MG
The Classic Marque

I have a significant oil leak, front top of engine. It's either the head gasket or it's leaking from the end of the oil gallery. I need to clean the area and investigate more closely. I would rather not disturb the head and head gasket if its not necessary.

The oil gallery is a horizontal drilling from the front corner, intersected by 2 vertical drillings, up from the block (front cam sha...

Hi Marc,
Let us know how you get on.

Also there’s a guy called Howard on the Facebook group looking to buy the hardtop I sold you. If you’re it using it could help pay for the new pulley. 😉

Very interesting article from SpriteSpot, thanks Paul. Because it took me 25 years to finally finish the YA resto (don't ask - work, kids, constant sport ...) in 2023 my auto leccy did flash the dynamo on the bench, to make sure it was positive earth; and as far as I recall, the car had run on positive earth from 1984 when we bought it - but your advice holds good. What I'm unclear on, is whether ...

I would say that maybe try repolorizing your car to positive ground again as described in https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/hints&tips.shtml#Positive_to_Negative.

What you describe you are seeing is almost as if the car has (at some time maybe before your ownership) been flashed to negative ground so flash it again as POSITIVE ground.

Then see what happens :)

Paul

Malc--did you centre the timing cover up to the crank when it was fitted up---If it's not centre then the seal can leak.

Wow! That's interesting, Bill. Good to see that you got a result in the end. I'm sure many of us as fellow custodians follow this bbs with interest; it's a great resource as we enjoy (most of the time) keeping our dreams alive. John.

Well, I drained the tank, even though the gas was only four or five months old. Replaced it with fresh non ethanol. After a few hiccups, she started and ran. I knew that fuel from the pump these days has a short life, but it didn't occur to me that it would be that short. Anyway that's a major hurdle cleared and I very much appreciate the ideas I received here.

The idle is somewhat high,...

Hi Tim,

With all the issues this engine as caused me ( all finally traced back to the engine shop supplying std bearing for an ground crank)that I bought sheets of gasket paper, so all new gaskets at each refit, and I used used the crank pulley from my old engine, so I'll be getting new oil seal and pulley, after that I will just give up.

Hi James,

Feels like we are following...

I got a pair from Moss at the backend of last year that seem fine so far.

Willy, yes I looked at those briefly, they probably have benefits of ease of working with car tilted but looking at something a bit more secure.