Engine transplant on a 52 plate 75

victorgte · 13th January 2018, 11:54

Time has come to make a major decision. The 1.8T has been ill lately and now I must decide if I spend a lot of money or break it.
Best if I list the time line of events and what I’ve been offered.
Current mileage is 126k. Car is very good all over and has just had new rear brake discs and pads as well as new shocks.
At 99k it had the dreaded HGF. £600.
At 104k the turbo was replaced. £395.
At 120k it had valves and hydraulic lifters done so the head came off again although there was no evidence of HGF. £600.
During all of this the carrier for the long driveshaft came away from the block. This has now been repaired 3 times and is the cause of the current woes. To cut a long story etc, the repair is allowing coolant and oil to escape as the channels have been breached and it leaks both in that area.
The latest repair seems to have now blocked the channels, the coolant system is pressurised and I fear it will let go somewhere pretty soon.
Ironically the car drives really well especially after the valves and lifters were done.
Now the dilemma. I can collect a working 1.8T engine for £400. Then there is paying for the transplant. Then it’s logical to fit a new clutch whilst it’s all apart. The cost is now spiralling upwards.
I would say the damage to the block with elongated holes and breached channels has rendered the engine as scrap despite the HG being fine, newish turbo and the fact it still pulls well.
Transplant is beyond my skill. Has anyone had this job done?

gary t · 13th January 2018, 14:03

head gasket repair ? £600 was the gasket gold plated ?

. if who cant do the work yourself i would think your better off putting the money towards a another car. just my thoughts. around a grand would get you nice example. and save or sell the head not a hard job to do.

charlie 22 · 13th January 2018, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary t

head gasket repair ? £600 was the gasket gold plated ?

. if who cant do the work yourself i would think your better off putting the money towards a another car. just my thoughts. around a grand would get you nice example. and save or sell the head not a hard job to do.

As it us your pride and joy and it comes across in your post, I would go for an engine swap. See if you can find an MG 6 engine then all of your worries will be over.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

COLVERT · 13th January 2018, 18:17

If the rest of the car is in good shape and you really like it then maybe the transplant is the best way to go.

As for the clutch, only replace the driven plate and slave cylinder.
Easy to do as the box has to be separated from the engine anyway.

This would then see you through quite a few good motoring years in a car you like to drive.---

If you buy another car there could be many hidden problems about to pounce.---( Better the devil you know.---

)

mbonwick · 13th January 2018, 20:12

Most of the cost in these jobs is in the labour, so if you get water pump, belts, clutch etc etc done before the transplant goes in it'll cost much less.

The K-series is generally quite straightforward so I'd go for the swap.

trikey · 13th January 2018, 20:19

Swap the engines, dropping a K series in isn't a bad job at all.

victorgte · 15th January 2018, 08:35

I appreciate the opinions however I am reliant on labour rates hence the higher costs. When the Head came off it also had the Cam belt and water pump done too as it’s good practice to renew when apart.
My gut feeling is to take it off the road at the end of January and plan a transplant rather than rush into a big bill. I’m lucky enough to have space. If it wasn’t for the drive shaft carrier, the engine would be fine. I’m highly reluctant to scrap a car that has nearly 5 years of care and improvements put into it. We don’t expect to get our money back. It’s about having a smart Gentleman’s carriage to waft around in, hence why my wife uses the V6.

rustymotor · 15th January 2018, 09:29

Just 10ps worth: As you spent quite a bit already then the engine transplant sounds like a good option plus, you could swap over some of the new bits like cam belt and water pump while the donor engine is out of the car.

victorgte · 28th January 2018, 13:45

I’ve now decided to take the car off the road until such time I can justify the cost involved.
SORN in a few days time and transfer the insurance to my latest purchase.
Pity really as I took it for a run today and it goes very well indeed. My focus is always on the oil and coolant levels as the leaks obviously remain.

macafee2 · 28th January 2018, 16:25

where ever you get your engine from make sure they are reputable.
I cant think of the name maybe someone else can but there is a firm from up north that travel and are apparently well clued up on rovers and will travel to you. they can supply and replace engines, not sure if they do 75's
pm me if the name does not get mentioned and i'll spend time looking for them

macafee2

13th January 2018, 11:54	#1
victorgte I really should get out more....... MGTF, MGZT, Range Rover Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 2,803 Thanks: 395 Thanked 633 Times in 446 Posts	Engine transplant on a 52 plate 75 Time has come to make a major decision. The 1.8T has been ill lately and now I must decide if I spend a lot of money or break it. Best if I list the time line of events and what I’ve been offered. Current mileage is 126k. Car is very good all over and has just had new rear brake discs and pads as well as new shocks. At 99k it had the dreaded HGF. £600. At 104k the turbo was replaced. £395. At 120k it had valves and hydraulic lifters done so the head came off again although there was no evidence of HGF. £600. During all of this the carrier for the long driveshaft came away from the block. This has now been repaired 3 times and is the cause of the current woes. To cut a long story etc, the repair is allowing coolant and oil to escape as the channels have been breached and it leaks both in that area. The latest repair seems to have now blocked the channels, the coolant system is pressurised and I fear it will let go somewhere pretty soon. Ironically the car drives really well especially after the valves and lifters were done. Now the dilemma. I can collect a working 1.8T engine for £400. Then there is paying for the transplant. Then it’s logical to fit a new clutch whilst it’s all apart. The cost is now spiralling upwards. I would say the damage to the block with elongated holes and breached channels has rendered the engine as scrap despite the HG being fine, newish turbo and the fact it still pulls well. Transplant is beyond my skill. Has anyone had this job done? __________________ MG TF 135, MG ZT, Range Rover P38

13th January 2018, 14:03	#2
gary t Loves to post rover 75 connoisseur se v6 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: brockworth Posts: 278 Thanks: 46 Thanked 23 Times in 20 Posts	£600 head gasket repair ? £600 was the gasket gold plated ? . if who cant do the work yourself i would think your better off putting the money towards a another car. just my thoughts. around a grand would get you nice example. and save or sell the head not a hard job to do. Last edited by gary t; 13th January 2018 at 14:10..

13th January 2018, 20:19	#6
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,773 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Swap the engines, dropping a K series in isn't a bad job at all. __________________ Lest we forget..

15th January 2018, 08:35	#7
victorgte I really should get out more....... MGTF, MGZT, Range Rover Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 2,803 Thanks: 395 Thanked 633 Times in 446 Posts	I appreciate the opinions however I am reliant on labour rates hence the higher costs. When the Head came off it also had the Cam belt and water pump done too as it’s good practice to renew when apart. My gut feeling is to take it off the road at the end of January and plan a transplant rather than rush into a big bill. I’m lucky enough to have space. If it wasn’t for the drive shaft carrier, the engine would be fine. I’m highly reluctant to scrap a car that has nearly 5 years of care and improvements put into it. We don’t expect to get our money back. It’s about having a smart Gentleman’s carriage to waft around in, hence why my wife uses the V6. __________________ MG TF 135, MG ZT, Range Rover P38

28th January 2018, 13:45	#9
victorgte I really should get out more....... MGTF, MGZT, Range Rover Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 2,803 Thanks: 395 Thanked 633 Times in 446 Posts	I’ve now decided to take the car off the road until such time I can justify the cost involved. SORN in a few days time and transfer the insurance to my latest purchase. Pity really as I took it for a run today and it goes very well indeed. My focus is always on the oil and coolant levels as the leaks obviously remain. __________________ MG TF 135, MG ZT, Range Rover P38

13th January 2018, 18:17	#4
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	If the rest of the car is in good shape and you really like it then maybe the transplant is the best way to go. As for the clutch, only replace the driven plate and slave cylinder. Easy to do as the box has to be separated from the engine anyway. This would then see you through quite a few good motoring years in a car you like to drive.--- If you buy another car there could be many hidden problems about to pounce.---( Better the devil you know.--- )

13th January 2018, 20:12	#5
mbonwick Gets stuck in Connoisseur SE 1.8 Auto Saloon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kendal Posts: 633 Thanks: 129 Thanked 176 Times in 147 Posts	Most of the cost in these jobs is in the labour, so if you get water pump, belts, clutch etc etc done before the transplant goes in it'll cost much less. The K-series is generally quite straightforward so I'd go for the swap.

15th January 2018, 09:29	#8
rustymotor Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: May 2017 Location: Hull Posts: 1,848 Thanks: 216 Thanked 432 Times in 340 Posts	Just 10ps worth: As you spent quite a bit already then the engine transplant sounds like a good option plus, you could swap over some of the new bits like cam belt and water pump while the donor engine is out of the car.

28th January 2018, 16:25	#10
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,929 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	where ever you get your engine from make sure they are reputable. I cant think of the name maybe someone else can but there is a firm from up north that travel and are apparently well clued up on rovers and will travel to you. they can supply and replace engines, not sure if they do 75's pm me if the name does not get mentioned and i'll spend time looking for them macafee2