evlb1tch Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Hey everyone, Yesterday I bought a 1970 Riley Kestrel 1100cc from a guy in Wanganui...being a previous owner of a Morris 1300 I understand that they aren't the most reliable of things....however with it just having had the following work done "The car has a reconditioned engine wich included 4new pistons rings bearings including mains recond oil pump and a reconditioned head. The car is used every day "....."the engine has only done aprox 1000 miles and starts and drives well." I would have thought that at going a maximum of 50mph and stopping every hour for 15 or so it would have taken me further than Arapai (the town before Te Kuiti) from Wanganui... (In the Middle of that I did have a longer break too as I ran out of gas...to say the least I had the day from hell yesterday haha) Alas despite it having good oil and water levels when I checked at Raetihi and filled up with gas...it managed to end up overheating and now won't even start and has engine light on I don't really know what I should do...should I contact the guy I bought it off or should I count my losses and get her scrapped? Seems to good a car to scrap though I could look into getting a new engine but after only paying $2500 for her it seems silly to then spend another 2k on the engine when I wanted to spend that on paint... Any ideas or suggestions? Adele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evlb1tch Posted October 15, 2012 Author Share Posted October 15, 2012 Also some of you may remember me looking for one of these cars a while ago...it's taken me two years to find this one so I'm gutted as Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durty Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 It shouldnt be anywhere near $2k for another engine. Definitely not worth scrapping Need more info, when you try to start it what happens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Why don't you figure out whats wrong with it? it's probably just a blocked radiator and a head gasket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Hey everyone, Yesterday I bought a 1970 Riley Kestrel 1100cc ......................... despite it having good oil and water levels when I checked at Raetihi and filled up with gas...it managed to end up overheating and now won't even start and has engine light on Engine light on a '70? I will guess at 'charge' light Check for obvious things like a missing fan belt. It is extreme speculation to think the engine is destroyed unless it stopped rotating after getting hot. If the car stopped again shortly after running out of fuel then you could well have picked up rust flakes from the bottom of the fuel tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Whereabouts are you in NZ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durty Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 And if its the charge light and it isn't starting that is probably right as it should only go off once started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Whereabouts are you in NZ? Sitting on the side of the road a bit south of Te Kuiti? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlownCorona Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 yeah its not really broken unless its seized, cant be a very complicated engine. like someone said, probably just a blocked cooling system and the head gasket popped. more info on what its doing would heap heaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exige92 Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I'll be heading south past you on wednesday or thursday. My guess it the head gasket was not re torqued down. Or something is blocked. I'll check the father inlaws shed I think he had and old 1100 engine somewhere. If you want me to cast an eye over it send me a text 0211543092 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muncie Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Hey by any chance is it Blue? if so i drove passed it twice this week already looked very tidy. if it is seized you'd be surprised how effective a few tablespoons of diesel and clean engine and oil down sparkplug holes can be in freeing things up. above all do not scrap it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Adele, get someone in the know to take a look at it, it might be something very simple. Let us know where it is and someone might be nearby and happy to take a look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoeddynz Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Great wee car and well worth keeping! Tough little engines- it'll be something simple and or cheap to fix I'm sure and your on the right forum to get help.justbe prepared to learn a lot as we all have had to do. Such fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHGWAG Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Ah, had no Idea you were on OS Adele, HAH. I'll tow it back to mine tonight and have a look see for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRK Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 i'll put some $ on broken/thrown fan belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evlb1tch Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 GOSH SORRY EVERYONE I JUST SAW ALL THESE RESPONSES!!!! I never got any notifications! Here are all my answers below It shouldnt be anywhere near $2k for another engine. Definitely not worth scrapping Need more info, when you try to start it what happens? When I start it doesn't ignite....tried even jump starting it...It lost compression when I was driving but I had no reception where I was so (and it was pouring with rain) so I just had to keep driving till I found some (20mins later) when I drove it normally the engine sounded like it was going to cut out...lost power unless I was in too low gear and revving crap out of it...so I think I would have definitely done some damage. When I eventually stopped the engine cut out before I stopped. Why don't you figure out whats wrong with it? it's probably just a blocked radiator and a head gasket. I plan on taking a look this Sunday when I go back to hamilton...but mechanics aren't usually open on a Sunday to take it to...I'm working all day sat and have a 9-5 job during the week so can't just skip down for a day during the week! Engine light on a '70? I will guess at 'charge' light Check for obvious things like a missing fan belt. It is extreme speculation to think the engine is destroyed unless it stopped rotating after getting hot. If the car stopped again shortly after running out of fuel then you could well have picked up rust flakes from the bottom of the fuel tank. Not sure if this answers the question but the fan still ticked over....but the radiator had no water....hoping to check it all out Sunday and try and find whats wrong...it's a fairly simple car so shouldn't be too hard to find out! And if its the charge light and it isn't starting that is probably right as it should only go off once started Charge light would come on every time I wouldn't be revving it to pieces when driving the last little bit finding reception.... but then also the engine got quite hot and melted a few wires...so may just be a electrical fault. Sitting on the side of the road a bit south of Te Kuiti? Haha I was for quite a while! But now it is in Hamilton. yeah its not really broken unless its seized, cant be a very complicated engine. like someone said, probably just a blocked cooling system and the head gasket popped. more info on what its doing would heap heaps Ok cool hope its not too bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evlb1tch Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 I'll be heading south past you on wednesday or thursday. My guess it the head gasket was not re torqued down. Or something is blocked. I'll check the father inlaws shed I think he had and old 1100 engine somewhere. If you want me to cast an eye over it send me a text 0211543092 Thanks! I textd you but I may be too late! Hey by any chance is it Blue? if so i drove passed it twice this week already looked very tidy. if it is seized you'd be surprised how effective a few tablespoons of diesel and clean engine and oil down sparkplug holes can be in freeing things up. above all do not scrap it. Nope she's white with red interior....hopefully not all damaged from being out in the open for a week! Adele, get someone in the know to take a look at it, it might be something very simple. Let us know where it is and someone might be nearby and happy to take a look! Great idea...anyone in the know in Hamilton? Haha Great wee car and well worth keeping! Tough little engines- it'll be something simple and or cheap to fix I'm sure and your on the right forum to get help.justbe prepared to learn a lot as we all have had to do. Such fun. Yeah I learnt alot from the last one...but I don't know too much about engines...just how they work! Hoping I haven't warped the head... i'll put some $ on broken/thrown fan belt. Note to self...in future check fan belt as well!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evlb1tch Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Oh and the orange light is the Oil Pressure warning light :s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Its not all doom and gloom - the oil pressure light will be on unless the engine is running - ie: the pump is driven by the camshaft so the engine has to be running to create oil pressure.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evlb1tch Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Yeah but it came on before I had stopped... that's why I'm worried haha...here's hoping it's not as bad as I thought when I get to it Sunday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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