Ruined my engine on my MG F. Help a novice find a replacement.

Thank you for your time, this is as short as I can make this:

Purchased an MG F 1.8 2003 off my dad. It had recently had the head-gasket replaced by a specialist. Tried to drive it home and at 100 miles it just starts steaming out the coolant tank. At the time I was doing a steady 60mph so thought radiator needs bleeding. Had it bled by my mechanic and it started behaving.

Couple weeks later camshaft sensor error. Replaced camshaft sensor and drove it to see my dad, it made the 150 miles no problem.

Tried driving it back a week later and the camshaft sensor comes back on. At about 80 miles into the trip the damn things shows signs of overheating again, steaming coming out back ect. Parked by the road side and waited 30 minutes. Note: I didn't loosen, then open, the coolant tank (told I should have) to let the heat out. Started driving to service station noticed oil temp was off the scale too but didn't want to pull into hard shoulder. Got onto the off ramp and the engine locked up, steam all out back. Popped boot and had a look at engine. Was covered in oil and was draining coolant fluid. Had it towed to MG specialist and they said it needed a new engine for £695.

My mechanic says he can replace the engine for £200 i just have to find the engine.

My question: Do I have to use a donor engine specifically from an MG F or can I use any donor car that has the 1600 or 1800 series engine?

List of cars that use the 1800 series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_K-series_engine#1800

My location is Oakham, Rutland.

Sorry to hear of your problems, but sometimes this sort of thing just happens!

Cant answer your specific question, but would ask your local mechanic if he knows how to change an engine in the MGF!

Not straight forward like any "normal" car, and needs the body lifting off the rear subframe. (£200 sound just too cheap for the amount of work!)

I have heard of it being possible to do it piece by piece from the top, so best check before relying on his price!

I think I'd contact one (or more) of the mobile Rover mechanics for advice tbh.

Try any of

Rough Luck Racing

MG Rover Solutions

MG Rover Mobile Mechanics

or search for mg mobile mechanics to find others who might be more local to you.

They may be able to repair your engine or offer a replacement perhaps.

Good luck!

It might be too late now but I would be speaking to this "specialist". A head gasket replacement shouldn't over heat after 60 miles.

Way too late but yeah the specialist garage that did the head gasket offered to source and fit the engine for £695. Not going with them, gonna do it myself with my mechanic and maybe mod the cooling system too.

Hang on, wind back a bit...a so called "specialist" repaired your engine so well it failed within hours so they offered to find and fit a replacement engine

and

charge you twice what a mobile specialist would have charged for a head gasket replacement guaranteed for at least 6 months.

To answer the original question.

Any K series engine could be fitted but the best option is to get like for like, better still would be with gearbox and the ultimate would be already on a subframe.

However then you get questions like "Do I refurbish the subframe and suspension?" or "replace the cambelt?" or "the clutch".

How far do you want to go?

Just to reply with a long overdue update:

I went with specialist garage to replace the engine instead of my mechanic mate. They had a look at the damage and said a new engine would cost £695.

Went to collect the car. Charged me an extra £75 as they said the exhaust manifold had melted into the engine so i'm guessing that had to be replaced too. Paid them. They went to find the keys. Couldn't find the keys so told me to come back on Monday. Offered to replace the rear window (its fogged so badly you cant see out of it) with a second hand one for £75.

I must have really fucked up the engine. To be clear it had done 120 miles to its first destination, it was the 120 mile return (at the 60 mile mark) that killed it.

Will update again once they find the keys.

:nonod: Lost the keys?...............Bloody cowboys!.........sure you went to a garage?.......you didn't take to the OK Corral by mistake?
They better knock a chunk off the bill to make up for the inconvenience.

That is terrible! I feel for you.

They charge £695 to replace the engine with what is presumably a 2nd-hand unit. Then charge you an extra £75 for a manifold. Then ask for ANOTHER £75 to fit a 2nd-hand window. And all the while they have lost your keys. I'm with Cobber - where do they keep the horses?

You can clean the rear window yourself; it's not hard. I used Meguires PlastRX but plenty of people recommend Greygate Plastic Polish. Oh and a bit of elbow grease.

This is what you can do to a yellowed, fogged plastic window with a little bit of work and some plastic cleaner...

Is £75 a lot for part and labour?