For a friend of mine who isn't on this forum.

Track day today, about the 2nd lap in of the first proper outing and a dog fart sound then engine dies.

Recovered back to the paddock, took off cam cover to see if belt etc intact - all looks good but when try to start it the bolt on the crank pulley turns but the pulley itself doesn't (so crank is turning but the cambelt and therefore cams and valves aren't moving - eek!).

Suspect the woodruff key (?) that locates the crank pulley on to the crank has broken.

Fairly sure its an interference engine so probably cheaper just to replace it that repair it.

Sooooooo anyone got an XE for sale?

Seen a few around the £200 / £250 mark which would be ideal.

they are interference fit def cheeper to repair i just paid £1500 to machine and repair mine for the mk2 escort

anyhow you have u2u

Do you really mean £1500?

yes but thats fully lightend and balenced new pistons rebore reground crank new oil pump new water pump new hydralic tappets head skimed valves reseated n recut its now sat waiting to be refited into the grp4 escort

Oh right, I thought it may have just been a fairly standard rebuild - that looks like a fairly badass one!

He's only after a standard replacement engine (preferably in one piece) as he was happy with the 175 or so bhp it was making with just a pair of 45's and mapped ignition (weber alpha).

So ~£250 for a running engine is cheaper than an even a basic rebuild and a lot less hassle for him.