I heartily agree with everything Stuart says except the "over 50,000
miles" bit re the clutch. IMO you should replace the clutch components
and throwout bearing no matter what the mileage is (well, assuming you
didn't replace them last month), as long as you're in there. The parts
are very cheap compared to the labor of getting at them. Why take chances
on an unknown-mile, normally-inaccessible part that costs under $100?
Stuart MacMillan had this to say:
>The engine has to be separated from the tranny to do the rear main
>seal. Replace the front tranny seal while you are at it too, and toss
>in a new Borg & Beck clutch kit if you have over 50,000 miles on yours.
>
>Be aware that when you rebuild a head the increased compression and
>performance will put more strain on the worn bottom half of the engine.
>Broken rings are common after this repair on high mileage engines,
>especially when they are 25 years old, and any worn bearings will wear
>faster to the point of complete failure.
>
>Get some estimates from local machine shops for re-working the engine
>and heads, add in the cost of new bearings, gaskets, pistons/rings, etc.
>and also get his cost to assemble the engine with your parts. You may
>find that you can save a significant amount money this way, at least I
>have, and you know exactly what you are getting.
>
>Good luck; now is the time to be doing this so you can drive it next
>summer!
>--
>Stuart MacMillan
>Seattle
>
>'84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
>'65 MGB (Daily driver since 1969)
>'74 MGB GT (Restoring sloooowly)
>
>Assisting on Restoration (and spending OPM):
>'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
>'64 MGB (Son's)
>
>Stripped and gone but their parts live on:
>'68 MGB, '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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