A bit of an update on the 2000. The rattle has been solved, and as was the case with my previous engine, the large can shaped piece into the inlet was cracked, and rattling aimlessly! Seems a rather stupid piece of design, as the car runs so well again now that it has been removed!
Now, a bit of a fleet update. I've not had the chance to post on here as often as I'd like of late, as I've been acquiring some slightly unloved MG/Rover products along the way. In so doing, I've got no fewer than five cars in my name, at present.
While looking for cars locally, ideally of a classic persuasion, I stumbled across an advert for a 2003 MG ZT 180 automatic (2.5 V6) with 'headgasket failure'. The advert depicted a rather sad-looking example of a Solar Red ZT, with a dire description, and four photos, two of which illustrating the same dented front wing. I bid on the car, up to £320, with the intention of buying it to strip a few desirable bits off, make a profit, and then weigh in, but I was outbid, and though that was the end of the matter. A few days later, the car reappeared on ebay, so I messaged the seller, to view the car. He got back to me quickly, and I went to see the car straight after work that evening. The car was sitting in a corner of a public car park, and there was moss growing around most of the exterior trim, it was full of dog hairs, and was losing colossal amounts of water. There was mayonnaise around the oil-filler cap, but nothing on the dipstick, and no big bubbles when the car was revved with the expansion cap removed. A quick look around the car showed that it had brand new rear springs, new front tyres, new front brake discs, a new exhaust, and, it transpired, new front wishbones too, along with recent rear tyres. I took the gamble, and said I'd collect it the next day, complete with a few gallons of water, to move it the three miles home. I got a week's temporary insurance cover, and was able to set about moving the car. It was also taxed, and MOT'd for a few months.
I filled the car with water as best I could, and set about driving it home with as few delays as possible. By the time I got to my destination, it was getting warm, but was nothing like boiling.
After dinner, we put the car onto ramps, removed the undertray, and the source of the leak was immediately apparent. The metal pipes carrying coolant to the oil cooler had rotted away, leading to huge coolant loss. The next day, new pipes were sourced, and fitted. We got the car up to temperature, while stationary, and all seemed well, until we got out on the road, and it overheated, according to the gauge, losing a lot of coolant in the process. At this point, we weren't too hopeful. However, since I already owned a 75, despite the probability being fairly remote, we decided to borrow it's expansion tank cap, and see how it went. Well, it lost no more coolant! The temperature gauge fluctuated for around 30 miles, as it was slowly bled through, and soon, it was running entirely in the safe zone, with superb levels of performance, and no smoke whatsoever.
Since then, the car has covered over 1000 miles, and in that time, not consumed a drop of coolant, or oil! In addition to the £23 spent on the pipes, and a new expansion cap, I've spent £33 on a new wing, and £59 on a new battery, and 99p on a new MG badge. The purchase price for the car was £270, and it's got a huge service history. I'm delighted with the way it's cleaned up, and hopefully it'll be a fun car for a spell! Here are some photos of how my £270 car looks now!
After this, I was hunting some bits and pieces on gumtree when I stumbled across an advert for a very very early, T-registered Rover 75. It's a 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE which means that it has electric heated leather seats, satellite navigation, cruise control, an electric sunblind, CD autochanger, climate control, traction control, heated washer jets, a walnut steering wheel, and curtain airbags. It's very unusual in be T-registered, has had the three cambelts done in the last 3000 miles, has had a new inlet manifold, air-conditioning regassed, new brake pipes, a new exhaust, and a variety of other bits, all with ridiculous main dealer bills to prove. It was similarly cheap to the ZT, and given the history, the spec, and the fact that it was taxed until the end of March 2014, I felt it worthwhile as a purchase, because the owners were only selling due to an airbag light being on, which they thought would be hugely expensive to repair (I had the light off by the time I'd finished viewing it). It's by no means perfect, and isn't as tidy as the ZT, but will give me something a bit different to try, and, eventually sell back on. I collect it on Monday, and will be able to get better photos then!
My apologies for going slightly off-topic, but I thought some people might find these curious! Normal P6-related service will soon be resumed. I've been using the 2000 on an almost daily basis again this week, since the repair!
