much

i bought it for spares so it wasnt a problem to me
 
i had an old 216GTi like that, but it was the block that had been warn away by all the crap in the water, the block was only about 1mm thick where it failed it had be shotblasted away that much

i bought it for spares so it wasnt a problem to me

Honda blocks were known for corroding away unlike the K Series gaskets that were like, erm......butter on a good day! :D
 
Progress!

I got the head off the ZS, so thought I'd check out the valves in it - if they're good I thought they'd be better than the ones in the head I'm using (off a 1997 Rover 400 diesel).

However...
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Surprisingly, it ran fine before and held perfect compression. That's some pretty epic erosion!

Next to a lapped valve from the 400 head:
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Nice, smoooooth seat:
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Done!
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I also gave the lifters a good clean and refitted.
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Now here's the interesting bit: finding the failure point. I have found these two areas which seem suspect.
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The first picture looks to be the obvious failure - cylinder to water jacket. This only happened under high load, but the corrosion all around the waterway right up to the fire ring is pretty conclusive IMO.

Hope that's been relatively interesting, sorry for boring you otherwise :)
 
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