Four head gaskets and two engines later... End of thread

[Cavcraft]

Hey that looks pretty decent, keep us posted on how it works out please as I fancy one of these one day soon. That looks a fairly late-ish (2003 on) one you have there?

[Cavcraft]

Hey that looks pretty decent, keep us posted on how it works out please as I fancy one of these one day soon. That looks a fairly late-ish (2003 on) one you have there?

[ashmicro]

That's a pre-facelift. The later ones are gopping, especially at the back.

[ashmicro]

That's a pre-facelift. The later ones are gopping, especially at the back.

[SambaS]

Thanks! It's a 51 plate.

 

I've always liked them, but the fact they are common as... kindof put me off somewhat. My friend got one last month as his first car then wrote it off, it was the first one I had been in and was quite nice.

 

I'm really interested to find out what it'll be like to live with too.

 

God help me - a post 2000 car!!!!

[SambaS]

Thanks! It's a 51 plate.

 

I've always liked them, but the fact they are common as... kindof put me off somewhat. My friend got one last month as his first car then wrote it off, it was the first one I had been in and was quite nice.

 

I'm really interested to find out what it'll be like to live with too.

 

God help me - a post 2000 car!!!!

[Morgan84]

It's basically a old Rover 200;appart from a reputation for headgasket problems,they are a pretty decent nice driving little car and quite reliable.Tried and tested

[Morgan84]

It's basically a old Rover 200;appart from a reputation for headgasket problems,they are a pretty decent nice driving little car and quite reliable.Tried and tested

[face]

1.4?

[face]

1.4?

[Lord Sterling]

Nice car. Never tried an MG ZR, though i have driven a Rover 200 and the later 25 and found them quite nice, I'm starting to admire them now.

[Lord Sterling]

Nice car. Never tried an MG ZR, though i have driven a Rover 200 and the later 25 and found them quite nice, I'm starting to admire them now.

[Largactil]

Apparently the Kettle series can be cured of HGF tendencies, if you:

 

Remove head, strip and hardness test DO NOT SKIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

If the head is less than 95 brinnel on a recently calibrated modern digital hardness tester, it's scrap...

If the head is above 95 brinnel - DO NOT SKIM, reassemble and reuse

Always strip short end, and DO DECK the block plus liner shoulders to straighten and give correct liner standproud of 4 thou

Remove and replace plastic dowels with steel ones

Remove old thermostat and replace with 82deg PRT.

Use new OEM longbolts

Use a proper OEM gasket - Not an aftermarket / N Series one

 

But if you're not keeping it, I can see how you might not be inclined to go the above route...

[Largactil]

Apparently the Kettle series can be cured of HGF tendencies, if you:

 

Remove head, strip and hardness test DO NOT SKIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

If the head is less than 95 brinnel on a recently calibrated modern digital hardness tester, it's scrap...

If the head is above 95 brinnel - DO NOT SKIM, reassemble and reuse

Always strip short end, and DO DECK the block plus liner shoulders to straighten and give correct liner standproud of 4 thou

Remove and replace plastic dowels with steel ones

Remove old thermostat and replace with 82deg PRT.

Use new OEM longbolts

Use a proper OEM gasket - Not an aftermarket / N Series one

 

But if you're not keeping it, I can see how you might not be inclined to go the above route...

[Cavcraft]

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

[Cavcraft]

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

[ashmicro]

  Cavette said:

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

Since they've become available that's all I've ever used on any I've fixed. The stat change is a good call, I neglected to mention that.

 

EDIT: If memory serves, the Pressure Relieving stat is only for the 1.8 and diseasel. Not sure.

[ashmicro]

  Cavette said:

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

Since they've become available that's all I've ever used on any I've fixed. The stat change is a good call, I neglected to mention that.

 

EDIT: If memory serves, the Pressure Relieving stat is only for the 1.8 and diseasel. Not sure.

[Largactil]

  Cavette said:

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

 

Don't know about Landrover type gaskets, but the OEM gasket is allegedly one of the most sophisticated gaskets in use in a modern production engine and cost millions to develop - iirc it was still an OEM gasket fitted to the VHPD K's, and the MG BTCC cars used them in their 280bhp PTP engines...

[Largactil]

  Cavette said:

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

 

Don't know about Landrover type gaskets, but the OEM gasket is allegedly one of the most sophisticated gaskets in use in a modern production engine and cost millions to develop - iirc it was still an OEM gasket fitted to the VHPD K's, and the MG BTCC cars used them in their 280bhp PTP engines...

[ashmicro]

Just to be clear, by "OEM" do you mean the original as-fitted elastomer rubbish, or the one that MG Rover had developed just in time for going bust? I got a kit for a mate's 75 from a firm called Klinger, but didn't fit it as I didn't think it looked up to much. We ended up fitting a "Lotus Approved" kit that he got from one of the racing boys, but I don't know who the manufacturer is.

[ashmicro]

Just to be clear, by "OEM" do you mean the original as-fitted elastomer rubbish, or the one that MG Rover had developed just in time for going bust? I got a kit for a mate's 75 from a firm called Klinger, but didn't fit it as I didn't think it looked up to much. We ended up fitting a "Lotus Approved" kit that he got from one of the racing boys, but I don't know who the manufacturer is.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

  ashmicro said:

  Cavette said:

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

Since they've become available that's all I've ever used on any I've fixed. The stat change is a good call, I neglected to mention that.

 

EDIT: If memory serves, the Pressure Relieving stat is only for the 1.8 and diseasel. Not sure.

 

Another trick is to drill a bleed hole in the stat - it allows a small amount of coolant to come though, slows down the warm up time and makes the stat open more slowly. Apparently it works.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

  ashmicro said:

  Cavette said:

I thought you were supposed to use triple layer headgaskets or Landrover type ones?

Since they've become available that's all I've ever used on any I've fixed. The stat change is a good call, I neglected to mention that.

 

EDIT: If memory serves, the Pressure Relieving stat is only for the 1.8 and diseasel. Not sure.

 

Another trick is to drill a bleed hole in the stat - it allows a small amount of coolant to come though, slows down the warm up time and makes the stat open more slowly. Apparently it works.

[Barry Cade]

Bet the inlet manifold gasket has gone on number 4 cyl, filling the cylinder with water, causing a missfire and water out the exhaust -which puts on the EML. This is very often misdiagnosed as HGF. Saved loads from getting their heads needlessly lifted over the years.

[Barry Cade]

Bet the inlet manifold gasket has gone on number 4 cyl, filling the cylinder with water, causing a missfire and water out the exhaust -which puts on the EML. This is very often misdiagnosed as HGF. Saved loads from getting their heads needlessly lifted over the years.

[SambaS]

No apparent missfire... Thanks for all your suggestions. I will bare it all in mind. I was told to fit a steel Landrover head gasket.

 

May not need doing anyway. (**yet)

 

Today I fitted an exchange exhaust manifold and lambda sensor. Cost me free, I have some very good friends! I still have a management light on so assume that will have to be read and then cleared. What is the best price anyones had for that type of work? I've never had a new enough car that I've had to have stupid electrical shite fixed on.

 

Also the reverse lights dont work and it's not the bulbs.

[SambaS]

No apparent missfire... Thanks for all your suggestions. I will bare it all in mind. I was told to fit a steel Landrover head gasket.

 

May not need doing anyway. (**yet)

 

Today I fitted an exchange exhaust manifold and lambda sensor. Cost me free, I have some very good friends! I still have a management light on so assume that will have to be read and then cleared. What is the best price anyones had for that type of work? I've never had a new enough car that I've had to have stupid electrical shite fixed on.

 

Also the reverse lights dont work and it's not the bulbs.

[ashmicro]

You can buy a code reader that'll read the Rover MEMS for less than most garages charge to clear the codes.

 

This one will do it : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autel-Maxisca ... 27c4194d53

 

 

Reversing lights problem is most likely the switch in the gearbox. Mine went, and it's common-ish. Not expensive. I'll take a pic of tomorrow if you need one.

[ashmicro]

You can buy a code reader that'll read the Rover MEMS for less than most garages charge to clear the codes.

 

This one will do it : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autel-Maxisca ... 27c4194d53

 

 

Reversing lights problem is most likely the switch in the gearbox. Mine went, and it's common-ish. Not expensive. I'll take a pic of tomorrow if you need one.