Alibro · Jan 13, 2016

I think it might be easier to buy an engine from a car the same year as your own and sort it. At least you know it isn't damaged and you should have enough parts between them to get one running. Try calling the local scrappies and check out Gumtree. You could still get her running for small money but it will be a lot of work. If it's the kind of job you enjoy doing it would be a great project and a lot of fun but not easy.

Nodge68 · Jan 14, 2016

Alibro said:
I think it might be easier to buy an engine from a car the same year as your own and sort it. At least you know it isn't damaged and you should have enough parts between them to get one running. Try calling the local scrappies and check out Gumtree. You could still get her running for small money but it will be a lot of work. If it's the kind of job you enjoy doing it would be a great project and a lot of fun but not easy.

Seconded ^^^^

Jason2 · Jan 17, 2016

After a slight "hiccup" I got the piston out today ! Has melted when the engine boiled ! Is this normal ! The lands for the liner have 2 little dings but otherwise OK ! Other liners are 0.003" above the block, other pistons & bores are OK. I can't check the head as my straight edge is not straight !!

I think the last owner stripped the head down to change the head gasket and bottles out when he saw that the piston was goosed !! Then some bods turned the starter over and with the piston semi-seized has pushed the liner out and when it's gone back down again it's bust the liner and put two dings in the liner lands.

I reckon it's worth a try !

Will I get away with ou a head skim as it will cost a fourtune out here in France !

What head gasket should I get old one is stamped LVB000490 -108 and the shim plate is 0.010" thick.

How the hell am I going to set the timing ??

Thanks in advance

Alibro · Jan 17, 2016

I think the timing will be the least of your problems, set the crank to the mark and the cams to their mark and your done.
Have you read the umpteen hundred threads about head gaskets both here and elsewhere? I'm guessing not or you wouldn't be asking which head gasket to use. You really need to spend some time researching this before going any further.
Do you know how to refit the new liner?
Do you know if the head has softened? In your case I would suggest taking it to a good engineering shop for a hardness test and skim.
Do you know if the block has softened? If the piston has melted there must have been a hell of a lot of heat which might have destroyed the engine.
Have you priced a new liner + piston + rings + water pump + tensioner + timing belt + Head gasket kit and Bolts?
Do you know if the other liners have been disturbed? If not it might make sense to remove them and refit with hylomer blue as a leak here will make the whole job pointless.
Is it really worth the grief? It would probably be cheaper for you to fly to UK, buy a Rover or MG car with a K series engine the same year and drive it back to France.
These engines can be a complete pain to sort without all the issues yours has been through so even if you get it running the chances of internal leaks will be high.

Jason2 · Jan 17, 2016

Well that's put a downer on things

Alibro · Jan 17, 2016

Hey, its your time and your money. If you want to have a go at saving the engine then go for it but you need to be realistic. I've done three head gaskets in K series so I'm no expert but am aware how things can go wrong and am now paranoid about all of them.
You might be lucky and fitting a new liner + piston + elastomer HG might fix everything, or you might end up with a dog that will break your heart.

If you decide to go ahead check out the MG Rover forums. Loads more info there.

freelance · Jan 17, 2016

Clamp the other liners before turning the crank again, also be better to go back to an elastomer gasket, head was probably skimmed last time if a shim has been fitted, for the sake of a piston and liner, and a simple head gasket set it won't be too dear to repair!

Alibro · Jan 17, 2016

freelance said:
Clamp the other liners before turning the crank again, also be better to go back to an elastomer gasket, head was probably skimmed last time if a shim has been fitted, for the sake of a piston and liner, and a simple head gasket set it won't be too dear to repair!

How will he know if the others have been moved already. If they have they will leak like sieves.

freelance · Jan 17, 2016

So slip them out and reseal the lot!!

Alibro · Jan 17, 2016

freelance said:
So slip them out and reseal the lot!!

I said that earlier.

Nodge68 · Jan 17, 2016

Definitely take all the liners out to reseal them, one by one. Make sure each liner is clamped after sealing. Don't use the shim and use the latest blue elasopolyler Payen gasket. Just be prepared to replace the engine, should the repair not work.

freelance · Jan 17, 2016

Nothing in those photos that suggest any terminal damage!

Jason2 · Jan 19, 2016

Nodge68 said:
Definitely take all the liners out to reseal them, one by one. Make sure each liner is clamped after sealing. Don't use the shim and use the latest blue elasopolyler Payen gasket. Just be prepared to replace the engine, should the repair not work.

I'm going to have a crack at getting her going ! what the hell ! it's only money ! Why do you say to not use the shim ?

Thanks for all your help !

Nodge68 · Jan 19, 2016

The shim has been known to leak in the same way that the MLS gasket can. The elasopolyler gasket is designed to seal. But it can only do that if it's between the block and head.

Jason2 · Jan 19, 2016

Nodge68 said:
The shim has been known to leak in the same way that the MLS gasket can. The elasopolyler gasket is designed to seal. But it can only do that if it's between the block and head.

Thanks for your help mate ! I appreciate it

Jason2 · Jan 19, 2016

Managed to grab à look at cylinder head and it's not been skimmed before as it still has lips round the top of each cylinder! Does this mean I must keep the shim ?

Alibro · Jan 19, 2016

The shim is only for mls gaskets. If you buy a new mls it should have one. Elastomer don't need it.

Jason2 · Jan 21, 2016

Got all my bit's ordered ! The lips I was on about turns out to be the cylinder liners that have been tw@tting the cylinder head ! Not an option here to get the cylinder head skimmed so I'm sorting it out myself ! Starting off with 180 wet & dry taped to a piece of glass and rubbing the head across with wd40 as a lubricant slow going but I'm fairly chuffed with the results . Was loads of crap in thesump & rocker cover !

htr · Jan 21, 2016

I've heard /read about that method of DIY head skimming. The fellow I read about used wet 'n dry paper like you with a lubricant but he used an old plate glass topped table! Heads have a tolerance where they can be machined to. Search on here an I think you'll find that measurement. Was the motor badly overheated when the HG went? The head may have softened / gone porous. On the 75 & ZT club's site there's an interesting write up by a fellow who rebuilt a dud 1.8 motor including resealing liners...
see this link Porous / soft heads can be peened around the liner ring and the head made serviceable again. Check out what the MG fellows do on the MG Rover forum.

Jason2 · Jan 21, 2016

Alibro said:
Hey, its your time and your money. If you want to have a go at saving the engine then go for it but you need to be realistic. I've done three head gaskets in K series so I'm no expert but am aware how things can go wrong and am now paranoid about all of them.
You might be lucky and fitting a new liner + piston + elastomer HG might fix everything, or you might end up with a dog that will break your heart.
If you decide to go ahead check out the MG Rover forums. Loads more info there.

I can see where your coming from matey and appreciate your help ! Car stands me at just over a 100 snakes (Its in good nick with 4 new tyres) & probably the same again to try and fix it in parts ! If I can get it running I will sort out the cam belt, water pump etc.. afterwards . I like a challenge, Yes I have read all the forums about the k-series and they have done my head in !!! they all go round in circles, you have to form your own opinion & and crack on !

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