Steve
Me thinks it might have been a very expensive disaster. . . .
Lyndon
Just don't trust anyone.
Lyndon, a ticking time bomb at the vey least.
Hmm. This does not sound good at all. I would not be impressed.
HOTFR8 not impressed and disappointed but happy that we found the issue now and not down the track.
Boy could I tell some stories on that subject. But one tends to think that if it's new then it should be good to go. As you just found out, that is not always the case. It a good thing you found that and avoided a disaster.
Dan, lesson learned let me tell you
I had this the other day. Bought a brand new set of inner (and outer) tie rods for my daily driver Alfa 156. Swapped them in (easy job), did a rough home alignment so I didn't spear off into a ditch while driving it to a 'shop to get it done properly.
First place I went to wanted to charge me £105 for a 4-wheel alignment and taking off the outer tie rods and putting them back on 'to get it in the right ballpark'. Couldn't get it into their heads that I was changing the rear suspension in a month or two's time so there was no point in a 4-wheel alignment, and were generally just rude and treated me like I was a *****. Told them to go stuff themselves and drove to work and back.
Next day went to a better place near where I work and dropped it in. Got a phone call halfway through the day saying that they'd noticed a problem.
They were turning the tie rods to adjust the tracking but the wheel was staying in exactly the same place. Turns out these tie rods are in two parts, one screwed into the other, and they were just finger tight.
I'd been driving around for ~40 miles with the inner tie rods slowly unscrewing themselves!
BiTurbo talk about lucky and it is great to hear that the problem was picked up as it was.
Great progress as always and good catch on the oil pump 1/2 cup, there is very little care these days. Recently had my mechanic mate order in a rear suspension bush set for an older VR commodore. Picked them up and we did a check of what was there and they'd sent several parts for the front and not the back.
You will be very prepared for Rover K series build #2. (You know it will happen don't you ? I'm sure Andrew will be wanting a backup engine at some point

.)
Cheers GB
GB, thank you.
You are on the money there
Andrew has
build #2 on the drawing board already which is the refresh of his current engine plus enough core bits for a
build #3 of which the bits are already starting to accumulate in the
Shed Downunder then there is
build #4 a
MG TC XPAG that will be down the track which I have a period correct
LAYSTALL Alloy head sitting on my bench already..
https://www.ukmgparts.com/product/t...fittings/laystall-alloy-cylinder-head-lch1000
No rest for the wicked.
One consolation though
Andrew has brought me an engine stand to use, now that's one thoughtful son.
Well picked up. You can't beat that feeling of dodging a grenade.
Terrick, thank you.
With out doubt it would have ended in tears.
Nice work, well found. The OEM liners were too large I take it? You wouldn't expect that! Well done. I took my brand new oil pump apart and checked and cleaned it thoroughly too - I've read too many accounts of problems or swarf or grit in brand new pumps.
Andrew thank you, good idea you checked your oil pump.
Spot on the OEM liners were not to spec basically. Once again I will be doing the QA process just to be sure.
The new liners should be here by the end of the week.
Thank you one and all, have a great day.
Back to work now.