Rover 114GSi The Path To Longbridge - Who had a cylinder head For Sale?

[Chris2cv]

I had two. The first was a C reg in Primrose yellow. It was 1.3 and very fast (my other car was the 2cv which I still have, so most things are fast in comparison). Great car but leaked oil out and water in. This was followed by an ex demo Rover 100 which was the family runabout for about 5 years, my dad doing many miles in it, my sister eventually moving up north with it etc. A great little car, eventually went to head gasket failure and general knackeredness! Sold to a guy called Big Vince, and never seen again!

   I learned in several Metros, my first two instructors being AA and having brand new ones. The first instructor left after about 3 lessons of slagging the AA constantly, the second being an utter git who destroyed all my confidence (surely not really the aim of a driving teacher?) and finally a local man with a very early metro. They are definitely a classic to me. Just seem so tiny next to modern cars, but yet comfortable and great for the city.

[Six-cylinder]

Not sure why I wanted one, they never figured highly in my life but I did, so I have!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I would only skim it if I could see some fire ring imprints in the surface or an obvious warp. I would say with 98% certainty that one of those rubber beads has come debonded off the gasket causing the failure.

[Six-cylinder]

I have cleaned the head with Jizzer and water today so now I am drying it out on our kitchen stove.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Jizzer

[Six-cylinder]

Jizzer

OK so I can't spell, should read Jizer.

[sierraman]

I've never found jizzing on the cylinder head to have any degreasing qualities whatsoever.

[Six-cylinder]

An update to the Metro story:

 

Early in the week the head was refitted with new bolts. My decision was not to pressure test the head or skim it!

 

I knew there was a problem with the starter but I was thinking it was stuck and the act of taking it off and banging it around a bit would get it working again, no such luck. I took it apart and found the input wire had come unsoldered from the copper strip leading to the windings and while I could tin the wire fine I could not tin the copper strip and broke it in the end. I ordered a s/h replacement.

 

In the meantime I had a look at the brakes, I knew the front discs are badly corroded with low pads but the pistons and sliders seem to work fine. The handbrake also does not work, I have freed off the stuck rear adjuster, cleaned the shoes and worked the hand brake linkage but still no handbrake, it seems both cables are seized.

 

Today I put the replacement starter on and no sign of life but I noticed the immobilizer light was still on, so a trip to Tesco to get a battery for the remote. Yes it fires instantly runs clean and quiet.

 

It did not take long to have a header tank of boiling water so I switched off. The radiator was stone cold so thermostat was the most likely problem and with that my friend managed to get it out after much struggling. He tested it and found it did not open when placed in boiling water.

 

I have bought a replacement thermostat this afternoon but did not have time to fit it.

 

Fingers crossed tomorrow morning!

[vulgalour]

What a superb story this is turning out to be.

[Six-cylinder]

What a superb story this is turning out to be.

Not yet, I only like stories with happy endings!

[D Spares & Tyres]

Not yet, I only like stories with happy endings!

Well it looks happier now than it did when it lived in Shropshire ☺

[MarvinsMom]

if you lived in shropshire,

 

YOU would look happier living anywhere else.....

 

great thread though, its really good to see one of these wee cars getting some well deserved lovin'

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I like Shropshire

[Six-cylinder]

Not a good story, thermostat changed now, the radiator warms up but it still boils quickly with large air bubbles appearing in the header tank.

[D Spares & Tyres]

if you lived in shropshire,

 

YOU would look happier living anywhere else.....

 

great thread though, its really good to see one of these wee cars getting some well deserved lovin'

I guessing your only experience of Shropshire is Telford then.....

[Guest Lord Sward]

Not a good story, thermostat changed now, the radiator warms up but it still boils quickly with large air bubbles appearing in the header tank.

 

Theres combustion gasses getting in there somewhere.

[sloth]

vvc time.

[MarvinsMom]

or the head back off for a wee skim?

 

i went to telford once, i didn't like it...... (and i've been to rhyl)

[M'coli]

If the engine's on multipoint injection, then the 16-valve engines are plug-n-play, I believe. Stick a 1400 K16 in for cheap tax and 100ish bhp.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Not a good story, thermostat changed now, the radiator warms up but it still boils quickly with large air bubbles appearing in the header tank.

 

Noooo 

 

Did you check liner protrusion before putting the thing back together ? If not, it may be a good idea to do it before you send the head off to the machine shop...

[Six-cylinder]

I seem to remember a post offering to sell a K series cylinder head, anybody remember where it was?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think it was that old bloke from next door

[Six-cylinder]

I think it was that old bloke from next door

?