1.4 K Series Engines...

What are they like, how reliable are they are are the head gaskets a problem.

Slow, reasonable reliability except for the head gasket, seems to be a matter when rather than if they go.

The headgasket isn't a huge problem. The reason they can keep blowing is because they are replaced with cheap parts rather than quality items. The K Series is a pretty good engine all round tbh

Yes head gasket is a problem if not fitted correctly. Inlet manifold gasket also has tendency to split and leak, there is a new replacement part which is made of thicker plastic that solves the problem. Parts are plentiful and cheap.

http://forums.mg-rover.org/forumdisplay.php?f=8

apologies for link to another forum. I've had 4 Rovers, they've all done sterling service and never had any problems as they were well maintained. First one I put 126,000 miles on in my early 20's, latterly the daughter had one which I sold through here earlier in the year. I'm thinking of getting a 1.8vvc hatch for tinkering with. I think the K series should all be 105bhp? If not you can fit a larger throttle body to increase from 85 to 105bhp.

It wouldn't be in a rover, but I can't help but notice a large number of caterham classics with the 1.4K in them.

Since I'm currently experiencing a "go out an get a stupid, impractical car moment" in my life, it's something that could work as I'm guessing the insurance wouldn't be mad.

Edited 24 December, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

Heard there quiet tunable and there is headgaskets out there that claim to cure the blowing issue.

Auntie had a 1.4 k series powered metro gti years ago and it went like stink

IIRC the head gasket issue relates to higher power outputs mainly in the 1.8 engines, and possibly caused by the the thermostat being on the cold return from the radiator rather than the hot flow to the radiator. This seems to have been a reasonable design for lower power outputs.

Isnt there a conversion kit out there to convert it to hot side

The head basket went on my father in laws rover 214. His mechanic had done quite a few and had been waiting for it to go.

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Good engines those little k series units, quite tuneable too, ignore the head gasket problems tbh, when it happens change it fo the solid copper ones they use on the lotus variant of the tine.

They are a very good engine if looked after.

The 1.4 puts out around 105bhp and in a lightweight car is plenty of power out of the box.

They are very tunable and there are lots of bits out there for them including conversion kits to fit many different gearboxes.

They do blow head gaskets but that was mainly down to poor cooling systems that didnt get looked after.

Just look at how many get put into other cars.

The headgasket isn't a huge problem. The reason they can keep blowing is because they are replaced with cheap parts rather than quality items. The K Series is a pretty good engine all round tbh

Sorry but I don't understand the logic behind this statement?

If there wasn't a problem how come they blow in the 1st place then with what are OE parts? I ask because I know of a number of people who've had K series engines and all have had their head gaskets go at some stage. My Cousins Hubby had his go on his Rover on the M40 (she was driving!) and when he took it to his local independent they said they'd do it but because they'd had so much trouble with them in the past they wouldn't guarentee it, even after having the head skimmed to make sure it was flat! He sold the car straight after getting it fixed. Granted this could be due in part to poor mantenence of the cooling system and you could take a chance by fushing the system and putting fresh antifreeze in it and hopeing the radiator core isn't blocked (Triumph stags suffered the same problem years ago) but there is a basic design weakness there somewhere.

I've head it is because the head gasket is all metal, rather than had from a mixture of materials like traditional ones are made though I can't confirm this

On a humerous note I saw a rover a couple of weeks ago ( Crossover type thing) called a 'Streetwise' That made me laugh........

Yep another vote for head gasket failure. They all go at 70k miles exactly. Good engine otherwise.

It wouldn't be in a rover, but I can't help but notice a large number of caterham classics with the 1.4K in them.

Since I'm currently experiencing a "go out an get a stupid, impractical car moment" in my life, it's something that could work as I'm guessing the insurance wouldn't be mad.

Don't know if you intend doing a new one or a ready to go job, for a home build how's about the fabi VRS engine for something mental, there must be someone out there who has mated VW group engines to a manual G/Box for a rear wheel train.

Tigersports do VW to ford.

http://www.tigersportscars.nl/welkom_%28e%29.htm

http://www.tigersportscars.nl/vag-ford_(e).htm

Don't know if you intend doing a new one or a ready to go job, for a home build how's about the fabi VRS engine for something mental, there must be someone out there who has mated VW group engines to a manual G/Box for a rear wheel train.

You're talking about the 1.4TSI not a 1.9 TDI right.

There would be no point ever putting a diesel into a 7. Yes I like diesels and not I'm not willing to hear anybody tell me a derv 7 would be good. You're wrong, the whole point is the noise.

As for BIY or ready to go, there are a fair few ready to go, although I'm guessing the K series 1.4 probably has quite high emissions by today's standards. One even has twin webbers and throttle bodies fitted, which could make for a quite lairy engine, but is not registered as yet

Question I guess is what's the insurance like on something like that for a few thousand a year, but just a garaged weekend toy.

I'm just after ideas really for something a bit fun, but different. Other option could be something like an MG B

Edited 25 December, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

yep on the 1.4 TSI.

DERV-7 pfffftt

I'm sure I've read about a VAG diesel engined Westfield. I think it was called a Wiesel.

1.4 K Series Engines...

What are they like, how reliable are they are are the head gaskets a problem.

Going by my avatar, I reckon I'm qualified to answer this one .

Excellent engine, simple, easy to work on, parts are plentiful and cheap. Like any engine, look after it and it'll look after you. Head Gaskets only blow when people don't maintain them. If the coolant is low, top it up. If it's low because it's leaking out, fix the leak.

Reliability wise, all my Rovers have been more reliable than my Skodas. I bought my 1st Rover 214 with 147k on the clock, ran perfect, never had a problem. Even after I stuck the car in a ditch at 170k. That engine then went on to continue impecable service in another 214.

My current 214 is my motorsport toy. It only ever gets driven hard and in 2 years and about 50 events, it's only let me down once when a piece of metal flicked up from somewhere (not off the engine) and got lodged in the cam belt causing it to slip 3 teeth. Lined it all up again the next day, turned the key, ran perfect.

Ultimately if the engine does blow up around £100 for a replacement will see you back up and running in no time

Good tuning potential too. All mine has is a lightened flywheel, k&n panel filter and the larger 52mm throttle body from a ZR160 (direct bolt on) and a sportex back box and it's running 112bhp

My Mrs rover 25 has 90k on the clock.

She drives it everyday thrashed from cold.

Never had any issues from engine.

tsi engine indeed... lol

ford zetec engine is the best choice for one of those for lots of good reasons

tsi engine indeed... lol

ford zetec engine is the best choice for one of those for lots of good reasons

What age of Zetec, one of the older ones or something more modern?

Personally I just want something simple, reliable, light enough and a lot of fun.

After that the question comes down to wether I should build it or not.

the old school ford zetec engines are ten a penny in the breakers yards, and they are reliable too, don't try and reinvent the wheel, a 7 will more than likely have a ford type 9 gearbox or a sierra one, don't make life any harder for yourself than you have to... Don't get a fixation on huge power outputs, 4 strong men can lift one of those things up!!

if you have the space I would recommend building it yourself from a kit.. When I built mine I made the frame myself but its difficult to do without some expensive gear.

My dad and me have had numerous k-unit engined rovers. They are good engines. Only 2 have gone both due to poor maintence by previous owners. (both of them were mine)

The old man swears by them!

Caterhams use the K series because of tuneability and the fact that there are plenty of these engines around. The factory supplied engines would have a decent HG that won't pop, it was only the Rover built ones that had trouble due to cost savings.

Westfield did have a few diesel engined versions called a Wiesel but the high torque made them untractable as you could imagine so not very popular.

Westfields come in about half the price of a Caterham for the same spec. so make it the thinking mans choice. Vauxhall Redtop, Ford Zetec 2.0, and Mazda MX5 are the most plentiful versions around. Later and more expensive Westfields will have Ford Duratec, Honda S2000 engines fitted. Bike engine cars are a whole new ball game but not that practical for the road.

Insurance is cheap, £100 to £160 on 4000 mile, limited mileage policy, for a mature driver as a 2nd. car.