It's all easy to do, just time consuming.

 

There are those that say you can change RWD cylinder head gaskets in an hour or two. And if nothing goes wrong and you literally only do the gasket and don't do the checks I consider essential it is possible. But I would rather take the time to be methodical and do the job in a way that means you find and cure the reason the gasket failed in the first place.

  It's all easy to do, just time consuming.

 

There are those that say you can change RWD cylinder head gaskets in an hour or two. And if nothing goes wrong and you literally only do the gasket and don't do the checks I consider essential it is possible. But I would rather take the time to be methodical and do the job in a way that means you find and cure the reason the gasket failed in the first place.

Thanks-good advice-will ask the garage what they plan to do to make it right

Don't let Ken near it though, as it'll come out of the other side a fire breathing monster!

Don't let Ken near it though, as it'll come out of the other side a fire breathing monster!

Sounds good 

That is very neat!

 

The garage outside Ludlow certainly used to have a good reputation with the rear engined Skodas.

 

Interesting that it has the saloon wheels, and not the "spoked" ones that Rapids normally came with. When I got mine from Skoda's North West sales manager we swopped them for the ones you have as I thought they suited the car better. I must find the photos of my old one.

 

I work up the road from Leominster at Bromfield signal box, so if you are ever passing with it and there's a Yeti outside, give me a shout.

That is very neat!

 

The garage outside Ludlow certainly used to have a good reputation with the rear engined Skodas.

 

Interesting that it has the saloon wheels, and not the "spoked" ones that Rapids normally came with. When I got mine from Skoda's North West sales manager we swopped them for the ones you have as I thought they suited the car better. I must find the photos of my old one.

 

I work up the road from Leominster at Bromfield signal box, so if you are ever passing with it and there's a Yeti outside, give me a shout.

Yes, I like the wheels, they really suit the car-thought they were the originals?

 

I pass Bromfield box a lot, will call in one day and say hi-nice to hear from you.

 

We towed the car to Philip at Overton Skoda today and he's going to sort it.  He has a Favorit engine in stock for a donor if needed-I have heard many good things about his knowledge of the older stuff.

Just like this:

Mine was exactly this colour!!

 

Be pleased to see you.

Just like this:

Mine was exactly this colour!!

 

Be pleased to see you.

SUPERB! No pun intended-love those wheels too

 

Hope to see you soon

Those centre caps are very rare indeed! 

 

The wheels (Meteors) fitted to mender's car are the standard items and were fitted to both Rapid's and Estelle's for several years. The wheels (Apollo) fitted to the yellow car were only fitted to Garde Rapid and early MK2 Rapids - much rarer wheel. Lovely though. 

That is very neat!

 

The garage outside Ludlow certainly used to have a good reputation with the rear engined Skodas.

 

Interesting that it has the saloon wheels, and not the "spoked" ones that Rapids normally came with. When I got mine from Skoda's North West sales manager we swopped them for the ones you have as I thought they suited the car better. I must find the photos of my old one.

 

I work up the road from Leominster at Bromfield signal box, so if you are ever passing with it and there's a Yeti outside, give me a shout.

The wheels are age related - spoked wheels were also on earlier saloons.

 

 

Dave is right on the headgasket front - I can do one in an hour and a half now from start to finish, however even a complete beginner can do one in half a day. It really is just like Meccano and I can't think of anything that needs trick tooling or any skill on a straight forward gasket job as long as you have a decent socket set, some spanners, screw drivers and a torque wrench.

My advice would be give it a go.....follow the Haynes manual and give it a whirl!

Edited 15 July, 201312 yr by hawkeracing

The wheels are age related - spoked wheels were also on earlier saloons.

 

 

Dave is right on the headgasket front - I can do one in an hour and a half now from start to finish, however even a complete beginner can do one in half a day. It really is just like Meccano and I can't think of anything that needs trick tooling or any skill on a straight forward gasket job as long as you have a decent socket set, some spanners, screw drivers and a torque wrench.

My advice would be give it a go.....follow the Haynes manual and give it a whirl!

Once it is set up right, I'll maintain it-sounds straightforward, but I think my engine is cooked, so gone in already for whatever it needs, HG, skim, new head, replacement engine.....

 

Looking forward to having it back!

Those centre caps are very rare indeed! 

 

The wheels (Meteors) fitted to mender's car are the standard items and were fitted to both Rapid's and Estelle's for several years. The wheels (Apollo) fitted to the yellow car were only fitted to Garde Rapid and early MK2 Rapids - much rarer wheel. Lovely though. 

I agree-that colour and spec is fabulous and the wheels are amazing-what a great car.

Apollos were also fitted to a number of top end Super Estelle saloons.....my sister had a 120LSE with them on. Personally you can't beat a set of minilite replicas on any Estelle.

On the subject of your head..... unless it's been skimmed a few times before skimming it will do the job.....unless of course you've really cooked it. The 136 engine is common enough and if its worst case scenario then a non MPI Felicia engine will fit straight in with bits from your Rapid engine transferred across (or Favorit if you can find one), although the dipstick will be in the wrong place so geeks will be able to tell! 

Edited 15 July, 201312 yr by hawkeracing

Apollos were also fitted to a number of top end Super Estelle saloons.....my sister had a 120LSE with them on. Personally you can't beat a set of minilite replicas on any Estelle.

On the subject of your head..... unless it's been skimmed a few times before skimming it will do the job.....unless of course you've really cooked it. The 136 engine is common enough and if its worst case scenario then a non MPI Felicia engine will fit straight in with bits from your Rapid engine transferred across (or Favorit if you can find one), although the dipstick will be in the wrong place so geeks will be able to tell! 

Yep, there's a Favorit engine in the wings if skimming does not do the job!

Well mine was D876 FYE.

 

First registered to Skoda GB, and driven from new until 3000 miles/3months by Stuart Walsh, sales manager for the North West of England.

 

We swopped the wheels from the spoked ones to what were then the saloon ones just before I collected it (and I got nice new tyres!!)

 

It went like a bat-out-of-hell!! The carb had been "slightly" modified at Kings Lyn as had the distributor weights, so the timing was not "as specified". It was quite easy to embarrass unsuspecting sporty car owners, and is the only car I have ever been stopped by the Police on the Motorway for speeding; and I got away with it. And it was in 3 figures!!

 

It got rallied, trialed, towed a trailer to France to go camping, got my wife through her driving test and was generally "used".

Regretfully I gave it to my sister-in-law who cooked it and dropped a liner and her then boy-friend said it was too difficult to mend so scrapped it!

There was a red Sport that was part of the press fleet that had a similar FYE reg to that. I don't have a picture to hand as on my phone. Did yours have a bodykit?

And just to clarify on the wheels (I need to keep my anorak in good shape) by 1988 all Skodas came with meteor wheels. Furthermore Apollos were only fitted to Rapids. I know it makes no difference what's so ever but like I say, the anorak needs maintaining.

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D880FYE was the red 130L Sport, D879FYE a black 130 Rapid Cabriolet. 

No body kit on mine, Norman.

When we get the house sorted out I'm going to find all my old photos and scan them.

I'd love to come and see your collection some time.

 

Rob, how do you know those?

MagicRob knows every Skoda reg!

Always welcome to come and have a poke around the fleet. Hoping to have one or other of them at the Mega Meet.

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Not going to be able to get to Gaydon, unfortunately. We're booked on a caravan rally that weekend, plus I have to work Sunday night.

I'll be in touch about a visit.

A caravan rally? Is that some kind of court sentance or are you just a masochist?

I used to have a Rapid 136 back in the day. Really fun to drive and surprisingly nippy. Also owned many Estelles. Fun times.

I rang up the garage yesterday for news of how it is going, but no update, told to ring mid-week next week and having it ready for mega-meet was dodgy.

Damn.

Well here we are 10 days after dropping the Rapid off-absolutely nothing was done to it so I have now brought it back home 

 

I was hoping to have it fixed for the mega-meet but it is sat there awaiting a head gasket and maybe a head skim/replacement head.

My five year old is disappointed to say the least.

 

If anyone can think of a solution to this or has been actively looking for a nice Rapid to work on themselves and can catch me in my current mood, please message and I'll phone you.

 

Damn, damn, DAMN 

  I can't take on another car to keep for myself, but I'm happy to repair your car for you for cheaper than garage rates. I do know my way round these dear old heaps and I have EVERYTHING you're likely to need in stock.

 

Though I must add, I'm on holiday from this Friday till August 6th.