Not sure what the score is with them, but the neighbours' daughter broke 
down about 40 miles away tonight... no breakdown cover, and called me to 
ask wtf to do :-} (hint: why call me, i`m not a mechanic...)

Anyway... got them a number for the RAC, they rang up, paid up to join, 
but didn`t tell them they wouldn`t tow her home until she`d been a 
member for 24 hours... Alternative tow arranged, as the RAC couldn`t get 
it going again and it couldn`t be left at the side of a motorway, with 
vague mutterings about cam / cambelt.

Are metros of this vintage fitted with a cambelt (or chain ?) and if it 
is that that`s gone, is it one of those "interference" (?) cylinder 
heads where the entire guts of the engine gets chomped as it breaks ?

Time to visit the big scrapyard in the sky ?

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The message 
from Colin Wilson  contains these words:


> Are metros of this vintage fitted with a cambelt (or chain ?) and if it 
> is that that`s gone, is it one of those "interference" (?) cylinder 
> heads where the entire guts of the engine gets chomped as it breaks ?


If it's a manual it's got a K-series engine at that age and is belt
driven. It's an interference engine - chances are there's a few bent
valves.

If it's an automatic then it may be an A-series, there were still some
around at that stage, the CVT box was a late starter. A-series are chain
driven.

-- 
Skipweasel.
In the beginning was the word.
And the word was Aardvark.

> If it's a manual it's got a K-series engine at that age and is belt
> driven. It's an interference engine - chances are there's a few bent
> valves.


Yup, its manual afaik, so its probably just worth taking it straight to 
the scrappy :-(

Thanks for the reply - at least they know what they`re up against now 
:-}

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Why not just stick your head under the bonnet and have a look? - it'll be 
quite obvious what engine is there and whether theres a cambelt or not.

"Colin Wilson"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.1d9fef92d40d641398b45b@news.individual.net...

>> If it's a manual it's got a K-series engine at that age and is belt
>> driven. It's an interference engine - chances are there's a few bent
>> valves.
>
> Yup, its manual afaik, so its probably just worth taking it straight to
> the scrappy :-(
>
> Thanks for the reply - at least they know what they`re up against now
> :-}
>
> -- 
> Please add the word "newsgroup" in the subject line of personal emails
> **** My email address includes "ngspamtrap" and "@btinternet.com" **** 

> Why not just stick your head under the bonnet and have a look? - it'll be 
> quite obvious what engine is there and whether theres a cambelt or not.


I wouldn`t know a K series from a Honda lump, and thought cambelts were 
usually under some sort of cover ?!?

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"Colin Wilson"  wrote in message
news:MPG.1da092e9a60948e398b461@news.individual.net...

> > Why not just stick your head under the bonnet and have a look? - it'll
be
> > quite obvious what engine is there and whether theres a cambelt or not.
>
> I wouldn`t know a K series from a Honda lump, and thought cambelts were
> usually under some sort of cover ?!?


An A series doesn't have an obvious cam drive cover as it is on OHV engine
with pushrods.
If it has a rounded tin rocker cover retained by two bolts on the top, it's
an A series.
Mike.

The message 
from Colin Wilson  contains these words:


> I wouldn`t know a K series from a Honda lump, and thought cambelts were 
> usually under some sort of cover ?!?


This is an A-series engine...
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cambs.mgoc/images2/brgmet-m.jpg

This is a K-series engine...
http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/images/enginekseries_02.jpg
and 
http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/images/enginekseries_01.jpg

In general if the car has square headlights it's an A-series and if the
headlights' inner top corner is rounded it's a K-series.

-- 
Skipweasel.
In the beginning was the word.
And the word was Aardvark.