by Sy V » Thu 22.03.2007, 22:19
Hi all
I've been away on business this week and (to be quite honest) couldn't bring myself to log on).
First of all, thanks for everyone at Donington who cheered me up and made me feel so welcome.
I could supplement this update with pictures but I just can't be arsed at the moment.
On Monday (as I was driving away from work, on my way to Norwich - where I have been all week) I got a phone call from NW asking whether I could possibly call in as they had something to show me.
#4 piston was rocking (without effort) for and aft in the chamber and the scoring inside the cylinder had to be seen to be believed. The pistons' faces were black and the alarm bells were ringing like crazy.
Next step was to drop the sump and see what was evident in the lower engine.
I left them with a 'carry on' instruction.
On driving off, I remembered that I had agreed to drop a gasket set off with them and phoned my mate (Bob - an engineer and close friend, whose garage we've used to work on the engine swap so far) to ask him to do the honours on the next (Tuesday) morning.
By the time Bob arrived the next day, the pistons were out and it all became clearer. Number 4 was missing an awful amount of metal - pictures to follow, if I can bring myself to do it).
I haven't seen the car all week, but Bob says that it's as bad a condition as he's ever seen a piston in.
Quite obviously, the inner parts of this supposed new engine have been robbed and replaced with totally shagged, used parts - hence all the problems.
NW reckoned I was looking at a £4000 bill for them to continue and rebuild the engine. Again, I stress, I apportion absolutely no blame to Nick Whales, they've been really good with me.
Bob and I discussed the situation at length, decided to retake control of the job and, on Wednesday morning (my birthday) I had to tell NW to cease work.
Tomorrow, I'll drop the track car off its trailer and Saturday we'll go and recover Stripey and put her away in my garage pending refurbishment of one of the used spare engines. Or maybe mix and match the best conditioned engine parts.
This thread may now get parked as I really can't be bothered to start spanner bashing again, right now.
If I've missed any personal approaches on other threads, I apologise, but I'm taking a break from things Elan for a while.
Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace, sounds caress my ears but not a word I heard could I relay, the story was quite clear - Robert PlantIn Respectful Memory - 21st March 1959 - 14th February 2016