Seeking Advice - Engine Leak
 

So I went to see a '74 Carrera that I've been considering buying. It has 130k miles, no rebuild as of yet on the 2.7.

It drove great--engine felt solid and pulled strong. It was a lot of fun to drive to be honest. I took a bunch of pics of the underside and when I took a closer look noticed a dark sludge leak on cylinder 2. I assume that means either a stretched head stud or just old/worn out copper gasket.

My hope was to drive it for 8 to 12 months and then do a rebuild next fall/winter. I know there isn't much to go on but what's folks advice--do you think that might be possible or does a rebuild need to be much sooner.

Would love to get a leak down but not sure that is possible before purchase...


https://i.imgur.com/O9j8pSS.png

Drive it, it’s the best of the 2.7 cases as they weren’t over heated with emissions.
You ll need to case save the case when you take it down but generally the studs should be holding, you just can’t trust the build without the work because torquing the heads on assembly could pull the case material. Then you’re back to undoing the work you’ve done.
Bruce

The 74 US Carrera is a neat car.

If you get it, on next service, orient the oil sump plate correctly and use proper gaskets and clean all of the silicone out of that area shown in the pictures... :)

Get a PPI though, best money you could spend. Those head studs do not stretch, they break, or the threads pull out of the Mg case.

At any rate, if you are thinking rebuild next year, understand/research what it costs to do a 2.7 7R build properly, and offer on the car accordingly.

Cheers

Not knowing the result of a leak down and checking head studs could make a big difference in the value of the car. If you are already taking into account the price of a rebuild, then carry on.