Ok, so I was joking. I do NOT give up that easily. Engine runs, but is very tappety dispitye a good run, so I am stripping it all back down again next week and starting from scratch.
Today, Laidback gave a huge hand sorting out Mrs McB's 1999 CDX Auto Estate. Slight oil leak was the diagnosis I believe. Mmmmmm. Mrs MarksDTM will confirm that!!!
We did both rocker gaskets and intended to do breathers too, but they were actually clear. Rocker on drivers side had been leaking a bit, but OMG the paseengere side!!!!! Plug well 2 and 4 were4 literally FULL of oil. Nasty black 'orrible oil.
So, all cleaned out by Laidback for the price of a bacon sarny and between us we had the car stripped down and all back in about 2 hours, including a much overdue oil and filter change with a nice new air filter to boot. I will do all 6 plugs next weekend alongside a full oil flush and another oil & filter change to get rid of some of the 'orrible bronze coating on the cams.
I must say that her car goes like stink, always has since I did everything when I got it last year for her. I mean, it REALLY goes. Only Omega I have driven that was quicker was Marks ex-plod, and that was 3.0. This is a 2.5 and really does fly.
Anyway. Back to the project? Oh well another week or two yet. No rush. It will be worth it in the end.