Know some are not on f/b this has come up on ZS owners page.
Thought some of the bits or the whole car might be of interest to someone.
David Hale
24 April at 11:10
What would you do ?
Some of you may have seen posts recently about the fate of my 180 after installing a "reconditioned" engine with ported heads, built by (the now discredited) Pete Webster. After considerable expense buying this engine, the associated parts (inc Piper 270 cams!) and paying my local MG specialist to do the engine swap, the engine turns out to have a major problem. It burns oil very badly and my car is now unroadworthy and off the road. Pete Webster has gone AWOL so little chance of getting anything back now. I've been well and truly shafted, and it seems I'm not alone as there is at least one other person after him as well. I went with Pete Webster because it was a very good price. Too good to be true it turns out. You know what they say: "Buy cheap, pay twice"!
For the sake of my own sanity though I've decided not to pursue him any further now, to be honest I really don't have the energy. I've had to write off my losses, I just need to decide what to do now about my car.
So what to do from here?
Plan A.
Pay my local MG specialist to remove and rebuild this engine again, possibly using a different bottom end.
This is my preferred option as I do want to keep the car but it depends on the cost of this second rebuild. I only have a certain amount of money left to play with now.
I'm still waiting for a cost estimate on this option, then I can decide what to do.
Plan B.
If I cannot afford Plan-A, I will have to cut my losses and recover as much money from the car as I can, then buy another car. Though I wouldn't be looking to buy another MG.
Plan B would be a huge wrench for me because I do love my ZS after 11 years and four trackdays.
Also I'm very heavily invested in it now. It's pretty high spec, I've spent loads on modifications and bodywork.
I am however coming under a lot of pressure at home to take this option though. My wife sees my ZS as a huge money pit and to be honest, it's not even as if I can disagree with her.
Plan B has two options:-
Either break the car for parts and scrap the shell (which would be rather heartbreaking, though there are a lot of high value saleable parts).
Or alternatively someone may be interested in buying the car "as it is" as a project.
Gauging interest
I'd like to gauge interest in someone buying the car as it is.
All it needs is a bottom end engine rebuild or a replacement bottom end. For someone that can do this themselves, this would be a viable project and they would end up with a really nice, very high spec ZS 180. It should produce well over 200BHP with the mods now on it.
About the car:-
The car is a 2003 Mk1 180 saloon in X-Power Grey.
ENGINE
Reconditioned engine (but with a fault causing it to burn oil as stated)
Ported/polished heads with (brand new) Piper 270 cams (cams were £545)
New gearbox (bought from unused stock for £200)
Lightened flywheel (TTV Racing, over £200)
Clutch is 2 years old
ITG Maxogen induction (over £300)
Janspeed manifolds (modified: internal welds fettled down) (usually over £400)
Janspeed sports cat
Custom made "Long-life" Stainless "cat-back" exhaust
oil catch tank
OTHER
MGTF steering wheel
Sheddist clutch hydraulics
Polybushes on many parts of suspension and ARBs
Track day tyres (Federal 595 RSR) with plenty of tread.
Excellent bodywork:-
Bumpers and roof resprayed only a couple of months ago.
Windscreen replaced a couple of months ago.
No rust or dents, just the odd stonechip.
Wheels refurbished last year (17" straights), no damage or kerbing.
Car is currently "off the road" in Rayleigh, Essex.
Can be viewed but unfortunately not test driven as it smokes too badly.
Also if bought, it would need to be collected on trailer.
interesting one on facebook
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