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MG MGF Technical - HGF AND block scrapped!

Any suggestions...!
Coolant/steam leaking out of block, garage says the cylinders are scrap too, as there is bore damage.

Is it worthwhile replacing the components, and reconstructing (50,000 miles use)?
or:
New engine...and face the prospect of HGF again
or:
Reconditioned engine, with Head fixed to prevent HGF..(can you actually do this?)
or:
Scrap the vehicle, its probably worth £3500 max, and the garage is quoting £2500 for a new engine.

And a thought. I asked the garage to anticipate HGF last August, (my sisters MGF had just HGF'd) and replace the head gasket etc as necessary. Instead they changed the inlet manifold, saying that was all that was necessary. Now they say, that if I'd had the gasket done, this wouldn't have happened... and had the additional nerve to ask who had worked on the engine recently, as the bore damage appeared to be like stanley knife cuts...

Question: can changing the inlet manifold give enough access to leave repair debris in the cylinder bore?
Anything I can do about it....?
C Gredd

That's bad news, the issue of value is only really relevant if you are selling the car.
If you are getting rid, broken it'd probabably fetch around a grand, and generate a lot of interest, if you repair it it'll fetch about 3.5 grand, and be one of hundreds up for sale- so you may aswell sell it as a non runner.
If you're keeping it - well it's a good opportunity for a few upgrades for little extra cost? Silver lining!

As an aside can I ask what airfilter you were using?

Also I would sugest that the best way of protecting against/preventing a costly HGF is a water level alarm/sensor, as this would minimise the potential for overheating to go unnoticed, and therefore, whether the cause of the coolant loss be a split hose or "head shuffle" HGF there would be little chance of softening the castings. IMHO

As an aside can I ask what airfilter you were using?

Ta
Gareth
g hampson

yes, removing the inlet manifold gives enough access for all kinds of sh*te to get in, but the process doesn't involve anything thats lightly to make it in.

You can get second hand engines for £500->£800, fitting is of course extra (but may be negotiable as the dammage looks like it was them from their own words!)

Changing the Head gasket and oilrail (using new landrover parts) can be done real easy with the engine out for about £50 parts - you could do it yourself if you could borrow the tools (you're a bit far from me)

Changing the liners (bores) is possible, but you'll also want to change the piston rings and possibly the pistons themselvs and this gets real expensive real fast as the parts are expensive as well as the labour.

I don't know what sort of garage you are at, but you might consider a diffrent local garage, the F isn't any more complex than a metro, just more fiddly and cramped
Will Munns

I'd probably opt for replacing the engine with a good second hand unit - they're cheap enough at this level, and will save you significant lumps of cash when it comes to labour.

BTW if you do end up scrapping the old engine, can I have it? I have an engine project planned that may not require the retention of the original bores - so current condition is not that important...
Rob Bell

Thanks for the responses. I've now seen the damage, and its much more interesting! standard HGF...
AND some lovely fresh scoring marks on the TOP of the engine block (not inside). Standard incompetent head removal evidence!
Yes the block is scrap... but I've talked to the previous owners today, and there's never been any previous work on the engine so its pretty obvious the garage damaged it whilst checking the gasket failure
... and I spoke to an Independent engineer, who reckons they are taking the piss if they are suggesting the gasket lasted nearly 40,000 miles with a block in that condition.
I believe I'm going to have some fun with this one.
I'm going to have a recon engine put in, which means engine exchange, so unfortunately..no availability there!
Perhaps I might try for some compensatory wire wheels!
And a thought... whilst the engine is out, what's worth checking in the gear box?
Its had a beating over the last couple of years...fast 2nd/3rd gear,in tiny country lanes is 90% of the cars use.
C Gredd

So it happens all the time and to every MGF in the road!. Actually it would be mandatory to get rid of these lousy little cars as they will never have the opportunity to become classic cars. MGF engines are most fragile lasting 30k only. And when the infamous gasket goes the whole engine brakes! It is really difficult to accept such a bad quality and awful engineering.
PC Bertin

Dick,

<the whole engine brakes!>

You really should learn the basics of spelling and grammar before you attempt your pathetic attempts at humour. Now run along like a good little chimp, and colour in your pictures of Clios and Corsas.

G Martin

>> And a thought... whilst the engine is out, what's worth checking in the gear box? <<

Probably not - unless there is any evidence of synchro wear. The PG1 is pretty much unburstable in the F, so I wouldn't attempt to fix something that wasn't broken.

The clutch is another issue of course - I'd definitely get that replaced. Depending on the sort of driving you do, you could invest in a lightened flywheel and AP racing clutch... I have these on my car and am delighted with the improved throttle response. :o)
Rob Bell

and if it's not too late give all the bearing in the cluch arm a good soak in penetrating fluid
Will Munns

Hear - Hear.... G Martin !
Although I doubt if his Mother even lets him use the crayon's on his own.

Paul
Paul Carugati

This thread was discussed between 12/02/2006 and 17/02/2006

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