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Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 1:03 pm
by Eric990j
Hi all

Could anyone let me know the tourque settings for a 1951 special sports cylinder head. I’ve seen lots of data when I searched but not the figures I need. Is there a manual with the data I should print out?

Best regards

Eric

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:42 pm
by clevitt
Hi Eric,
I researched this question when refitting my own cylinder head two years ago, and found various figures between 26 and 50 lb/ft. The lower end figures were probably for the DB18 Saloon / Consort, which uses 3/8 " dia bolts rather than the 7/16" used on the Special Sports. In the end, I used the figures in David Beale's workshop manual of 43/67 lb/ft , and chose a lower end figure of 45, since when there have been no problems with the cylinder head.
Chris

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 7:09 pm
by Eric990j
Thank you very much Chris, it also puts my mind at rest as I was finding many different results and could not work out what was what ! I should get a copy of David’s workshop manual.

Best regards

Eric

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 12:04 am
by grahamemmett
Eric, you’ll find all the same information on www.db18.org
Go to the Document Store page, then look down the Repairs Document List until you see the Repair Manual. Click on that and the manual is displayed.

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:52 pm
by Eric990j
Hi guys, just thought I would update you. The head is back on and I also took the time to polish a few bits while I was waiting for the radiator! I was umming if I needed to do the radiator but read on the forum it’s a must if you had overheating, that was correct advice once it was opened. Oh well she should run well by the weekend hopefully.
A bit more spannering to do.....

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:33 am
by Db n j
Eric,

Just wondered if you had flushed the block ?

If the radiator is blocked, there is a good chance that the block is silted up as well.

The engine slopes backwards, so the silt tends to go that way too.

It's easy to do with the head off, but can still be done now. This means removing the 4 core plugs on the carb side, and the drain tap. Push water through the pipe from the thermostat, and rod through the holes.

You will take ages to get clear water.

Good luck

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:25 am
by Stan Thomas
Way back in the dim and distant past (when we had a proper Government and a party to replace them with) servicing and/or reconditioning the radiator was a standard part of the job when fitting a new or recon engine - as was washing down the engine bay - all for four shillings (20p) an hour.

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 10:31 pm
by Eric990j
Hi,

Yes I cleaned the block thourouly for 2 hours with my son, one on each side and taking turns with a stout wire to poke the grunge and a water pressure jet. The temperature needle now sits just above 1/4 so much better and will have to see how we go when it warms up.

Brake lights stopped working now so back under I go! New tyres needed too, I’ll start a new thread.

Having fun (still)...

Eric

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 9:07 am
by grahamemmett
Brake lights - you’ll find a wiring diagram on www.db18.org

Tyres - I’ve just switched to radials and it has transformed the steering and directional stability. It hasn’t made the steering heavy as people may tell you, on the contrary it’s made it easier.

Re: Special Sports head torque settings

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:13 am
by Crossley Stephenson
What tyre pressures Graham? I use 35 psi all- round on my Special Sports which you have driven. I have never driven a SS with crossplies but enjoy my SS with radials and have no issues with directional stability, rather the contrary.

Cheers
Michael

PS see you at Peebles.