The dream is most likely over.........

[soundmangt4]

Well, it may be all over for me and the RC. After finally getting it running on the Motec, albeit a little down on expected power, I really felt I was getting somewhere near happy with it, and was looking forward to a sustained period of driving and enjoying it.

However, on my home recently I had my foot to the floor to get some dodgy chav off my boot lid in a Metro Turbo when I noticed the temperature gague start to creep above normal. I immediatly backed off and pulled over to let the Metro past (not happy about that at all I can tell you), then tried again to be sure, and it did indeed start overheating again.  :'(

I thought the loss of water I had been experiencing was a dodgy looking rad cap, but this has all but confirmed my worst fears of a cracked block. It will be going back to Smithy's for a diagnosis to be sure as soon as I can arrange to drop it off there, but if it is a cracked block it will not be getting fixed as I can't take any more outlay.

I will post up if it's definately being broken and have a very long list of parts for sale, most with few miles on them.

There's a small chance it may be something like a head stud come loose, but it's unlikely. Time will tell, but it's not looking good.

 

[RobbieMcVee]

keep your chin up chap - its not easy making these decisions.. specally when you dont know whats at the other end.. you might be lucky and find its something less costly than you expect?
End of the day mate - if you've had enough its time to take stock and think about whats ahead without letting your heart rule your head?
I broke a 4 and took the old engine out for a rebuild, but im in 2 minds on what to do - do i want all the hassle - i dunno?

Keep your fingers crossed - when will you find out?

[peterp1per]

I'm gutted for you mate!

i hope it's just something simple like a head stud or non sealing head gasket.

got my fingers crossed for ya!

[GT4ever]

Sorry to hear your problems. It must be so frustrating 
I would say sell your expensive mods and get a cheaper std engine to go in it.
The rest of the car is far too nice to be broken. Another of my Fav 185s

[soundmangt4]

I could never go back to stock power. They are slow enough with 280bhp, let alone less power.
If the blocks cracked it's over - period.

[ChrisW]

That's unlucky mate. As above, I hope it's something fairly straight-forward cos it would be a shame after all you've been through so far.

Cheers

[Cee]

  Fingers crossed for you - hope it turns out better than you think
C

[paul_gt4]

jees bet your not happy cause i wouldn't be, as said above hope its a simple fix and relatively cheap cause we wouldn't want to see one less on the road......

[Redbeast]

fingers, toes, legs, arms, balls, lungs and anything else crossed for you!

[silverspeed]

let me know when your dropping it down smithy's.. i'll get a shopping list together 

I had this decision not so long back.. i decided to stick at it.. at a cost.!

[rubberduck_10_4uk]

I'd be surprised of a cracked block chap, or is it a 205 engine??  Anyway figers crossed that its something simple

[dawesy]

me too and 285 isnt a lot to crack a block although i have seen a stock 205 with a cracked block so.....
hope it all works out well for ya, plus my blocks still together with the mod so might work after all

[soundmangt4]

Well you'll know before me Lee, as you'll be there when it's diagnosed!!  I will probably call early next week mate to arrange a drop off, probably really early in the morning again.
Seriously though, what else could it be??

[dawesy]

dunno, what hg is in there? (i know its steel). i have seen the stock 205 one deform if used under very high cylinder pressures but cant see this being the case. really does sound like a cracked block but seems unlikely. im sure well get to the bottom of it

[soundmangt4]

It's a TTE 1.2 mm steel HG with ARP head stud, which is why I am sure it's not the HG, unless you guys only torqued them down by hand!??
I will call Ian later this week to arrange drop off, hopefully early next Saturday if that's possible.