Laser Mark

Andy, recieved a message from Tom this morning. He'll let the engine go for £100 collected. A small update on Tom's internet woes. He's told me that BT are fixing his connection on Saturday.

Tim, I know the rad panel isn't available as I had it. As for the rad panel, I've powder coated it for Tom, I just need to get it back to him over this next week.

Andy, I've spoken with Tom and he says £150 collected for the engine and gearbox. He's hoping to have internet again over the weekend.

Those of you who are waiting for a reply from Tom. He's currently without internet, but hopes to be back on line over the weekend.

Tom is struggling without an internet connection. Please bare with us. Tom is dealing with the selling as all the bits are at his.

I had some nice comments from the AA man the other week while he was strapping the car into the back of his waggon. Turns out he used to own a g40 a few years before and had been to Harewood House in the past. He was in the process of building a new garage so he could have a project car again.

Payment sent Cheers

That's fine by me mate. No rush to be honest. If you want to PM me your details.

I'll take them chap.

Took a trip to the local engine specialists on Thursday, this is a guy who does regrinds for the local main dealers. His reaction and words where, 'ahh, that's f***ed, I wouldn't touch it even if it was mine' So now I'm looking for a VW specialist. But most of them seem to be bloody miles away. Essex and London, although I have found one in Stoke on Trent. I'm still unsure as to what to do, so looking into all the options and comparing the costs and benefits.

Thanks chap. I'll keep an eye out in that area when I strip it down.

I think it's in the garage after the turbo blew. But knowing Tom it's probably been fixed already.

Jim - The engine was fine, the breaker it came out of used to belong to Purple Tom. After the conversion it was driven to Tatton Park, and driven back with some gusto which was fun. The only incline I had was about a mile from Woolley Edge services, the engine didn't sound right under throttle. I checked the oil temp which was at 120 degrees. I phoned and flashed Dave to pull over at the next service. Luckily it was where everyone else was, parked up switched off and checked water level, oil level etc. Everything seemed fine. When we set off again the oil temp was at 80, pulling out of the services and giving it the beans along with everyone else the knocking started. And it got worse. And worse. Just before j43, with an oil temp of 148 and climbing I gave up and pulled over. 12 miles since first noticing it.

The woes! Well after being delivered to my mates garage on Sunday morning by the AA the news from the garage is the bottom end has gone. I'm going to have to move the car to a relatives garage to get it out of the way as I can't afford my mate to strip it down at the minute and fix it. So what are my options? 1) Completely strip the engine down and find out what's knackered, re grind etc to get it fixed. While its stripped I've thought about getting the head cleaned up, possibly getting it bored out. Its a thought at the minute, but an expensive one. 2) Get another 2.9 from a breaker and stick that in. Run the risk of something going wrong again as these engines have covered some mileage. 3) Find a new engine, either a 2.8 or 3.2 24v a lower mileage, more modern engine is less likely to go pop after 3 weeks. I guess each has the pro's and con's. Cheap but risky to pricey but reliable. One thing which never crossed my mind, even when sat beside the M1 on Sunday was getting rid of the car. So what are your thoughts???? Any other ideas????? Cheers Mark

CrazyDave had just past me so I gave him the secret 'Team America' signal (waving arms, and flashing lights) Dave gave it the once over, it was knocking very loudly before I pulled over and the noise was getting worse. Initial diagnosis was that the bottom end had gone, there are metal particles in the oil around the oil cap and on the dip stick. The oil temp shot up to 148 degrees before I switched off and the engine didn't like being started up, it ran for a few seconds and then died as if it was tight. I phoned the AA at 8.05 and by 8.25 I was being recovered, and by 9 I was southbound. My mate opened his garage for me and fired it up, sounded much quieter as the oil had cooled. No knocking from the bottom, so it could be the top end that gone. Its going to be diagnosed tomorrow and we'll take it from there. I've been offered the bits needed to fix it thanks to Dave16v. So now its a waiting game. Thanks to Dave for stopping and giving it the once over. I'll update my members thread when I have more news.

Is waiting for the AA! Heart broken! Gutted! Sad! Pit stop on the way home. [ATTACH=CONFIG]69039[/ATTACH]

I'm hardcore, I'll go bed later. May have a kip in the car again. I've even packed a chair!!!!

Nice work mate. I checked my heat shield today and it seems to be ok. The paint hasn't blistered at all.

Yeah, I think me and Dave are going to make the Wooley Edge service meet.

Looking good Kip. Can't wait to see in on Sunday

It is possible to lay under the car and do the hose's up to the steering rack. Its slow..... very slow. You can only get 1/8th of a turn at a time and you have to keep turning the spanner round. I made this mistake the other week, granted I didn't have the engine in, but I wan't going to take the bloody subframe out for a third time after I'd torqued everything up.

If you want 288's or even 312's have a word with Purple Tom on here. I know he has a few set's of 288's which have been blasted and powder coated and re built with new seals etc. I think he may have a set of 312's if you fancy some big stoppers.

I also have another inlet and throttle body, this one isn't powder coated. I think I also have a second metering head and air box. The injectors are about 2 years old. I've had the car a little over 2 years after buying it from Dave16v and its only covered 5000 to 6000 miles in the last few years as I can't afford to keep 2 cars on the road all year round. As Toms says, the engine runs a little rough when cold. This could be due to standing idle for a while and stale fuel. I haven't used it much this year due to the poor weather and being busy.

Thanks Wendy, although I have noticed a theme of wheels in my photo's lately. I'll try something new at Harewood. Maybe you could organise the car's on the stand in some artistic fashion.

A few images from Sunday.