Low Compression (engine random misfire)

Quick update. I have decided to spend far too much on getting the engine removed, stripped, fixed (!!!!!) and reinstalled. At the same time will review the clutch (seems fine) and steering box (may need refurbing). Going to take a long time to finalise, hobsons choice as I certainly dipped my foot into a shark tank here when I tried getting a refurbished M13A. But hopefully it should be a super good vehicle when complete... Thereafter will depend on how I feel after this excercise as right now I tend heavily towards just selling it after this experience. Sorta slapped the joy out of what I was doing...

But if you sell it you aren't going to see the benefits of the expenditure and it won't be able to hold the cost of the repair in additional value at sale.

Motacilla wrote:

If you are asking whether the advice to retire the engine is reasonable, then my answer is yes: everything has a service life, and at 140k it should not surprise that the motor is rather tired.

If you are asking *how* to deal with retiring the engine, I assume that you are not the @yakuza type who would rebuild it on the kitchen table over the weekend just for a larf. But that does not mean a "heart transplant" has to be a traumatic or expensive undertaking!


 

Haha this cannot be a reference to me, I tend to find the easiest but most fun way out of most mishaps. 

I would celebrate if my m13 was bad and without a doubt swap it to an m16a.  And swap the clutch no mattter what it looks like if you didn't do that last month.

I put savings aside on a regular basis to pay for all my stunts with the Jimny and now the SJ but not all are lucky enough to have that room in their budget.
And I am with Lambert on the financial side here, but I guess I am not one to be listened to when it comes to that topic.
 

I have waited a long time to make this post, and it is with a big smile that I do so. It has been a super long journey with many periods of doubt. In December of last year when I realised I had one of 2 choices, pull the motor and rebuild it or scrap the Jimny, this was a difficult decision to make. Financially, very easy - scrap the thing... but its not all about finance. On returning to the UK in January I was fully decided, my Jimny was to be offered "spares or repair" and I would get maybe GBP200 for it. If lucky. I sat in her, and that was it...no way could I scrap almost 4 years of work... so off to the repair workshop, lets fix this. I tried to buy a reconditioned engine but that was like finding a reliable affordable bargain in an Egyptian souk. Rebuild it was to be. And so over the past 4 months (I started late with the rebuild).. my now good friends Haly and Dusan at 4 Paw Racing, took the motor out, stripped it down to a bunch of bits and pieces. Replaced the pistons, new rings (obviously), head skimmed, valve seats cleaned & new valves, crank shaft checked and balanced and everything sonic cleaned. The insides of the motor were actually very nice, just the rings were finished. I took the opportunity of doing some derusting and cleaning in the engine bay. I also replaced the clutch, radiator and steering box whilst they were all exposed. Stupidly I did not replace the broken vacuum pipe for the hubs - did not think about that at the time, would have been so easy. Anyway, today I took it for its first long run and everything just purrs, so now there is almost nothing left to do on it. It looks and performs almost like new (not as nice as Martins SJ but that was a real rebuild!).. Sell now? or not.... 

In retrospect was it worth it?. Financially: No, I have spent at least 50% more than I could get for the vehicle. The sense of satisfaction is really high and I absolutely love driving it. Looks good, smells good, feels good. from the heart, Yes it was worth it,. But now I will stop the big spend on the vehicle and pretty likely will part with it in the next 6 months and get another challenge. Now its time to just enjoy it!

Another jimny saved. Always good to hear.

Money is for spendin', and happiness is a freshly-rebuilt engine. Thanks for updating us. Happy driving!