I wonder where Stewart is?

[M77XNE]

I don't know if he has sent you guys a piccy or not, but the poor Shaggy mobile has broken! I will let him fill you in on all the glory on his return.....Thats a point, I wonder if he is back from Devon yet?

[Guest]

Just got back from a weekend away in Devon, and yesterday whilst drivng near the Hoe in Plymouth, the car suddenly started making a very load rattling noise behind my head. As soon as I could, I pulled over and checked it out form outside the car and it was very loud so I turned it off. The noise was coming from the cam belt side, and I checked coolant and it had gone down loads, but oil was still nice and clean. Anyway, Definitely not good, so got the AA to come and get the car and take it home for me. Now gonna try and find out what's happened, my suspissions are water pump/cam belt.....

[Rich]

U-oh! Not sounding too good then. Water pump blown to bits perhaps? Thank goodness for the AA being able to rescue you. Hope it's fixed soon.

Chat later mate...

Rich.

[Lee121]

That's a horrible sight seeing an MGF on a trailor.....I really hope you get him sorted and soon Stew

[M77XNE]

Well, you have plenty of help at hand on here Stewart...I'm good at making tea for all, and even capable of rustling up a fab chilli if you need someone to cater for all you mechanics out there!! lol

Hope the Shagmeister get's fix soon.

[Guest]

Thanks for your support everyone. I'm trying to get hold of a friend of a friend who i'm hoping can help me out on the cheap, as opposed to taking it to the MGF specialist 200 yards away from where the car is that charges £60+vat an hour (they look after Jay Kay's cars, so thay have obviously got used to being able to charge people that kind of money!). Failing that I will look at hiring a trailer and taking it to the guys in Witney that I have used before, but I still don't fancy paying £45+vat with them!

I'm pretty sure cam belt has gone, but not had chance to check it yet, and of course it will all depend on what it is like when the head is removed. So, i'm preparing myself for the worst case scenario and looking at a new engine in case it may be beyond economic repair, and easier just to plonk a new engine in. Hope that won't be the case, but worth checking out all the options whilst I wait.

Don't worry though, whatever the situation, I intend on getting Shaggy back on the road, but sadly if it is expensive, the planned mods for this year may have to go on hold due to lack of funds... Will be gutted not to have it all ready for this years competitions.


Maxine, a chilli sounds fab! Might have to take you up on that offer!!!

[Rich]

We could always tow it to the garage... I'm quite happy to help there!

It may not be as bad as you think... When my timing belt tensioner decided to cease it's bearing, my cam belt jumped off and the result was 10 bent valves... Ouch! But the thing was that the rest of the engine was quite robust, so after a detailed inspection it was just the cost of refurbing the head (new valves, seats reground, etc) that was expensive. The pistons were hardly marked! Cost me about the same as a HGF. If it wasn't for the fact that the new HGs weren't available, I reckon it would have been bullet proof, but I had the HGF three years later!!!!

So there is hope.... and help...

[Guest]

Cheers Rich, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but won't get to start checking the car till the weekend, and at the moment I'm having a bad feeling about it all....

Thanks for offer of help with towing, have had a few others offer, but as the car is currently sitting in Bucks, and if I go for my cheaper options I'd be bringing it quite a distance over to other side of Oxon, so would feel more comfortable sticking it on a trailer. Have found a company in Thame where I can hire a trailer for the day for about £25 plus straps which seems quite reasonable, and easy enough for me as have towbar on my LR.

[Rich]

Why is it in Bucks? I thought the AA would have taken it back to your home. As I said though, I'm still available with an extra pair of hands.

Thame... Brings back childhood memories, that does...!

Rich.

[Guest]

Well, as I stayed down in Devon, I got them to take the car back to my mums house, as it would have been too awkward to deal with them dumping it in the right place where I live. Plus I had figured I'd then get the guys over the road to check it out for me, but I refuse to pay them that rediculous labour rate! Not really an issue tho, as easy enough to transport it elsewhere.

Anyway, I'm off to the shops now to go get myself a bottle of wine for the evening!!!

[daved]

What happened with the car then Mate?

[Guest]

Ok, so that latest is that I started investigating this on Saturday and found that the cambelt tensioner had come loose. Still not quite sure of the overall damage that's been done, but i'm still fearing the worst. However, today I finally heard back from the guy that works at BMW-Mini. When the F's were coming out he used to work in the Crash Worthiness team when it was the Rover factory, and spent quite some time smashing up MGF's and measuring them to see how much they had crumpled!!! He know's the K series inside out, and he's going to save me a fortune compared with taking it to one of the garages.

The good news is he is taking the job on, however as he has a day job, it could be a couple of weeks before it's all done, but i'm happy to wait. He's going to call me in a couple of days when he's worked out what the overall situation is.

So, after work today, I grabbed the trailer and went and moved the car back to oxfordshire! Picture below is from dropping it off at his place ready for him to start work on it.



Whilst I was there, I spotted a very tidy Rover SD1 in his drive. It turns out it's a 29 year old car that he has owned for the last 27 years. Looked really smart, and I also noticed the HUGE stainless steel exhaust that he's fitted to it, which cost him £750!!! So, when he's got my one up and running, I think I'll be having a little challenge with him to see if it's louder that a TT!!!

[Guest]

Ok, diagnosis has taken place, and it's not good. Engine is completely knackered. 12 bent valves, broken piston, cracked liner, etc..... It is beyond repair. Actually not sure entirely of the list, as got the call whilst I was in a very noisy pub! However, he's sending me some pictures.

So, I'm now looking for a new engine, but this is really gonna hurt the wallet.

[Rich]

Give up fags and booze... That'll make a huge difference! There was a subliminal message there. The pub was muting the damage report...!

Seriously, that's a whole lotta bad luck. I just hope you're able to sort things soon. I'll make a call at lunchtime as I may know where there's a good vvc engine going at a good price. I'll text you if I have any success.

In the meantime, you'll just have to shout loads in the tunnels...

Rich.

[Lee121]

Stew....really sorry to hear that news.....my fingers are crossed that Shaggy is back on the road soon....you'll have to rename him 'Phoenix'

[Guest]

Cheers guys, the search for one begins. However, Rich it's not a vvc!!! I just have vvc wheels!

[Rich]

Right then Scoob. I am on the trail and will have some info hopefully by 4.30ish tonight. At the moment though, and probably out of your budget, I have located a BRAND NEW engine that you could have for £1K. It's a fantastic price and much cheaper that you would ever get a new one elsewhere, but obviously a tad more than a second hand one. It would also be sensible to factor in the price of changing the HG before installation as none of the MGR engines ever had these upgraded. This particular engine is fully dressed for installation in a ZT but you will have all the necessary bits to convert it. This was one of the last engines built in the UK and has come directly from MG-NAC...

Rich.

[Guest]

Ok, just remember as mine is '97 it ideally needs to be a distributor cap type, and not coil pack. Just need to be careful, as I think it all gets complicated when you get to later engines with mems3 etc. as would need to change ecu and wiring loom, etc. Not sure if that makes sense! I think I have found a secondhand engine, of exactly the right spec, and am just working out the costs to completely bring it up to top spec. Then I'll call them to start negotiating on price!!

All I'm gonna say is that this is really hurting the bank account.

[Rich]

Aha, well as far as the coil pack, ecu, wiring loom, mems3, etc. you can use your existing stuff on the new engine. I've double checked with the current holder of this engine... a certain Roger Parker... and he has assured me this is the case.

And I'm just waiting for a call back, but there may be a second hand one going for around £550 that's already fitted with the new LR gasket and oil rail and has a relatively low mileage on it, but is from a pre MY2K MGF.

Rich

[Guest]

Ooh, Roger Parkers engine! Don't suppose he's open to offers? Start at £600, and get him to meet me half way at £800!!!

As for the second hand alternative, I have found one for £450, already on subframe with gearbox and everything, ready to slot straight in. Just need to spend a few pounds on it getting new gasket/belts/pump/etc. so probably not that much different, and local for me to pick it up.

Just waiting to hear back from the guy working on my car to see what he thinks.

[Rich]

I'm afraid he won't take less for it as it was a payment from NAC for something he provided them and so it owes him that amount... Shame though. Would be nice to have an engine with precisely Zero miles on it!

I take it if you go for this other one, you'll change the HG whatever while it's out, so you don't have to go through another huge expense later... I reckon £450 is pretty cheap, as the average for a good one is usually around £600 according to a few people I've spoken to. So this could well be your best option.

Is the head on your engine completely knackered? I may be able to move it on for you if it's salvagable...

Rich.

[Guest]

Not sure yet if it salvageable. Will find out later.

Ok, sounds lke it would be too out of budget for me. Was going to be cheeky and suggest if he came down to £800 that i'd then see if he'd throw in a fitted MLS gasket for that price as well!!!

Think I will be going with the second hand one I have found.... It has taken quite a bit of negotiating to get it down to that price!

[Guest]

Progress is being made! On Monday morning I hired a van and went to pick up the back half of a 1998 MGF (the front half was pretty smashed up!). Having got a tractor to load it onto the van, I then came back with it and had that evening to try and dismantle it inside the van (my back still hurts from being bent over). At half past midnight, I had nicely laid out the drive shafts, gearbox, engine, subframe, alternator, etc. So, engine has been dropped off at the guy who's working on my car, and I now need to start sorting out selling all these other bits so that hopefully I can recover some of the cost of this whole thing!

Not sure how long it will be before Shaggy is running again, as still quite a bit of work to do. Also doing new clutch and brake pipe whilst the engine is out, as well as obviously the LR gasket, belts, water pump, etc. Also going to consider (money allowing) new coolant pipes/radiator. Anyway, it is possible that I could have the car in time for the PoL run this Saturday, but will have to wait and see!

[M77XNE]

(my back still hurts from being bent over).

ooowwww were!!!!! I say Stewart. It's fantastic that's it's slowly coming together and its getting sorted.

Remember, i'm just a call away if I can offer any help

[Guest]

Cheers Maxine. Not much else I can do now, other than sell bits i've salvaged and get some money back towards all this. I'm just waiting on my guy that's doing the work!

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