EBay Finds

[LynehamHerc]

I read an article a month or so ago that stated that the gearbox was overstressed in the Costellos and the V8 had to be downrated to pass the MG endurance tests. I don't imagine that it was a problem for the vast majority of purchasers though. That might be why Ken Costello developed his own 5 speed gearbox but the 1973 fuel crisis decimated sales of large engined cars. There was a garage in Leeds with 3 Ferrari Daytonas for sale for 5k each at that time.

[BenHar]

I guess the smoke is the valve seals hardening up from lack of use.

Nope. Valve seals give smoke on start up.

Smoke when accelerating is rings.

Ben

[DodgeRover]

I guess the smoke is the valve seals hardening up from lack of use.

Nope. Valve seals give smoke on start up.

Smoke when accelerating is rings.

Ben

Or a cloud after idling when hot is usually guides/ stem seals.

[Hooli]

I guess the smoke is the valve seals hardening up from lack of use.

Nope. Valve seals give smoke on start up.

Smoke when accelerating is rings.

Ben

Or a cloud after idling when hot is usually guides/ stem seals.

That's one of the issues being fixed on my Bonnie. Let it idle on the side stand & the LH pot would blow blue smoke as you pulled away.

[brandersnatch]

Nope. Valve seals give smoke on start up.

Smoke when accelerating is rings.

Ben

Or a cloud after idling when hot is usually guides/ stem seals.

That's one of the issues being fixed on my Bonnie. Let it idle on the side stand & the LH pot would blow blue smoke as you pulled away.

I loved that on my K100. Occasionally if left on the side stand a few cc of oil would creep into the combustion chamber and it would smoke like a bastard for a couple of miles. It wasn’t at all consistent, sometimes it would do it after a couple of minutes other times it wouldn’t smoke for weeks. BMW fixed it on the K1100. Good bike that K100. 250,000 miles and I sold it to a mate who took it up to 320,000 then retired it as he got a newer one.

[Hooli]

Apart from the leaks it was the main reason mine used oil, the pistons with about 3k on have 1/8" of carbon build up from it on them.

[DodgeRover]

When my dad rebuilt his commando in the 80s he made it oil tight apart from when it is stood for a few weeks and goes from being dry sump to wet sump

[SiC]

Looks like that MGC has sold thankfully.

[Hooli]

When my dad rebuilt his commando in the 80s he made it oil tight apart from when it is stood for a few weeks and goes from being dry sump to wet sump

That'd be a faulty oil pump on a Triumph, no idea if Nortons were the same.

[SiC]

I'm trying hard to resist going to see this. Long time owner, reasonable price and only 20 minutes or so away.


https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1258545

Usual excuses of zero room left, an overflow of projects and a dwindling reserve are all causing the sensible side of my brain win the argument.