End of my Surf?

[Esilvester]

I have had a a great experience with my Surf since I got it in November.

( cue soppy music and flash back to slow-mo of me driving in the snow last winter and taking the kids to Spa in Belgium for the Total 24hr, pulling cars out of the muddy campsite...)

But driving home on the M40 last night, I think the head gave up. Tons of pressure in the coolant. Over heats in no time. Bubbles a-plenty under the water filler cap. Blows the lid off the expansion tank.

I am resigned to the fact that's it's no more. An Ex-truck. It has demised, etc.

Question is, do I sell it and get what I can for it in it's scrap state? (new tyres, exhaust GAH!) and get another one and start from the unknown again...?

or

Bite the bullet and get this one fixed. Its a job beyond my skill level (and some) so its £££, right? Stevo quoted a fair 900 plus vat but I need to get it up there which is going to cost £250 (too heavy for a self drive transporter) and I cant afford that.

Can anyone recommend a mechanic near High Wycombe who knows Surfs?

Thoroughly p@ss@ed off
I miss my truck

ed

[flounderbout]

Sorry to hear it. I have been there and done that. Twice.

Options are:
a) Sort out a trailer and speak to TonyN who is not a million miles away from you (if you ask nicely he might even sort a trailer for you), and you could soon be back on the road with a new head ready to last another 15 years. Realistically you are looking at around £1000 including labour, and a bit more if you want to replace other bits and pieces at the same time (e.g. I went for a new rad). btw £250 to get it to where it needs to go is nuts IMHO.
b) Speak to Vince, buy a LS400. Have a lot of fun watching a monster being born. End up with a V8 truck that puts a smile on your face everyday...
c) Scrap it. Buy something else. Hanker after your Surf. Buy another Surf. Worry about when you are going to be back to square one if the head blows.
d) Scrap it. Move on.

On the first head I blew I went with option a). On the second head I blew I went for option b). Both times I knew that the alternative was option c). Did not want. I haven't regretted either choice. But then neither are exactly cheap, which I appreciate may be the defining factor.

Edit: on rereading it is apparent option b) is not an option pricewise. One for the future maybe...

[Esilvester]

Thanks! Cheering me up....

I have fitted a new rad already, one of the first jobs I did. Back in the happy old days, when my future surfing adventures were still a promise....

I'm going to go for a new head. I'm doing the whole thing, belts and braces. This is a relationship that's built to last, even if the head ain't.

I've wacked on plastic and I'll just have to catch the postman before the missus finds the statement. I still need the labour though.

Tony - your web site says no but your signature say yes.... are you back in business?

[flounderbout]

Thanks! Cheering me up....

I have fitted a new rad already, one of the first jobs I did. Back in the happy old days, when my future surfing adventures were still a promise....

I'm going to go for a new head. I'm doing the whole thing, belts and braces. This is a relationship that's built to last, even if the head ain't.

I've wacked on plastic and I'll just have to catch the postman before the missus finds the statement. I still need the labour though.

Tony - your web site says no but your signature say yes.... are you back in business?

I have reason to believe that he is presently on his roof. He claims to be tiling it, but who really knows?

Send him a PM. Or ring him. Or email him. None of these things will get any response. But one day, when you least expect it, he will appear, like a benevolent spirit, wielding a spanner...

I think the only guaranteed way of getting him to appear is that thing with the special berries that Crocodile Dundee did with the bats...

[Esilvester]

I said beetlejuice 5 times - that might do it.

[mark g8awo]

i got a 2.4 that has the new head on but cant afford to put it on the road

[Esilvester]

Well, I've got most of the oily lumpy bits out. Going to lift the head tomorrow. So far so good. There's been some tricky bits but I've managed so far. New head should arrive tomorrow so i'll duck tape that on and just set my self one thing to replace at a time and I'll get there by Christmas.

2014....

I've labelled/numbered it all so I think it will all go back in the right place with a bit of luck and a tub of 'no more nails' .

[Esilvester]

Pressure test failed as expected.

New head bolted in. Really a great feeling. I never thought I'd be up to this job but it's all gone well. It's a job well outside my pay grade but I got lots of help from my nephew who has been brilliant and patient. Just the task of putting all the surrounding bits back now...

[flounderbout]

Nice one - a rescued truck AND immense satisfaction I'd imagine. Given the cirs, best possible result. Check the wealth of info about sorting out/checking the rest of the system - viscous fan etc. Loads of threads, and a grown up will doubtless help if nec.
But good to hear you are back up and running hopefully...

[Esilvester]

I cant wait to see if it'll start....

Just waiting for a few replacement bits - I need a 90 degree turbo hose. (came off in bits) and a a diesel injector washer (there was one missing...). Anyone got one kicking around? I have found someone breaking a surf and I've replaced a ton of stuff and dug up so many mechanic's bodges - like sheared bolts and rounded nuts and badly assembled turbo heat shield and more. I'm trying to get it all back better than it came out. I have even finally cleaned out those rear heating pipes. Its been an (expensive) experience and I've learned loads.

Before I started this, I assumed a garage would do a better job than I could ever do but I'm not so sure now - as I have given it more care and attention than would be economically viable (unless it was TonyN or Stevo who must know them inside out and do them blindfold. Actually, I think the last mechanic who worked on my surf last also did it blindfold.....)

But I guess I'll have to wait and see if it ever runs again before I know if that's true...

[TonyN]

Good work. What washer are you missing? There's the tiny bottom washer, bigger copper washer and the leakage pipe one.

[Esilvester]

Cheers! I have the leak ones (new leak pipe coming) - I'm missing one copper washer and I don't know about the smaller ones. I'll have to get one out.

I guess, if they're small and crushable, I should have replaced with new ones?

[TonyN]

Ideally yup, But I have reused them when desperate.

I have loads of the copper ones, want me to post one, or you can grab one form the breaker trucks you've found.

[Esilvester]

That would be outstanding. I'm finding it quite hard to find and is holding me up. grrr. A beer voucher will be filed for future reference.

I'll PM you my address.

[Esilvester]

Got all the bits today. Fitted 'em and it started up first time! What a great feeling. When I think back to the trepidation I felt in just changing the oil who'da thought I'd be changing a head within the year?

Need to take it easy for a bit and build up some confidence that I've done it all right. I've taken a short drive and so far so good. Lots of pull, no leaks, coolant level constant.