Hello all,

We're doing a head gasket and a 1991 Panda 4x4. Found a lot of oil in no. cylinder and oil was getting into the coolant ! Anyway, looking at piston rings and valve seals, as well now!! The engine spent many years not running or doing very few miles. Had 68 000 ks on it when we got it, 2015, for a 24 year old car !! Anyway, there must be a special valve lifter to get the collets out and remove the valves. My old standard Sykes and Pickvant one is no good at all. (In fact it's no good for anything !! )

Any ideas greatly appreciated. If a special tool is available, I rather get that than try and tap them out, hammer and socket, like we used to do, or make an adaptor for my old S&P one. (Which wouldn't work anyway and may lead to bloody fingers and a damaged head )

Cheers all,

Tom

Whereabouts are you in France?

Asking as I know from experience that "special" tools can be seriously hard to find if you're away from a big city, leaving mail order as the only option.

If you're anywhere near Limoges, Moto-Tacot are worth a visit, as you can actually see if any of the tools in the shop will fit before buying, assuming you can bring your head with you.

No relation to them, just a happy customer.

Many thanks for that Steve,

We're in the Medoc, not far from Bordeaux, but Louis is at College in Perigueux, nearer to Limoges. We now need Valve Shims for our Panda. Fiat Bordeaux, get this, have a minimum order quantity of 5 each. Who the hell needs five shims all the same !! The 4.4mm's we need are 19 euros each, times five, the 3.65mms 10.5 euros x 5. WTF the price difference between the two ? Inc. vat, they're asking some 190 euros for 10 shims, only two of which we need. As usual, any ideas ? How do I put this question on the forum, to everyone ? Someone out there must have loads of FIRE engine shims ! The motor is still in production for heavens sake !! I'll try the "Shop" here, or general queries, but if you have any contacts I'd be very grateful. Getting stuff out here is a nightmare. French "customer service", non existant !!

Thanks again,
Tom

Hopefully this should help

http://www.eurocarcare.net/timing/ecc7553-370mm-cam-shaft-tappet-shim.html

https://www.auto-doc.fr/pieces-deta...da-141a/2560-1000-i-e-cat?filter_generic=1521

Or a trip to a friendly breakers yard armed with a bag of spanners.

My local main dealer is actually very helpful, though their prices can be eye-watering. Can't say the same for some other brands, VW won't touch anything more than about 20 years old, Toyota wanted 200€ for an engine mount, same part online, 20€