You seem to be ignoring all the offers of help from TLB. It wouldn’t cost anywhere near £4k to replace the engine, where are you getting that number from?
Chunks of metal in the oil = opens the possibilities of the worst scenarios but without inspecting every part it's a guess. The parts are cheap, if you DIY and the case is ok, maybe all new bearings, cam and followers, B&Ps and a pair of heads...still less than a set of B&Ps for mine. £7-800? Problem with T1's is often even if not failed everything is out of spec and not much left to use again.
@mgbman , a difficult position to be in but as has been said before - decide what you want from this situation and go for it . If the MGB gives you more fun and you can only realistically keep one classic then keep the MGB and move the van along for someone else to sort out then that`s fine by me but if you decide to repair the van with a replacement engine then i`m more than willing to do the donkey work as are others on here . The covid rules allow 6 people meeting outside so you could even stay inside and just point and laugh along with @Baysearcher Not really an option mate , the whole shebang will have to split to flush it properly OR fish out the big bits , pop in an odd 1600 piston and sell it as a runner Whatever route you decide on we`re not here to judge but the offers of help are genuine if you decide to go for a renovated lump .
@mgbman The Engine Shop (TES) is only about 35 miles from you. Buy one of their 1600 engines for circa £1,300 and you’ll be back on the road in a few days. You’re making this much harder than it really is, just get some tea and cakes and take up the offers of help. The TLB family is willing even if your own isn’t.
I have just taken out a 1600 single port from my bus and fitted a type 4 whilst sorting out a Subaru swap I would be willing with help from others to bring it down take yours out and fit mine which you can keep for a while to keep the bus on the road whilst you rebuild/purchase another engine then we can all come back and swap over again unless you like the engine then we can come to a reasonable price up to you but we will help if we can.
Hi mgbman, I feel your pain trying to weigh up all the options and I love that so many on tlb have been engaged and are willing to chip in virtually and with oily hands. Unfortunately, I doubt that I can add anything to the technical pearls of wisdom here. However I would be very please if you elect to recon the engine yourself rather than shell out for an off the shelf unit. Sorrreeeee but nothing to do with the best outcome for you and your van, like so many on here we just have to know what what went wrong inside the little donkey!!
If you need muscle (others will have to supply a ‘mind’, as mine would be less than useless with this matter), I may be able to come round. Provided @Baysearcher hasn’t eaten all the biscuits. Though I do also travel for cake, coffee & chocolate. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Many thanks for all your support and offers of help. My priority is to get the daily driver Polo repaired and mot'd which I will get the local garage to do. Then I can get back out there and have a life which I haven't had due to covid and shielding. I have decided to part with the Bay and keep the lovely MGB which is worth a lot more than I paid for it all those years ago. The B doesn't need work or money spent on it and hopefully when lockdown eases more, I can get back again to showing it and going on the club runs and drives round the local lanes on summer days. My intention with the Bay is to list it on ebay with a low reserve, as a restored van needing a new engine and new interior. Before listing it, my son is asking around his vw club members and friends if any interest in it. I would not be giving it away, but a ball park figure of 4k sounds about right to me and my hope is that someone would take it on and enjoy it into the future. I am sure there are many folks out there who dream of having a classic VW camper, but can't afford the 10k plus ones. My age and worsening health issues have forced me to take the difficult decisions and I have had to accept that I am not the energetic chap I used to be. Hopefully I can enjoy the B for a while yet.
Good luck with th sale at that price I doubt it will be around for long wish I had the spare cash I would buy it and put an engine myself lol
Can you put some photos up? £4K is scrapper money. Don’t let your son give it away to one of his mates!
Indeed, pop up some photos, you'll need to take them anyway for the sale, plenty of folk on here to give you a valuation
Dont sell it for 4k it will be worth well more than that, even without an engine. If you dont want to stick an engine in and sell it for more, then id be tempted to put it on ebay and see how much you get for it when people bid against each other. Id probably give you 4k for it without having seen it or knowing anything about it, plus i cant drop a replacement engine in it as easily as some. What that means is that your are selling it too cheap at 4k
