TMB

No probs. Think I bought a pack of 25 because I wanted spares for other stuff.

I had no problem at all getting the exhaust manifold nuts off. Only problem is that some of the manifold nuts are hard to access but it's not all that bad. I bought all new nuts for reassembly (OCD again, lol). Nuts are steel M8 (both manifolds). Got them here... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLANGED-NUTS-SERRATED-ZINC-PLATED-STEEL-FLANGE-NUT-BZP-METRIC-M4-M20/161824058261?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Oh yeah, of course

Yes.

Aye, it is. I just meant that the mating faces of the block are usually OK after a good clean up.

Just thought that if it wasn't firing on one pot it might result in a damp plug like that, but maybe not.

There is no cam to remove because the engine is OHV and the cam is in the engine block. They don't need to touch the block which obviously remains in the car. The block face is usually fine.

This was mine... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REINZ-BEST-QUALITY-HEAD-GASKET-SET-02-36205-01/302892265676?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I don't know tbh. Most people recommend a genuine Skoda head gasket but I went with a Victor Reinz set.

I took mine to an engine specialist place. I don't think usual garages will have the machine to do it. I took it in the morning and it was ready for collection the same day.

Oops, posted on wrong thread. I mean for the head gasket.

I've been through the whole procedure so just ask if you need help/advice

Never even touched the lifters on mine because they were working fine with no noise.

I fitted new head bolts to mine because I'm quite OCD But Skoda say you can reuse them. The inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets come in the head gasket kit.

Forgot to say - the £60 for skimming also included them fitting new valve stem oil seals which I provided.

Before... After.... Still a tad of corrosion on it which worried me but it's been absolutely fine with no more water loss. It was blowing it out of the expansion tank before.

It cost £60

You will find some info and pics here from when I did mine.... https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/474367-fabia-mk1-14p-8v-cooling-system-problem/page/2/

Yeah, you don't need to touch the sump either. I did mine and it wasn't too bad. I got the head skimmed too.

Nope, you don't need to touch the chain to do the head.

It could be the head gasket - had to do mine at the beginning of this year. However it could also be the coil pack. They tend to weep water out of the bottom corner of the radiator so that could be where the water is going. Hard to say.

Mine had been changed by the previous owner (at a Skoda dealer) just before I got the car and I do very low mileage so I haven't needed to change it, so not sure which one it is, unfortunately.

The bulb seems to be part number N 90314502 Seen some on ebay. Example... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Bulb-x1-supplied-N90314502-90314502-Genuine-New-VW-Part/174461531840?hash=item289eb7b6c0:g:aAMAAOSwRxBfd1tS

Interesting stuff. Luckily, mine is the non-riveted type should it need sorting any time. Nice one. Looking forward to seeing what you did

So the 2001 shifter has a riveted pin too?