Rockers hitting under the valve cover

[SIGMA302]

Hi all, I have an annoying problem. I bought a 2.6 GJ sigma that was a grannies car with a long term plan of putting in a clevo in it. Before I do all that, I will be driving it for a while, so I thought I'd give her a tune. It had a slight rattle that I thought I could cure with some adjustment, so I set the rockers. It wouldnt start and had no compression at all once I was done, but the compression is good when the cover is off. It turns out that I have to run the rocker cover bolts very loose or the rockers hit under the cover and the intake valves are pushed open. As you can imagine, there is oil leaking out under the cover. I think it may have a 2.0 cover on it, is there any difference? Any suggestions otherwise?

[ISKA8]

hmmm im pretty sure,but dont hold me to it.that the 2,0 rocker is of course different? but in saying that i think also the astron 1 and astron 2 have different ones again?so if you could determain what series motor you have,would make it easier i think?? im sure other people with more knowledge than i do will help a hell of alot more?? good luck anyway buds

[SIGMA302]

Not knowing too much about these, I'm guessing it's a series 1. It has adjustable rockers and the engine number is M53IP23067* I can post a shot if it helps.....

[81GL]

I can post a shot if it helps.....

Might be good. especially of the intake manifold too.

Needless to say, you shouldn't get this happening under normal circumstances. astron 1 2lt & 2.6 use the same rocker cover. So I guess something silly like an astron 2 cover on an astron 1 head could cause something like this to happen?

[SIGMA302]

Just went out and tried to take shots in the dark, failed miserably. I'll do some when there's sun tomorrow. Anything in particular to focus on?

[SIGMA302]

Hope these work, I'm a photobucket virgin...[][/img][][/img]

[ddt]

that rocker cover is definitely from a 2L. Some early sigmas (~1978) which had a japanese-assembled 2.0L engine had Astron 80 on the rocker cover. The locally assembled ones just had a sticker that said astron 2000 (or 2600 when the 2.6L astron was released later). I can't ID the rest of the engine as being a 2.0 or 2.6L -though it looks like a series I astron engine to me. Anyone?
Perhaps one of those bolts on top of the rocker-cover has been replaced with a longer one that fouls against the rockers underneath?

[geezer101]

Sure it's not off an Astron 1850? Sigmas first came out with these engines and were dropped for the 2L's.

[astronturbo77]

out a series 2 cover on it

[A112H]

out a series 2 cover on it

[geezer101]

...meant put a series 2 cover on it.

[SIGMA302]

that rocker cover is definitely from a 2L. Some early sigmas (~1978) which had a japanese-assembled 2.0L engine had Astron 80 on the rocker cover. The locally assembled ones just had a sticker that said astron 2000 (or 2600 when the 2.6L astron was released later). I can't ID the rest of the engine as being a 2.0 or 2.6L -though it looks like a series I astron engine to me. Anyone?
Perhaps one of those bolts on top of the rocker-cover has been replaced with a longer one that fouls against the rockers underneath?

I ran the engine number and it comes up as a 2.6 from 1983 which fits with the year of the car. The rockers are definately hitting, because there are a series of little dents the same shape as the rocker tops under the intake side. When I tighten the rocker cover right down, I get no compression on the tester for each cylinder. I posted some shots of my wagon on the random sigma photos section, page 4. Tell me what you think.....

[geezer101]

Looks like you're grabbing a cover off a 2.6 ( may only be 5mm difference in height between them- but I've never heard of this problem before, another possibility is the rockers have been replaced and the adjusters are longer...)

[SIGMA302]

Yep, reckon you're right. I'll let you know what I get up to, thanks for the input guys.