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MG MGF Technical - For F**ks sake! Shocker.

Well, got into the car yesterday morning to go to work and as soon as i turned the key there was a loud clunk. I then turned the key again to get a high pitched screeching. First impressions starter motor, which rightly it was. So ok new starter motor needed, i then had to tow the car to my mechanics which i would pick up later that evening, or so it would seem......On diagnoses the starter had shattered. Water had been getting into one of the cylinders and "hydraulicing" so the head gaskets fcuked aswell, coupled with the fact iam going to need a new fly wheel and ring gear also where a few teeth have been sheared off in the process. So, my shopping list consists of:- full head gasket kit, fly wheel and ring gear. Where is the best (and cheapest) place to obtain these from? i think mikes gasket is my best bet, does it come as a full kit? And any benefit from fitting an ultra-light fly wheel while i have the opportunity? To make matters worse, through circumstances my mechanic cannot do my car for 5 weeks so it looks as if iam going to have to lay her up until then :-( You can tell the summers here cant you! Gutted, Davey :-(
Davey

So I take it that you won't be coming with Terry on a run with us tomorrow :-( Seriously, sorry to hear about your troubles and hope to see you soon.
David Clelland

No worries Dave, ill be there, as Terrys passenger!
Davey

>>Where is the best (and cheapest) place to obtain these from? <<

I reckon the MGF Centre is probably going to be your best bet - but they're closed for the next couple of weeks leading up to Silverstone... If parts are needed sooner, try the Midlands MGF.
Rob Bell

Sorry to hear about your nightmare mate. Just a thought.. How about fitting a lightened fly wheel seeing as you need to get a new one anyway? I have a QED one fitted in mine...Brilliant!


Good luck,
Duncan.
duncan dorrell

Dunc, like i said i am looking into it. Race-speed do one and is slightly cheaper than B+G standard one all in, so ive mailed them an inquiry. I was thinking about this some time ago but never had need to do it. Where did you get yours from? and is there noticeable performance gain? Davey.
Davey

There will be no performance gain, just the engine will rev better and shake more, and when you take your foot of the gas you will feel it.
Will Munns

firstly gutted for you mate, especially as the weather here is quite good at present. secondly as just a thought could it be cheaper getting a new engine and shoving that in place? saves having to take it apart? it may be a naive thought (and if Rob Bell aint said anything i guess it is)
Rob Greig

Also try Dave Andrews for bits (or new engine), problem is you'll be tempted to go for a little more than you planned for if you start chatting.

Sorry to hear of your woes.

Tim
tim woolcott

>>secondly as just a thought could it be cheaper getting a new engine and shoving that in place? saves having to take it apart? it may be a naive thought<<

Actually Rob, a very sensible option - if one of the cylinders was hydraulically locked, then who knows what additional damage has occured to the bottom end, and to the conrod of that particular piston...

Buying a complete 'new' engine would certainly save you the cost of paying for a complete engine strip down and diagnostic, and then the subsequent repair...

Dave Andrews may be able to point you in the direction of a new engine, as indeed would Mike Satur and Victoria @ MGF Centre.
Rob Bell

<<Actually Rob, a very sensible option - if one of the cylinders was hydraulically locked, then who knows what additional damage has occured to the bottom end, and to the conrod of that particular piston...

Buying a complete 'new' engine would certainly save you the cost of paying for a complete engine strip down and diagnostic, and then the subsequent repair...
>>

Yup, this was train of thought.

MGF Centre got me a nice (almost new) engine, for what the dealers were quoting, just to strip it down.

paul weatherill

Only think now is, I'll need to run it in!!!

Going to be hard, I am sure my car will stall if I drive under 3000 revs.

paul weatherill

Thanks for the suggestions and concern guys. A new engine is out of the question. As my "run" of bad luck continues, the car needs its 5 year service in August so i will be doing it early along with the repairs as the engine will no doubt be dropped anyway. I also could not just get a normal engine put in, it would have to be "fettled"! and i just cant justify the expense at the moment. Tim is spot on, once you start talking about it.... The engine only has 37,000 miles on from new all done by me so i know exactly how the car has been looked after and driven. To get a completely new engine at that sort of milage other than for performance purposes says bye bye MGF all over it. Rob, regarding the cylinder, i ll just have to wait and see. On a positive side, i was thinking about porting my existing head while it was off, but i really need to see how the car is post repair to see if it is worth keeping or not. In the meantime, ive aquired an old saab 900 turbo as a run-about and theres always my bike for when i need that "roof down" feeling! so at least iam not stuck for transport. I will keep you all posted as to what happens. Davey.
Davey

>> Rob, regarding the cylinder, i ll just have to wait and see. On a positive side, i was thinking about porting my existing head while it was off, but i really need to see how the car is post repair to see if it is worth keeping or not.<<

Fingers crossed Davey.

I think your thoughts regarding the cylinder head are spot on - ensure that the engine has been returned to tip-top health before changing things. Although a ported cylinder head could very easily be transplanted to what ever engine you might be using, if the present engine, when rebuilt, refused to run properly with a ported head, you'd rapidly get into difficulties determining whether the problem was the bottom end of the engine, or the head...

More complication than you need.
Rob Bell

Hopefully you won't have caused much damage with the hydrolic lock, the real damage happens if you get it at speed, so you should be OK. fingers crossed

Will
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2003 and 09/06/2003

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