Transit Connect Engine rebuild - Help?

[sparkybandit]

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=221062

Hi,I'm seeking some diesel experts who can give me some tips to start my rebuilt 1.8tdci engine - i originally posted it in the connect forum (see link above) but perhaps someone on here might see it and have some ideas for me to try before i finally give up and scrap it. it's a 4 page post with videos on my youtube channel so i appreciate it if you have the patience to read and watch it all!
In short,it suffered a cambelt snap while it coasted up to some traffic lights. damage wasn't too bad;some bent valves and dented piston cylinders - engine out and everything replaced with new bottom block gaskets,head gasket etc.
followed everything to the book,particulary the all important timeing,careful with not running diesel pump dry.
engine is all assembled and no dtc's present, forscan software shows its cranking 250rpm and looks all positive to start but she will not catch,not even cough with easystart.
last thing i've tried is some oil down the glowplug holes and still no joy,compression readings cranking her on the starter while jumping her with oil down there reported approx 50psi on all cyls.
I am willing to give it one last shot and whip the head off and replace the head gasket one more time with new bolts,set timing etc but before doing that i wondered if anyone has any smart ideas first since.
many thanks
Mark

[metalworker0]

There are lots of things you can do during a rebuild to make sure its done in the best way


Did you space the piston rings out, so all were 120 degrees apart - from one to the other ...this would never bring it down to 50psi ..but everything adds up ..see next pictures

which is the last engine i did way back in 2006

i faced all valves with a valve grinder facing machine, i put valves into head with just the weight only - no springs ..poured white spirit into the combustion space ..and non leaked out after over 1 hour#


pictures are going to be jumbled, you can see valve before and after etc ..and if you take the head off again you can do this test ..with a wall of blue tack dam around valves ...as your head has no combustion chamber in it.

[metalworker0]

Also compression testers
There are all sorts on ebay
The only ones i would recommend are made by sykes pickavant ..of course they have to be diesel compression tester

it is very possible to pick one of these up off ebay in as new condition or little used for less than £40 ....if you keep looking

BTW, that valve grinding machine i picked up off ebay for £15 - had to go to the guys house about 100 miles away .....they will not post these things ..too heavy...but that a great opportunity to get something cheap ..as no one else interested because of travelling ,..the cheapness paid for the fuel..which was LPG at the time ..so nothing hardly


all the best...mark