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

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Watch it

[vulgalour]

*peers out from behind Mr_B, shakes a fist* yeaaaaah, watch it.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Watch it

 

 

Up yours kettle boi

[Taff]

Because the aluminium head and block warps and the liners move I reckon.

I 'fixed' mine several times and ended up binning the block and putting a new engine in. I think the sentence 'head gasket failure' is wrong as the head gasket didn't fail on mine, it was the most reliable thing on the whole car.

 

I think Station is onto something. I had a natter with the local F specalist about mine, asked what to check for, keep an eye on, dreaded HGF etc. He reckoned that it was rarely the HG that went.

Now, he reckons that the cooling on the K series is "lean", he described it as maybe 10% wriggle-room if the system isn't looked after properly. He went on the say that this was when the K was out in front of a car, hanging there in the breeze. Not when you stick it in an enclosed metal box at the back.

So, his advice to me, with a K-series engine (in an MGF in my case) and no history whatsoever:-

 

Check the rad. Make sure it's unblocked, undamaged. Replace if in doubt, standard radiator is more than adequate.

Check the hoses & clips for damage and leaks

Check the metal full coolant pipes for evidence of corrosion. Stainless replacements are available but realistically, new mild steel ones are adequate and last a mere 15 years if looked after.

Check the OAT, keep it topped up with the correct stuff. Change annually

Bleed the system correctly, do not cut corners on this bit

Keep an eye on it. A quick glance under the car for drips and check the level when you are in the boot.

 

I've done all that (he bled the system for me) and mine seems fine. It even drinks a bit, about 100ml a month, but shows no sign of deteriation.

 

I hadn't seen this thread before, I note it's been ongoing for a few years now. Seems a shame to have killed the car for the sake of a radiator.

[SambaS]

A week on Gumtree be like:

 

Potential buyer #1

 

Discussed car at length, decides a collection day and time, gets directions from Newcastle and is remided to bring £100.

 

Never heard from again.

 

Potential buyers #2-5

 

Will u tek £40 tnite

 

Potential buyer #6

 

How long before it over heats

 

Does it still drive

 

[No I drove it till it sounded like spoons in a washing machine]

[SambaS]

THE END. Car went tonight to the yard it came from.

 

I feel well sad because I failed the car.

 

I could fix it but I cant fix them all.

 

This is the start of a few cars leaving.

[twosmoke300]

Not the little white diahatsu I hope

[SambaS]

NO WAY MAN! The MG ZR.

 

The Charade you collected for me is now my daily driver. I sat in it the other day and though to myself... this is the only car I need.

 

 

 

[greengartside]

THE END. Car went tonight to the yard it came from.

 

I feel well sad because I failed the car.

 

I could fix it but I cant fix them all.

 

This is the start of a few cars leaving.

 

Sadly you can't save them all - I think someone mentioned on here that it really doesn't want saving and I'm inclined to agree - the amount of work you've put in on the ZR is simply heroic but it's not rewarded you in any way, only by FTP'ing all the time and that for me would be a sign to get rid.

 

If you could have saved it then I don't doubt for a minute you would have.

[twosmoke300]

She was a lovely little car . If you decide to sell it in the future drop me a pm please .

[anonymous user]

 

 

The Charade you collected for me is now my daily driver. I sat in it the other day and though to myself... this is the only car I need.

 

 

Fortunately we understand the difference between what is needed and what is wanted, so there's no need to justify the other twelve cars in your signature.

[Sigmund Fraud]

THE END. Car went tonight to the yard it came from.

 

I feel well sad because I failed the car.

 

I could fix it but I cant fix them all.

 

This is the start of a few cars leaving.

 

TBH, most of us would have fragged it long ago. No need to be sad.

[dollywobbler]

TBH, most of us would have fragged it long ago. No need to be sad.

 

This. We do our best, though often we're only delaying the inevitable. It isn't like you didn't bloody try with that thing! And fleet reductions are often a good thing. So easy to acquire too many cars.

[KruJoe]

This one has given you more pain that it ever had a right to Ed. You're doing the right thing by calling it a day.

 

What else is leaving the fleet?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

The ungrateful bastard should have been lobbed in the canal years ago IMO

[mrbenn]

THE END. Car went tonight to the yard it came from.

 

I've never met you, nor seen the car in the flesh, but feel an odd sense of relief at this news.

[SambaS]

Not certain yet Joe, scrapyard John is after the Cosworth too.

Will see how I feel with the ZR off my plate!

[rml2345]

You tried valiantly to save it but some cars are just troublesome despite our best efforts. Ditching it's sorry arse and moving on to other projects (or just driving about in a pleasant wee Daihatsu) is definitely the right move.

[Joey spud]

Thinking about the fire problem and melted bits,if you continue to drive with a severe missfire the cat is going to get really hot and melt things that are close to it.

Catalyst is going to be a bit goosed as well afterwards.

 

Seen a Legacy with a glowing red catalyst after the guy drove it a couple of miles with a trigger wire pulled off the ignition coil.

[SambaS]

I spent most of this evening stripping out the engine on this.

 

By god there's a lot of stuff to disconnect.

 

It's still at the scrapyard but by chance he didn't put another car on top of it.

 

The power steering pump pissed me off. I undid two huge long bolts and it wouldn't budge, so removed the fluid feed pipe and couldn't remove the return. Found a 3rd nut and with a lever and cut of the belt it budged out the way.

 

I think tomorrow all I have to do is undo the final mount bolt on left and three or more gear box to engine bolts then it should lift out.

[overrun]

THE END. Car went tonight to the yard it came from.

 

I feel well sad because I failed the car.

 

I could fix it but I cant fix them all.

 

This is the start of a few cars leaving.

Is car still hear m8

[SambaS]

Just!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Are you repairing it again??

[SambaS]

Seem to be.

 

Unfortunately my donor vehicle was flattened and 4 flattened cars put on top of it. its right at the bottom of a very large pile.

 

John will dig it out but not in a hurry

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Flippin heck, you've got it bad SambaS!!! 'Shiting' time and skills are valuable resources - don't waste them when there are endless more deserving causes out there!!!! (Says the man pissing about with a Laguna while his unfinished Maserati enters its 3rd year of sitting gathering dust)

[M'coli]

Ed/SambaS has it reeeaaal bad. Tied up with that is that he's a cracking person too, and I for one am glad that I know him, even if it's only fleetingly.

[SambaS]

I have to try

[sloth]

against the grain, but good onya for persevering with this. watching with interest.

[Parky]

Bloody hell Samba. What more can I say other than good luck with the fix! Watching with interest

[Rusty_Rocket]

You're fixing the Zed, Samba?! Have I understood that right? Sack it off mate, the thing has a hopeless gypsy curse and bring continued sorrow.