HG repair or engine swap..?

[Mr MXT]

I’ve had Head gasket failure on my budget track slag mk1 MX5. I bought it for £430 and don’t wish to spend much money on it. I have another track car for that!

I’ve replaced engines on the Westfield a couple of times so I know vaguely one end of a spanner from the other.

I want down time to be minimal, so question is should replace the HG - a job I’ve not done before and I’m sure the costs of skimming and gaskets etc would mount up, or should I take a punt on a hopefully good, but no real way of knowing second hand engine and swap the whole lot?

How much is an MX5 1.8 engine going for these days? (Buying a very rusty runner and engine swapping not an option as I don’t have the space)

[finishing touch]

I bought a car that had been run with no grill. Stone hit rad. The rest is history.
Found a chap on ebay that sold MX5 parts including engines, priced according to milage. Came with copies of docs so millage history could be checked.
I opted for a 67k for £320. I know the buyer and the car is still going strong over a year later.

Paul G

[Mr MXT]

Have you got his details?

[InitialDave]

A part of it depends on how much you value your own time. There is the option of just pulling it apart, checking the head and block with a straight edge, then nailing it back together with a new gasket and seeing what happens...

[finishing touch]

Mr MXT said:

Have you got his details?

He goes as "pm sports cars ltd"

This is one of his. eBay item number: 233186617326


I did take the head off but thought that a fresh engine was the more certain repair.
As I bought the car to sell on at a profit I didn't want any comebacks. As it turned out I sold it to my sons F in L


Paul G

[J4CKO]

Engines are pretty cheap on eBay as so many cars die of rot before the engine conks out, £200 or less should do it.