Bongo Fury

Well after 10 months of intermittent overheating and slight lose of water I now know what the problem is crack between inlet and outlet valve in cylinder No.2 I have found this out by taking the head off yesterday.
So any advice on where to get a good head from and anything else you can think of will be greatly accepted.

looking back it only seemed to overheat when under a big load like going up hill or after a hard run the suck in traffic. So i can only think the crack would open up when hot. Also I could bleed the car on the drive for 1 1/2 hours and it would be fine and not over heat until you went for a drive. Oh and I had no white smoke / steam coming out of the exhaust on the drive but couldn't say when driving.

Got some lovely dirty nails and skin knuckles today

At least you found the problem finally, not particularly happy news though

Ouch.

I feel your pain.

From what I remember my fully built up head came at about £750.

Sensible way to go would be get it somehow to Bell Hill & try to find about a grand to get it done swiftly & surely. I realise you'll be wanting to find a reasonably priced head & fit it yourself but that could be a minefield in terms of time & long term reliability.

Help will be along soon though matey, hope it goes as smoothly as possible for you.

Via the club shop £599 inc delivery? "Comes with all bolts, gaskets (rocker cover, head, exhaust manifold, inlet manifold) & washers. Includes valves, adjusters and timing belt pegs. 1 year manufacturers warranty"

Wouldn't steel seal be worth a shot? I thought there had been some success with that on here?

missfixit70 wrote:Via the club shop £599 inc delivery? "Comes with all bolts, gaskets (rocker cover, head, exhaust manifold, inlet manifold) & washers. Includes valves, adjusters and timing belt pegs. 1 year manufacturers warranty"

That is the one I have been looking at will let you know which way I go

Few pics of the said crack as you can see the valves had started to deteriorate, so probably been going for a while.

said crack



1 3 & 4 look good shame about 2



see the white from boiling water from the last time it ran

That looks pretty conclusive

Thanks for the pics Max - v. interesting to see those but sorry about the head. Weird, but in the pics (though it must be an illusion) it looks like the valves are closer together on no.2

If Simon Jones is willing ot keep an eye on you and advise on the all important flatting of the block, and since you are clearly capable of working on an engine (I couldn't do that even if I wanted too - even washing the car todya had caused my back to complain ), I'd be v. tempted to get the goods from Ian and DIY it, procvided you can afford the time it may be off the road while you the job carefully (which I suspect is the key to a successful repair, and since you don't have to consider an hourly charge rate, you have a head start)

Good luck getting the old girl mended. Keep us posted

max you have a pm

mikeonb4c wrote:Thanks for the pics Max - v. interesting to see those but sorry about the head. Weird, but in the pics (though it must be an illusion) it looks like the valves are closer together on no.2

If Simon Jones is willing ot keep an eye on you and advise on the all important flatting of the block, and since you are clearly capable of working on an engine (I couldn't do that even if I wanted too - even washing the car todya had caused my back to complain ), I'd be v. tempted to get the goods from Ian and DIY it, procvided you can afford the time it may be off the road while you the job carefully (which I suspect is the key to a successful repair, and since you don't have to consider an hourly charge rate, you have a head start)

Good luck getting the old girl mended. Keep us posted

they do look closer don't they Mike but the outlet valve is open so I think thats it.
Yes have read Simon's threads and have taken note.
Been using the wifes car so thats OK for now but I do want my Bongo back

"A Bongo barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology"

cheers for the good wishes

You've Been Bongod wrote:max you have a pm

Nice one YBB, all for one and one for the road

missfixit70 wrote:That looks pretty conclusive

I concur

maxheadroom wrote:

missfixit70 wrote:That looks pretty conclusive

I concur

Ooooooh no, you won't have time for any of that hanky panky - you've got a Bongo to fix



..but seriously. Good luck, take your time and get it right

Cheers Mike

is the Mazda Bongo Friendee Service Repair Manual worth buying? I know it's a lot of money but will it help me put my Bongo back together