Well, never let it be said by anyone that if nothing else, I am not at least
honest. All of the good people on here who had their doubts as to whether a
re-shelling of the big ends was going to get it a few more month's life,
were right. It hasn't lasted and is back knocking again. Still, at least it
only cost me a few quid to find out. I really don't think that it is worth
messing about replacing the engine with an 'unknown' from a scrapper, so I
think it's time to retire it. Anyone want a Fester with a knackered bottom
end ... ?

:-)

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:
Well, never let it be said by anyone that if nothing else, I am not
at least honest. All of the good people on here who had their doubts
as to whether a re-shelling of the big ends was going to get it a few
more month's life, were right. It hasn't lasted and is back knocking
again. Still, at least it only cost me a few quid to find out. I
really don't think that it is worth messing about replacing the
engine with an 'unknown' from a scrapper, so I think it's time to
retire it. Anyone want a Fester with a knackered bottom end ... ?

:-)

Arfa

just look for a crashed one, that is likely to have a working engine

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
om...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Well, never let it be said by anyone that if nothing else, I am not
at least honest. All of the good people on here who had their doubts
as to whether a re-shelling of the big ends was going to get it a few
more month's life, were right. It hasn't lasted and is back knocking
again. Still, at least it only cost me a few quid to find out. I
really don't think that it is worth messing about replacing the
engine with an 'unknown' from a scrapper, so I think it's time to
retire it. Anyone want a Fester with a knackered bottom end ... ?

:-)

Arfa

just look for a crashed one, that is likely to have a working engine


I've been toying with this, but I really don't know if I can be fagged. By
the time it's been dragged out of the scrapper and the cam belt changed and
probably another clutch dropped in it for good measure, and then is there
any differences that matter between a DHA lump, which mine is, and any
other DHx engine that might be in the donor, and so needing the ECU to be
swapped as well then, with a bit of labour chucked in on top, I could easily
be getting up to 500 quid. That still leaves me with a 10 year old motor,
with a largely 'unknown' lump in it. It's given me good service, and I'm
thinking that now is the time to retire it, and put the money towards
something newer. I really wish I could make my mind up. It's a difficult
one. I'm going on holiday in a few weeks, and I can use my daughter's car in
the meantime. I think I might just defer a final decision until we get back,
and I can re-evaluate the finances which, like everybody else's at the
moment, are more than a little tight ...

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:
Well, never let it be said by anyone that if nothing else, I am not at least
honest. All of the good people on here who had their doubts as to whether a
re-shelling of the big ends was going to get it a few more month's life,
were right. It hasn't lasted and is back knocking again. Still, at least it
only cost me a few quid to find out. I really don't think that it is worth
messing about replacing the engine with an 'unknown' from a scrapper, so I
think it's time to retire it. Anyone want a Fester with a knackered bottom
end ... ?

Time to cut your losses I think. I only did the engine change in mine
because it's a ghia model in otherwise excellent condition with good
aircond, new tyres, brakes, exhaust etc. and scrapping the car and
getting another would have left me with a load of unknown components again.

Oh and don't think about changing the ECU - you'd have to get it
reprogrammed for ll the keys too.

Tony

"Tony Brett" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Well, never let it be said by anyone that if nothing else, I am not at
least
honest. All of the good people on here who had their doubts as to
whether a
re-shelling of the big ends was going to get it a few more month's life,
were right. It hasn't lasted and is back knocking again. Still, at least
it
only cost me a few quid to find out. I really don't think that it is
worth
messing about replacing the engine with an 'unknown' from a scrapper, so
I
think it's time to retire it. Anyone want a Fester with a knackered
bottom
end ... ?

Time to cut your losses I think. I only did the engine change in mine
because it's a ghia model in otherwise excellent condition with good
aircond, new tyres, brakes, exhaust etc. and scrapping the car and
getting another would have left me with a load of unknown components
again.

Oh and don't think about changing the ECU - you'd have to get it
reprogrammed for ll the keys too.

Tony

Yep - pretty much my thinking too. It is a Ghia model, but does not have
air-co, which is a point against it. Although it has been reasonably looked
after, and is ding-free, it's by no means in pristine condition, being a
'working' motor. When we had it up on the hoist to have a second look, we
noticed some corrosion on the offside sill as well, so I guess that would
probably be 'through' by the next MOT. I've had it about 8 years now, and it
has given me sterling service in that time, and doesn't owe me anything, so
I guess it's time to wave it goodbye, and look for something a bit newer
again. I'll have a serious look when we get back from holiday in a few weeks
time. At the moment, I have the use of my daughter's little Ka, as she has
gone back to university, and this year is in digs with no outside parking
....

Arfa