Build Off to a Good Start. My '74 40 Series

[charliemeyer007]

Was the head R/R recently as in just before this problem started?

 

[TwelveGravity]

Was the head R/R recently as in just before this problem started?

I have never had the head off in the 1.5 years I have owned it. When I bought it from the PO, he stated the engine was rebuilt 10 +/- years ago. He had hardly driven it at all since.

 

[TwelveGravity]

This is, in fact, the correct way to repair a BMW, speaking from first-hand experience.

Man that sucks. I was going to venture "head gasket" but didn't want to jinx it. Before tearing into the head, and I don't know if this works, but see if you can put a rod slightly longer than the length of the head down that bore. If the HG is backwards, it'll rest right on the HG. If not, it'll extend further than the height of the head and then you can continue diagnosing.

Or you could be super ghetto and punch a hole in it? But I won't suggest that.

It doesn't look like that port goes down to the head gasket, it channels over toward cyl 5. A paperclip stops about 3/4" in, but I bent a hook on the end of the paperclip and can catch the edge of the port.

 

[majdomo]

Eh, worth a shot. At least you are making progress!

 

[TwelveGravity]

Here's another angle.

 

[65swb45]

If you do an image search, you will see the teardrop shaped hole that delivers the oil from the cam journal galley to the head bolt. A circuitous route for sure.

 

[65swb45]

Thinking about this for a minute more, you’re going to need a full head service. That head is going to smoke like a mofo once it actually has oil if the seals and guides have been run dry that long.

 

[TwelveGravity]

Thinking about this for a minute more, you’re going to need a full head service. That head is going to smoke like a mofo once it actually has oil if the seals and guides have been run dry that long.

Thanks for the recommendation Mark.