MOT failure- what do I do?

[Mart8V]

Arse.    8v failed the MOT yesterday.  Some basic stuff like brake lines, but major point was corrosion on the bulkhead by the master cylinder mounting.  In the words of the tester "I'd start again, if I were you".......

So what do I do? 

- Break for parts (lots of new stuff and a huge pile of receipts and history plus decent interior)
- Lay it up until I can strip out the dash etc and get the welding done
- Buy another and transfer all the good stuff?

Also failed on emissions, so any suggestions as to how I could sort that would be appreciated.  Engine is running very well other than that, burns virtually no oil, serviced every 6000, gives me 39mpg on the commute, and new clutch 12 months ago.

I'm confused and hacked off.  And without a car as of the end of next week.  Balls.

Help!!

[Dizzie]

can u list all of the failures?

[Mart8V]

Right-

O/S lamps out
NSR brake hose ferrule excessive corrosion
OSF "            "        "            "             "
Carbon monoxide emmisions excessive (5.9%)
excessive corrosion front brake master cylinder / slave cylinder mounting

Just about quoted!

[takethefifth]

Lamps and brakes are easy, you can usually sort emissions with adjustment of the screw thing on the maf, if it causes bad running just change it back after  I think a split in a bung or pipe to the crankcase can cause excessive emmisions too but don't quote me on that.

No idea about the welding i'm afraid 

[rubjonny]

can you get a pic of the corrosion?
If you have space to break it you'll make a lot of money from it!

[Veedubgt18v]

welding the bulkhead would be a ball ache i would imagine cos of all the flammable sh!t behind it. take it somewhere different and get a quote tho u may be surprised. the other bits tho are cheap to sort and u could prob do yourself

[Mart8V]

Yeah- not fussed about the brake issues etc as I do all my own work on it, but welding would be the bugger.  Mate of mine is pretty good with it, but would need to wait until the summer when we have time to do it. 

Am tempted to get a second opinion on it, as it was not even mentioned on the recommendations sheet last year....  Could it have suddenly got bad in 12 months?

[Uruk Hai]

Mayby but testers do vary a lot take it to a few different places and ask there opinions

[Neaty]

I had a ropey valver that had done 187 thousand miles that failed its MOT 3 times,  that failed on the brake lines etc, it also had a knocking noise that just started as i was on the way to the MOT the tester described it as a "death trap" which of course wasnt good news for the car 

If i was you mate, just get another one, break yours and get another one. Its sad isnt it to think that its come to that but sometimes there is just nothing you can do.

[Mart8V]

Have had a look at the bulkhead this afternoon and there are two holes where the rust has got through, or certainly appears to have.  Also it is flexible when pushed.  Not too bad, but probably bad enough.

Looks like it's going to be off the road for a while whatever I do.

Will consider breaking it if I find another decent one in the meantime, otherwise think I will stick it in the garage and borrow the crumblies' Corsa to tide me over.  Just hope nobody recognises me in it...... 

Quite fancy a Mk1 Cab for a little while.  Wonder how easy a 16v conversion is?!?