MG Montego Turbo goes

[Jeff Turbo]

More, priming the oil pump and turbo once attached, clutch on

[Jeff Turbo]

Both my son and i were not working at the weekend so next parts on the car. Saturday was putting the last part on the engine etc for transportation to the garage. Head on, manifolds on, oill return on and (not shown )the head shield for it

[Jeff Turbo]

Well more things for me to find that the 'engine company' lost. The lower sensor for the carb cooling fan. That was a challenge finding that part number. Some good things though as the little things matter, some rare part for the engine and a trial fit before adding the bolt washers and tightening to the first torque stage and added the new thermostat housing

[Jeff Turbo]

These days there are three sorts of stem seals. Original has the brass surround and cup underneath, new are without the brass surround, face lift with later engines have all as one piece. Unfortunately the new stem seals I had were the older type so I had to strip down the old head and get the cups out as the existing were the later type.

[Jeff Turbo]

Heads back together and what a pain to put the collets in as the holders were mixed up, one bolt at the back isn't long enough to tighten so I have put an old bolt in for now and will replace it later. Waiting for the sealant to go off before the next bit

[Jeff Turbo]

And ive managed to nearly finish the zs. Finding the correct parts is a challenge as the condenser I was send is for a 120 so no good. I've now gone to my local radiator company to make one and finally located a new air con pipe that was damaged. The car is only 21 years old but a lot of parts are no longer available with is part of the norm for montego and maestro parts

[Jeff Turbo]

Had a bit of time to clean up the head before putting back together.
Won't win any awards but has to be done.
All threads cleaned up, valves cleaned enough, new bolts found, all surfaces flattened. Bolts are the same as a Morris marina head.

[Jeff Turbo]

Yep, can concur with that, compressor, condenser, dryer and two pipes knackered. Fuel leak is the fuel filler pipe and i'm not looking forward to doing that as most of the bolts and screws haven't been moved for 20 years

[Doctordiesel77]

Have to finish his ZS180 first. The front of the car has to come off for me to replace the air con system in the engine bay as it's knackered, then find the petrol leak at the rear of the car. I've already sorted the MOT, welding it needed so it's a good job I love him

rather you than me...aircon is no fun at all, mystery petrol leaks can be a horror show too...

[Jeff Turbo]

I thought you might have a cunning plan

Have to finish his ZS180 first. The front of the car has to come off for me to replace the air con system in the engine bay as it's knackered, then find the petrol leak at the rear of the car. I've already sorted the MOT, welding it needed so it's a good job I love him

[Doctordiesel77]

Yeah, once I've removed the manifold studs I will use my tried and trusted paving slab method to get it flat.

I thought you might have a cunning plan

[Jeff Turbo]

It is amazingly difficult to get people to do things these days, on the plus side at least if you do it yourself you know it is done right! I guess you'll have checked manifold mounting face for flatness? Last one I did was like a banana.....

Yeah, once I've removed the manifold studs I will use my tried and trusted paving slab method to get it flat.

[Doctordiesel77]

It is amazingly difficult to get people to do things these days, on the plus side at least if you do it yourself you know it is done right! I guess you'll have checked manifold mounting face for flatness? Last one I did was like a banana.....

[Jeff Turbo]

Told me two weeks but very little done in that time as it was when I picked up the engine, all he had to do was make one good head out of two so not a difficult job

[Jeff Turbo]

Well that was a waste of time and effort. Picked up the head today as he's taking far too long to finish the job. The replacement has been stripped and skimmed but nothing else so I picked it up this morning and will finish the job myself. Can't trust any one any more so will finish everything myself from now. This was supposed to save me the job of doing it but i've ended up doing the whole thing any way so I should have done it in the first place but hey ho.