Son and grandchildren popped round today, firstly to collect the mass of parts I purchased for grandson's golf resto so I have lots of free shed and garage space. There was a lot of discussion about the options for my poorly van, but no offers to help me. Bear in mind Son now has 2 T25's to care for plus the restored golf mk2 and Grandson has his golf mk2 resto to do. So its little old me going it alone. Options suggested were the obvious sell it as is for 4k to 5k. Splash out 3k to 5k for a quality warranted engine fitted and then keep the van. Buy a cheap engine pay for fitting etc and then sell the van quick for maybe 7k to 8k. Removing the engine on the driveway is not an option. I am keeping the MGB and they will inherit it unless I sell it at some point.
What makes you happiest, MG or VW? Sell the MG, buy an engine, keep the bus, enjoy. Don't be worried about your offspring's inheritance it's your stuff, your money paid for it. Enjoy it or convert it into cash, yours not theirs. Show them the same "assistance" as they have shown you, or actually ask them for help if they say "they can't" definitely sell the MG.
You’ll be able to climb into the Bay for longer than you’ll be able to climb out of the B. Just saying.
Forget your kids, especially about the mg they will sell it anyway. Concentrate on what you want then look at what you need to do to achieve it.
I would get a standard off the shelf recon long block- £1000-1200 form TES or engine shop or whatever they are called. Shove the van onto the street out side the house so you can get the MG out to give you some fun. There will be someone to drop the motor on here ( I’ll come over and do it if needs be) you can swap over the tinware and carb and all that at your leisure then we can get someone to shove it back in. It may take a bit of faffing about but you get the van on the road to enjoy it at not a horrific price and the Late bay collective can pat itself on the back helping a fellow dub lover get going again. Solidarity.,.,
^ WHS, I reckon enough people, tea and chocolate digestives that's a days job. It's only 4 bolts after all.
yup be like an old school dawn raid (with less rubbish surfing) @mgbman serious offer - after the Easter school hols are done (as I’ll be a dead man if I disappear for the day when the kids are home) happy to get the motor out and put it back later on @Baysearcher will help out Be bad if you are forced to sell the van when you don’t want to or Chuck a load of cash at it.
I would think selling the van with an engine that is kaput, isn’t a great idea..... you won’t get anywhere near what the van sounds like it is worth (it has been restored after all, albeit a few years ago) and your buyer will need to get a low loader to collect it. A very unattractive proposition all round, and I think that kind of ending would probably make you a little sad, it would me. So the question is probably more like, which level of engine to get.... proper all singing all dancing, or a slightly more budget one. Definitely go budget if you’re going to sell the van anyway, but don’t rule out a cheaper engine even if you want to keep it.... I’ve got one from The Engine Shop, and it’s fine. Small drip of oil, but other than that it’s great (and I really do mean small) From all the offers of help on here, I really think this is achievable. And look on it as an act of ‘charity’.... we’re all so desperate to get out and do something these days, having 1 or 2 of us on your driveway would be within the ‘rule of 6’ law, and you’d be getting the help you need. I know it’s not quite as simple as that, but it doesn’t have to be overly complicated.
I removed all the items so the engine is ready for taking out. Nothing connected to it. After family left, I had a nice hour with the Rustoleum on the chassis and engine surround. Clearly I like the van. Your comments are very helpful and I did mention before that the van is so easy to get in and out of, where the mgb is a struggle and gives me a bit of knee and back pain. My daily driver Polo also has issues with front suspension, exhaust and more and needs about £500 spent on it. Its low mileage, 17 years old and worth nothing. So I am looking to replace it with probably a Polo 1.2. A few years ago I would have done the work myself but not anymore and no point asking family for help. So priority is get another daily driver or spend £500 on the old one and keep that a bit longer. Decide whether to keep the mgb or sell as summer is coming. Don't really want to sell it. Decide whether to sell the van or keep it. I love the van, but would need 4k to get it up and running again. I have had so much fun with my 3 vehicles and the time has come to let one go. 2 vehicles would be more manageable into the future. A reliable daily driver is essential, the other vehicle would be for fun. So it does boil down to MGB or Bay. Either would fit in the garage. Selling the Bay would get enough to buy a reasonable Polo. The MGB doesn't need money spent on it.
You don’t need £4K to get a type 1 engined bus back on the road. I thought type 1 lumps were about half that? We genuinely will come and whip the old one out for you if you want us to.
I believe he'd ripped out the interior intent on replacing it but before he got that far the engine went clonk.
If one is fit and healthy, removing a 1600, stripping everything onto a new engine, putting it back in and driving away could be done in a 1/2 day. On your own. If the exhaust studs/nuts undo. A whole day would be leisurely. Why not get these guys to come over and do the lot in one hit then get back to your interior?
Because I know nothing, I'm going to ask the following; once out and put on a bench / workmate, how much work / money may need throwing at it to rebuild?
