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

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Got the new engine in mine tonight, not running yet though

[SambaS]

Fella I know used some sort of triple or multi layer head gasket on his mg recently. It's supposed to crush when fitted, allowing for the discrepancies commonly found in the varying wet liners in the k series. I'll check with him and see what it's called if you like. It worked a treat for him, and he drives the balls off the thing!

I bought the multi layer "MLS" gasket set for this.... 

[Faker]

I bought the multi layer "MLS" gasket set for this....

 

Ahh. Good stuff. Apparently they are the ticket.

[SambaS]

I've bought insurance and AA Cover..

 

I'll get this booked in for MOT next week!

[KruJoe]

Edd, yesterday and today I've needed the space in the top shed, so I've started this up and let it idle to warm up fully outside. Always starts/runs/sounds ok. I have noticed a blow in the 'zorst, at the joint just in front of the back axle. Wouldn't worry me much, but MOT man probably won't like it.

Also I've notice the back number plate has separated - my tester would likely pass it, others won't.

I haven't given the car a going over or owt, just a couple of bits I've noticed, only seems fair to warn you...

[SambaS]

:/

 

Back plate should be okay, was last year in same state, exhaust will have to be substantial to matter.

 

MOT man will have to reset the EM light and ABS light before the test though... Worst case it will need the ABS sensors looking at or replacing. Does a weird grating thing sometimes, I think that is the feel of the ABS ring through the brake pedal.

 

Worse in reverse, such a strange feeling, had a Santa Fe that did it too.

[SambaS]

The HGF GTi is alive and well, it made the journey home from Skipton, ticked over for the whole MOT then failed on emissions... a quick bodge of a hole in the exhaust had that under control. SO the only fails to sort are: Horn, beep beep, 2 bulbs and a filler cap. Win!

 

[KruJoe]

Well done Edd. (And Will!)

I was gonna mention you had a bulb out - osf repeater. The last few days it has been a bit smokey on start-up, but it soon clears up, glad to hear the emissions are fine.

 

After the test, fit fresh door and flog it for £COIN, right?

[SambaS]

No I want to know how many miles it will do before it blows up again, also it's quite economical and I enjoy driving it, so it's staying!

 

The smoke was worrying when I started it, there was a lot, as Will says there is diesel in the oil and it needs changing. By the time I got home it had all but cleared up.

 

If it keeps doing it every morning it has a problem.

 

Feels like a different car, and seems much slower, but I put that down to the fact the lovely noise the air filter made had me keeping it between 3500 and 6000 RPM most of the time, now it doesn't growl I don't bother.

[dollywobbler]

Nice to see this one saved. Hope it proves ok in the long run.

[SambaS]

Went up scrapyard for the filler cap and key, got 2 bulbs also.. the horns turned out to be a 10 amp fuse. Booked retest for Monday as I seem to have overestimated the amount of money I have.

 

 

Bored last nigh so figured this would be better placed on the car than in my flat:

 

 

Quality A pillars there, the front wing is also going rusty, actually there are a few areas that need addressing. I'm tempted to stick it in a bodyshop and have it all done at once.. but that would probably be stupid.

 

 

Still some smoke on start up:

 

 

Turns out my new drivers door has an electric window and central locking.

 

So I now have a new conundrum as The key for this door and the filler cap are the same, and pretty much all the locks on my car are shit, except for the new ones.

 

So may have to get the electric window mechanism from the passenger side, switches, and the full lock set.

[SambaS]

My new drivers door has an electric mirror, central locking and an electric window.

 

I have just been up the scrapyard for the switches for the electric mirror and windows.

 

The central locking works, the electric mirror works... the electric window doesnt, I've tried 2 switches, I've checked the two 20amp fuses inside the interior fuse box.

 

Any ideas why the window might not be working?

[purplebargeken]

Most likely explanation is due to it being Friday and the sun is shining.

[Guest Tony Hayers]

Check the connector plug from the A post into the door. On my old 416 I had the same problem as you and it was due to the pins falling back into the socket. 5 mins of reseating them had it working again.

[SambaS]

 

Just though to myself "I really like this car" seconds later on THE SAME stretch of A1(M) it died. Although this time it wasn't so dramatic. Recovery man says no compression, verdict either timing belt slipped a tooth or few or something else.

[explosive-cabbage]

Do you need Polly back?

[SambaS]

Samba Cabriolet is running A-OK so not in any hurry mate.

 

How is she?

[explosive-cabbage]

Im coming your way on Friday night. Buying a new car. Would you bring Polly to Shitefest?

[SambaS]

Probably the Samba Cabriolet as I was in the Polly last year - - 

 

If you want rid then fine to leave here

[explosive-cabbage]

Okay. I'll be in touch.

[SambaS]

This GR1 scrapyard save is in my local MGR specialist having an engine rebuild, hopefully the last for a few thousand miles. It's taxed, tested and insured and it has pissed me off looking at it for the past couple of months so I have chewed the bullet.. grabbed the sausage by the horns and other such things and sent it away.

 

- - just waiting for the inevitable phone call to tell me the head is unserviceable or something.

[SambaS]

News flash.

 

Week 1 I was told one valve was stuck so they've put new collars????? or something in. Then it went to be skimmed.

 

Week 2 Still not ready.

 

Week 3 there is a problem. they are waiting on a couple of valves, one lad said they had put it back together but no compression on cyl 3.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Sounds like bo11ox to me, why on earth did they reassemble the engine with some dodgy valves? If they have had the head on then off again they'll need to fit another new gasket when they refit it a second time which presumably means you'll get the bill for that.

[SambaS]

All very strange, lad said no compression on cyl 3 after rebuild and couldn't see it being anything else.

 

Wonder if they haven't timed it up right and had a mishap.

 

Hopefully I will be allowed some patience back for things like engine rebuilds, I used to love getting stuck into things like this but this year or longer haven't really had the motivation or want to do anything.

[SambaS]

They did tell me the valves were definitely bent when it came in, I should ask to see these valves.

 

The car ran after rebuild number one in the summer but was 70% down on power, some lad from scrapyard listened and said knocking was cylinder leaking so HG must have gone again. Maybe it was a valve getting a whack, or the stuck valve this garage found.

 

In any case when if finally died it just spun over really fast as if no compression.

 

I could visibly see either oil or water seeping out he left side between the block and head too before it died, not a lot but once wiped away it would reappear. That will teach me not to skim.

[rainagain]

I really feel for you, having had similar experience with my OH's Megane. It's almost like the car is fighting you sometimes when you're trying to fix it.

[SambaS]

Should get this back tomorrow, just spoke to one of the lads from the garage on Facebook and he says he put the head on on Friday, it's got compression and they've been up the road in it.

[SambaS]

It could only be a K Series!

 

 

Fingers crossed it lasts a few months this time. Bloody thing!

 

Yes Mr B they put two head gaskets on it, yes I picked up that bill. And the extra labour. £520 in total.

 

Do I win anything for my sheer unrelenting stupidity?

[cort16]

Probably money well spent if you like the car. If you bought another one you'd probably need to do it anyway at some point.

[DVee8]

Nice looking car