Thanks, guys.
So let's get up to date.
A bigger hole was required to get in to make repairs. Before going any further, the existing patch was tacked into place.
Then the bigger hole cut out.
Lovely. Numerous patches were made and are currently getting welded in.
And that's about where we are, ish.
So the engine that I pulled out was taken to a machine shop. Two pistons were a little stuck in the bores. Even with all pistons removed, the crank still wouldn't rotate. This is main bearing number 4:
Engine builder thinks it got hot, although the car ran just fine prior to being parked. The main cap now doesn't snap into the register though. New set of mains and an align bore would be more than buying another block.
So I bought another block today:
£150 - $212 at today's exchange rate. Think I did OK, how much would a cut out, bare block 318 cost you in the US I wonder? Nipped that into the engine builder. The crank, will clean up OK he thinks. Fingers crossed.
So, more trim questions, I'm afraid. Someone has at sometime done something horrible to the side trim on this car:
Lurking beneath the gunk (looks like dried glue) are screws:
I'm guessing they're not factory? What should hold it on? Those fasteners with a threaded bar and a flat oval head that rotates to lock into the trim? (That description makes sense to me!)
Thanks for reading this far.
Gary