Months later and we get the head off the car again. Seems it was a bad job all around and we needed to have it reworked as well as take out the carpenter bolts and replace them with the right stuff. Next were the terrible shocks...wow...complete rebuild...then the brakes... $2,500 later and she is said to be sorted out. Now I just need to fly in and see if it's true!

After receiving the new water pump, getting it and all of the surrounding pieces on her water problem was solved. That was good news and I was ready to fire her up for her first trip but remembered those clacking lifters and her running pretty poorly.

Taking off the valve cover and setting the gaps showed a front gap of about 1/4" vs. the .015mm called for in the book. Hmmm...no wonder. So, we reset the gaps and changed the plugs.

She started up wonderfully and everything was in order. I took her down the road once an then twice. The shocks feel like a roller coaster and suddenly she sounded terrible again. The #1 cylinder wasn't hitting.

After taking off the valve cover again we noted that the valve was stuck in the down position! We let her cool down and then pulled on that valve until it popped back up, started her up and sure enough she ran wonderfully again. Seems like maybe the valve guide is sticking when she gets hot. Bummer.

We have to pull the 'refurbished' head and have it worked on again. The good news is that is only about $125 and a bit of work so the saga continues and my MGA will continue to relax in the garage!

Flew into the states to sell a few things (times are tough!). The triumph TR6 was first, the Suzuki Hayabusa second and then the SUV. Unfortunately the MGA is next but hopefully last.

I bought the MGA on eBay - yep, what can I say? I bought it restored and when it arrived I had already taken a position overseas so I was here for the day or two of it's arrival. After it came off the trailer the driver complained of it leaking fluid and oil. Hmmm. Let me start it up. Radiator fluid pouring out, major clacking and knocking, and generally running like a broken clock.

I was bummed to know that I had to leave so I stored it and left for Singapore. Now I'm back to see what the problem was that had been sitting for the last year or so.

The Water - coming from the bottom (?) of the water pump seemed addressable after I could get the car home.

The knocking - definitely valves but seems a bit extreme.

The bad idle and "running" - it is missing on #2 (which was buggered up just looking at it) and when I remove the plug from #2 and #3 the engine doesn't change pitch or act like much is changing. Time for a dolly ride.

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I drained & removed the radiator (and the shroud - which was a bit of a trick) and took off the water pump. It looked okay and there wasn't any scarring on the block or the pump itself. Checked all hoses and such - everything in order. I put RTV on it and put it back in after cleaning everything up and putting never-seize on the bolts. After it was installed I put some grease into the Zerk (?) point and instantly water started getting squeezed out from the shaft. Not good.

Reconnected everything and filled it up. All was well for a blissful 5 or so minutes while the water held tight. But, all things come to and end and the water started pouring out again. Seems it is coming from the water pump shaft. Looks like Moss Motors is getting a bit of business from me unless there is somewhere local that carries one!