Bambi engine problem - what to do?

[Bryan]

Well I have to set the scene a little...

On Thursday my year old Peugeot Expert van broke down about 40 miles from here so I had to go and tow it back. We towed it back to Peugeot only to be told that because it had 61,500 miles on the clock they couldn't do anything because the warranty expired at 60k. So this was the first thing to go wrong this week....

Then on Friday at about 5.45pm I get a phone call from the same driver who was driving the Peugeot on the day before rings me to say that he has just driven into the back of a taxi. This was in my 2009 Fiat Ducato van that I don't normally let anyone else drive because it's "my baby".

As you can imagine I was a little peeved but we had already planned to go away in the Bambi for the weekend.

So we set off on Saturday in the Bambi for a weekend away to forget about the past two days. We made it about 5 miles down the road when the Bambi started to cough and splutter at a junction sounding as if it was running on three cylinders. I found that If I revved the engine it would run normally so we continued on. A few more miles down the road smoke started to come out of the van as we sat in traffic so I pulled in and checked the oil and water etc.

Both the oil and water "seemed" fine so we decided to plough on with our 70 mile trip to the destination. The Bambi made it all the way there but last night it started to overheat and the blowers went cold. I immediately pulled over when the needle was in the middle of the temp gauge. We sat for a while to let the engine cool and then opened the radiator cap. There was no visible sign of water so I poured in some lovely Ballygowan spring water. It drank about 1.5L so I knew something was wrong.

However, the little Bambi continued to drive around yesterday and made it all the way home today without any problems but it is much rougher to start when it's cold - sounding like it's running on three cylinders.

As you can imagine I was rather annoyed - what else could possibly go wrong. I had spent weeks welding and repairing the Bambi to get it through its MOT (just last Wednesday) and now the head gasket has gone with only 44,000 miles on the clock.

So now I have the option to repair the head gasket and use the camper as it is or install the replacement 1.6 Suzuki engine I already have waiting to go into it. The thing is, though, I had planned to change the engine over the summer but now I'm being forced to make a decision now.

The camper is booked on the ferry over to Scotland in one month's time and I'm not sure if I could get the replacement Suzuki engine in and running in time. I know I could get the head gasket changed in time but the thing is that I don't want to spend money on an engine that I was planning to take out and replace anyway.

It's a tough decision.

I really want to get the bigger engine into the Bambi because I'm sick of the "flogging a donkey" 1 litre engine!

[Claire Green]

first

Sack your driver and hire a real driver 

second

get the bambi sorted asap so that you can go on holiday as planned (put up with the 50mph, we all do) 

third

sort the van and car, most necessary one first 

fourth

having got the others sorted and had a nice holiday settle in to change the bambi engine without any pressure or time restraints 

Sorry for any spelling mistakes 

[chrisb]

hi re 1.6 suzuki engine how difficult is it to do ?

[Bryan]

I don't know yet - but if you check my website (www.bedfordrascal.co.uk) you'll see that I have already put a 1.6 engine into a Suzuki Carry (2004 model). I am going to be using the carry inlet and exhaust manifolds which bolt straight on as well as the sump. The wiring loom and ECU will come from a Suzuki Baleno car. The gearbox will be from the later Carry van as well. I have all parts I need to do the conversion but it will just take time.

Unlike the Carry this won't be a "bolt-on" modification and will require fabricated engine and gearbox mounts etc.

[>>CHOP<<]

you have had a streak of bad luck....and surely its about to change..could you do me a favour and send me a private message ...and in that message all i want are 6 numbers between 0 and 49...

[zaphod]

Tough choice.
Bite the bullet if you can, or make sure you have decent recovery cover.
The engine will let go at any time.

[Bryan]

I ordered the gasket set today so all I need now is a new cambelt, tensioner and head bolts.

The 1.6 engine is still in the Baleno so I can't be bothered getting stuck into it just yet.

[spacehopper]

If you are pushed for time definitely just do the gasket - get the head off now in case its a cracked head, in which case you'll still have time to put another engine in.
Head gasket jobby is easy but you will need to get the head skimmed too. That shouldn't take too long but get it sorted now so you aren't stressing about time before your hols. Last one I had done cost me £30. If you don't want to spend more than necessary then re-use the head bolts - you'll get away with it. But its not money wasted anyway - when you change the engine you will still have a working engine to sell - as it is now its worth nothing!
Its not a big job and you have plenty time still - the Bambi WILL go to the ball!

[manta356]

Is there any other Suzuki Engines apart from the Baleno that would fit the Rascal.
I'm thinking along the lines of a Swift or Jimny etc?

[Bryan]

1300cc Swift engine will bolt to the later Suzuki carry box (engine code G13B). The twin cam version might be very tight for space though.

Jimny is engine code M13 or something and I'm not sure if it bolts to the Carry gearbox.

[>>CHOP<<]

how you going to change gears...the suzuki engine is very small and its tilted to fit in the limited space....i dont know how your going to do it without drastic alterations...and still get it through MOT..and then insurance...if anything then its the gearbox that lets the rascals down as its very low geared...but good luck im sure there are quite a few watching with anticipation...

[mcalvert39]

OOOO G13b turbo.

Id still like to find out the tuning capability of the standard engine. First on my list is a rev counter to see what its spinning at

[Bryan]

Changing gears is easy - the later Suzuki Carry (1999 on) also uses cables. I think it may require longer cables but I might just get the cables and gearchange mechanism from a later van.

This is the G16B engine mated to a late Suzuki Carry gearbox:



In the photo above the engine is sitting upright but the gearbox is tilted.



In that photo above you can see the angle that the G16B engine sits at in order to fit into the Suzuki Carry. The bottom of the sump will be level to the ground.

I have seen the later Suzuki carry 1.3 engines installed in a Rascal before so I know it will go in there. If the 1.3 can fit then the 1.6 can definately fit because there's not that much difference in physical size.

When I eventually do get the 1.6 engine into the van it will probably need the rear diff changed to one from a Suzuki SJ jeep.

[Pirate]

1.6 in a rascal?
I want one

[mcalvert39]

Im still saying 1.3 turbo but thats just me. A 1.6 would be much better in the motorhome though as you will have alot more torque when you need it.

Do i spy a metro and some kind of police car in that last piccy?