Looking for advice, counsel or informed opinions:
My 71B gt with 97K miles on original engine with rebuilt head at 70K. has a
valve nioise which we are certain is in the #3 counting from the front. It
runns fine, good oil pressure, nothing has changed. I have had two trusted
MG pros check and recheck valve adjustments and everything is proper.
Thre are two distinct opinions as to what is the cause:
one opinion is the rocker arm assembly needs to be replaced with a refubished
rocker arm assembly, or in a pinch the suspect rocker arm and bushing need
replacement but the labor is almost as much as replacing the whole thing;
the second opinion shared by two more experts is that the camshaft is worn
and should be replaced. This opinion includes the advice to remove the
rocker arm shaft assembly first and check for movement of the suspect rocker
arm.
Generally it is said that this is not a cause for alarm or immediate concern.
Some people say they drive their MGs for years with the valve noise as long
as nothing else fails that demands going into the motor. Is that for real or
will I wear out the engine or have microscopic pieces of MG in my oil?
I can buy a refurbished complete rocker arm assembly and have it installed
for around $3 or $4 hundred bucks, but if that is not the cause I still have
to put a cam in and that means taking off the radiator, and all that stuff in
front of the cam access plate.
Then the agony of going deeper and deeper into the black hole of the engine,
until I remove the block, and while I'm at it may as well rebuild the clutch
parts, rebuild the transmission, front suspension, spend thousands, have
parts all over the house, and my wife throws me out. I've been there, done
that with a midget that I had to sell in order to get to sleep in the big bed
again.
Advice please, drive as is or ?????
thanks....Mel
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