Well a few months before crimbo there was a chap on the overclockers forum with a dead rover 200 1.4 s reg.

It had overheated and wouldn't restart, he assumed a hgf and wanted shot, so I trundles down and got it for 200 quid including a rather nice cd system and speakers It's in mint condition inside and out with a full service history, even got a boot of car care products and a steering lock!



I'd given it the once over and it appeared the head was warped and it had holed a piston, it turned over, was getting fuel and a healthy spark, but just wouldn't catch.

So I thought I would be brave and attempt an engine swap (only ever
done brake pads and rebuilt a carb up until now)

Picked up a bare engine for the princely sum of £46.01 on the bay of e
last week, looks in good nick as far as I can tell and turns over by hand nice and smooth.



Set about getting all the gubbins disconnected when I noticed the fan was flapping about a bit loose, so whipped that and the rad out too.




Think I found why it had over heated, I poured some water in and it pissed out of about half a dozen places lol.
The bottom mounts had rotted away completely (it's only a 7 year old car ffs)

Got it all drained of it's fluids and up on axle stands everything bar the drive shafts is disconnected now ready to winch the lump out tomorrow



So tomorrows job is getting it out and everything transfered to the replacement engine ready to go back in again.

Pez

Good way to pick up a cheap car, look out for a rover with HGF. People dont want anything to do with them. I did a mates car for less than £100 with a head reskim. Was fine after as the gasket kits include the metal dowels to replace the plastic one which are a common cause of HGF.

Its a gamble but as you said you can pick up a cheap engine if its beyond repair.

Yup, was chuffed with an engine for £46
Hopefuly get it running and sold to provide funds so I can finaly get the r1 engine I need for my Indy

thats what you call a bargain

Doh!!!!... STUPID Boy.....

You should have sourced a 1.8VVC then you would have approx 150Bhp That makes them fly!

Good idea though, and sensible money for what you got.
Lets hope the £46 off Ebay also hasnt got a hgf too.

rover rads are made from toffee... have seen several go like that

yup just done 100k in my 1.6 rover 200, the hg went at at 67k, my mate worked at the rover dealer at the time and we got all the gaskets, belts, oil seals etc for cost and we did it in a week end in my shed, it cost me a bottle of jack

recently my rad went though, exactly like yours had some trouble sourcing the correct rad,

then the alternator seized, but that another story

Picked up a rover 100 with HGF for my lad R reg 45K on the clock for £50, checked the oil no water contamination and it still had water in it. same again head skim & gaskets £100 cheap motoring.

It comes out



Did manage to miss the fuel inlet pipe to disconnect ... whoops... so a new part needed lol

Just the gearbox, inlet and power steering pump left to get off then it all back on the replacement engine



First time i've tried an engine change, tis quite fun realy
Just hope it runs after all the sodding work lol

Pez

Rover K16s can be sods to start after major work, on more than one occaision I have had resort to Eazystart, even once they start it can take an hours running to get the engine running smoothly.

Be very careful with the crank sensor and its wiring, usually after a clutch change they start acting up.

Cheers for the info Trident

Brake cleaner is as good as easistart if you haven't got any and also a good degreaser. Buy it in 5lt cans and it's fairly cheap

New lump all plumbed back in



Shiny new rad!



All went back in nice and easy. Heard the k series can be a pig to start after being stood for a while or stripped down.
But Fired up nicely after a couple of spins of teh engine
Vid:


Costs:
Car £200
Engine £46
New rad gearbox oil £45
Gaskets and engine oil £55

So circa £350 for a mint s reg 200
Going up for sale at £1400

Pez