Spot the Problem - GGGRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr

[Ben Lessani]

You get embarrassed driving round with a car that sounds like a ford, worse case the cam gets damaged from constantly slapping the tappet heads.

[danny_p]

remove camshafts,  beat person who reconditioned head round the head with camshafts.   then find and kill a mk3 16v so it can be used as an organ donor 

[DarnPB]

You say you have another engine?? This is what I would do.
Remove the oil filter from the engine that is presently in the car and carefully cut it open. Look at the filter element for signs of metal. White metal, as long as there is not much, would probably be from the head where the mismatched caps have worn. Any ferrous metal, which is attracted by a magnet means that something may have gone through the the oil pump.
If all is well, then remove the head from your spare engine and give it a bit of a service, ie, lap the valves in, fit new valve guide seals and give it a decoke. If funds can stretch that far, give the face of the head a light skim, purely to reface it and take out any deformations rather than to give it any performance gains.
Then fit to existing engine and reap the benefits of your labours. If you need a helping hand, P.M me. But there is no need to put the car into a garage and hand over money when help is at hand.
This need only cost you a head gasket set, and some time. If you can, a new set of followers and a reskim would be beneficial to round off a decent job.

[JC]

unfortunatly i have fcuked my back tinkering DPB. I am having enough trouble walking let alone owt else 

all this and it needs a the suspension addressing too as the front HASNT settled.

[Diamond Hell]

I think I still have the Toledo 2.0 Sport springs lying around at mine.  These were on my car until a couple of weeks ago. 

If your front end's too high, they might be a (free) solution.

If you'd cracked into this a few weeks ago I could have helped more..... bit screwed at the moment though 

[JC]

I know DH, she will be BACK DOWN by tonight ( pain killers are poping down nicely ) so part exing might be an option  v cough r cough 6

[Diamond Hell]

Well you're an old fart, so the descent into old man's cars can't come soon enough, really, can it?

[JC]

well i had an listening jobby onto the top of the engine, a METALIC sound is a lot more prominent above the " perhaps " incorrectly fitted camcovers.

then someone mentioned Oilways, and are they beng fed correctly, or are the covers seated properly,

so, wednesday nights job is " swap them over " 

[Ben Lessani]

so, wednesday nights job is " swap them over " 

Plastigauge first, swap later