(For those who don't know, I call my car Christine after the Plymouth in the Stephen King film. She bites everyone in the arse who puts a spanner to her)
Went to Specialised Engines to get a recon engine fitted yesterday. Was trying to work out why they said it'd take all day and now I know why - the attention to detail is incredible. They cleaned and repainted my engine mounts, inlet manifold and thermostat housing, PCV valve, starter motor, alternator brackets and radiator cowl. All fuel hoses were replaced and new jubilee clips throughout. Rocker cover was also replaced as it wasn't too clever as was the top cam pulley. If it was duff or not too clever, it got changed. If it looked manky but worked OK, it got cleaned and repainted. A proper job done.
Anyway, got there 7.30 am and after they'd got sorted out, they took the motor out. By 9am it was out of the car. Then the stripping of ancilliaries, inspecting, cleaning and replacing or tarting them up was done and by 2pm, the motor was on its way back in. Gets to 3.30pm and it's startup time. A couple of minutes cranking to draw the fuel up and she fires. Only problem is, Christine has chosen this moment to wreak her revenge. Engine revs shoot straight up and there's a nasty banging.
2 seconds later, engine has stopped. Shit! Starter motor won't turn it. Spanner won't turn it.Starter motor comes off, no joy. Cam belt comes off. Cam rotates. CRAP. Head comes off...no signs of impact. Then, when moving it the few mm it will, one side of no 4 piston can be seen dropping. CRAP - the little end has gone. By now it's 4.30pm and the place shuts in half an hour.
Regardless, it's out with engine, off with sump and eventually the guilty rod and piston are out. Good news is the damage is solely to the little end so a new piston, rod, rings and big end bearings (just in case) are fitted to no.4.
Engine is put back together and the car fires up at half 6 and runs like a dream. It's tuned up and by 7pm I'm on my way. Stops at Birchanger Services to top up with petrol and it's fingers crossed as I start her up but start she does and does the remaining 200 miles home without incident.
The guy who runs the company, Ian, says he has never seen that happen to a Pinto and has only ever seen it once on a Zetec but that's partly because of the engine design. Apparently pistons now come pressed onto con rods from the supplier. The thing is though, the stuff they use in the build isn't the cheapo stuff and there's no shortcuts- it shouldn't have happened. Looks like I got the exception that proves the rule.
I don't think he figured out why I wasn't at all annoyed about it but as those who know my car know that it always gets back at anyone who puts a spanner to her.
Anyway, I always think that how a company handles a problem is a true indication of how good they are and I can't recommend them highly enough. Ian and the guy fitting the engine were prepared to stay back as long as it took to get me sorted. Add to that the exemplary level of detail in the installation as well as the build quality (I got chance to have a good look when they were fixing it) and I can't recommend them highly enough.
Anyway, the 250 mile trip home has well and truly run it in.