Often members attempt the more difficult tasks them selves in the hope of saving money or pick a cheaper "mechanic" to try and save money.

Sadly this was not the case here, the mechanic was meant to be a good mechanic.

What started as a $400 timing chain replacement turned into a $2500 nightmare.

Had this not been one of the best TS's left on the road, aside from an unknown second hand motor, it would have been the wreckers for this one.

I know that many will say we all make mistakes however there are ways to avoid these mistakes when you have experience in doing these jobs. Many will also say there are cheap reco's out there also. This motor practically all new internals now, new oil pump, pistons, molly rings, head has been completely rebuilt etc etc....

Go to www.madmagna.com , use the left navigation and click on Tech, the rest is easy.

And for those after my original magna pages, click on My Other Cars

Definetly broken... So sad to see something like that.

Bad luck.

One small mistake cost a lot of money. Nice work on the XT

Don't you just love fixing other peoples stuff ups.

Looks like what has happened to mine, only not as bad inside the timing cover.

However, my cam lobes were a lot worse.

That engine looks familiar lol

You forgot to tell them what you found with the new suspension bushes that Pedders fitted, put on back to front and one of the bolts missing:shock:

PS It wasn't a DIY job

Thats why I do my own jobs, Can't trust mechanics who charge a fortune for incompetence.:D

Tell me about it.....my headjob was supposed to cost just over a grand, ha, try more then double that
It friggen sucks

I second the above, if you going to use a mechanic go for someone who is a car enthuisiast i.e. whose own car is in top order, not someone who is a mechanic but doesn't want to be one ( sad thing is you usually find this out the hard way).

I do as much work myself as I can although sometimes when I am lazy I just think 'take it to a garage and let them skin their knuckles' but it nearly always comes back at you. The first decent car I bought I got serviced through my wife's work and boy was that one drama after another, sure the labour was discounted but I'm pretty sure the workmanship was also.

Mechanics are just like any trade, you have to find some one who cares about what they do.

']Tell me about it.....my headjob was supposed to cost just over a grand, ha, try more then double that
It friggen sucks

dude, seriously, the chicks on the corner do just as good a job as them high class call girls..... quit wasting ya money lol

dude, seriously, the chicks on the corner do just as good a job as them high class call girls..... quit wasting ya money lol

haha i was thinking the same thing

Back on Topic, (now why would we want to do that)

After having now replaced the entire top end (rockers, shafts, cam and lash adjusters) car is running like a dream.

I am still amazed at the fact with all this damage this motor even ran let alone how well it ran

it must have died a slow death. the noise it must have been making you would of thought it would be noisy as all hell.

big ouch

Motor drove fine to it's credit, idled like an absolute pig and sounded like the cam was about to fall out!

Back on Topic, (now why would we want to do that)

After having now replaced the entire top end (rockers, shafts, cam and lash adjusters) car is running like a dream.
I am still amazed at the fact with all this damage this motor even ran let alone how well it ran

I will vouch for that as it was my car lol
Just got it back tonight and am well pleased, big thank you to Madmagna for a great job, I would personally recommend him as a mechanic that knows what he is doing, and doesn't mind going the extra mile to help and give good advice.:D