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MG MGA - Pre-Grapes of Wrath Repair!!!

Helo from the land of the Rising Sun!

Here is the situation: My friend and fellow A owner spent lots of money and over 5 years getting his engine rebuilt. Had it on the road a couple of weeks and lost cylinder #3. The head was pulled and found that the valve was deeply burned into the head and finally broke. I won't know the condition of the piston until I see it.

I have a spare head after replacing mine with an early MGB unit. My head was thoroughly worked over a couple of years ago by a reputable (and expensive) shop and still looks great as well!

This is the guy who, not knowing me, saved me by giving me his windshield so I could pass inspection.

Anyway, the car is in a remote location, no tools, no electricity, etc. He has asked and I have agreed to, at the least, bolt the head on the car and torque it down as he does not have a torque wrench.

Here is a list of items in no order I have so far:

Basic set of hand tools (same ones I used to replace my head)
Torque wrench/extension/sockets
Cordless drill with 3m Roloc cleaning discs for the block and two batteries
400 wet/dry sandpaper
Thread chasers
an AMAZING $3.49 tap and die set from Harbor Freight that has saved me many, many times
Tape/paper to keep the cylinders clean
Cam type stud pullers-just in case
Shop manual
Dremel tool and big box of stuff for it
Head
New head gasket
Hand cleaner
Nitrile gloves
Spray parts cleaner

That's all I can think of for now. Any ideas?

We will not be completing the car, just the head and maybe a couple of other things while we are there.

Tom (Baker or Joad?)
Tom Baker

Feeler gauges for rocker settings
A Pearse

Rocker cover gasket and cement in case it is glued on both sides. Dustbuster to clean up sanding debris.
Russ
Russ Carnes

Coolant, oil?
Russ Carnes

Are you going to transfer the thermostat housing? You may need the gasket and cement, maybe the top radiator hose. Do you have tools to remove the temp gauge sender? How about the exhaust/inlet gasket. If it's not on pavement, you'll need a drop cloth under to catch and make visible dropped hardware and tools.
Russ
Russ Carnes

Tom, you'll also need the exhaust/inlet manifold gasket and maybe the exhaust donut. BTW what are the 3M Roloc cleaning discs going to used for. I don't recognize the name Roloc. My auto machine shop does not recommend cleaning the block or head with the small 3M abrasive discs.

Good Luck
Andy
Andy Preston

Oil fiter, oil, anti freeze, catch container for the old stuff, rags, and rags, plastic trash bags, gasket scraper, band aids, flash light with fresh batteries plus the above mentioned items. About a six pack of brewskis.
LED DOWNEY

When a valve head breaks off it quite often punches a hole in the piston. If so, you may end up having to R&R the oil pan to change a piston.
Barney Gaylord

Thank you all for your input. At this point, the only thing I think I can accomplish is physically torquing down the head. I don't think I'll have time to do much of anything else. I may not even get that far.......


Of course, Barney is correct. The owner sent me a picture of the top of the piston and I just cant tell. It looks as though a sizeable chip is gone, but then again, it could just be carbon buildup and a crappy cell phone picture. The valve most certainly did make contact with the piston, though. I am going to carefully check for cracks and other damage. The owner did say the cylinders were undamaged.

If I discover anything unusual I will just have to stop and refer him to a shop. I will not be able to get too deep--no time and the car is way too far away.


I do like Russ' idea of a drop cloth to catch the dropped hardware and bits, and I will be using one!

Here here to Led. Of course, brewski's! I know there was a reason I decided to take a train instead of drive!




Tom Baker

That picture looks like the piston is okay. Good luck bolt-on job. My money is on a successful drive home.
Barney Gaylord

Tom:

One tool that you won't regret taking is a 5/8" tubing wrench for removing/replacing the temperature sensing bulb on the head.

Steve
Steve Brandt

This thread was discussed between 18/11/2008 and 20/11/2008

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