So an update as such,

Spent the last week in contact with various people and the long and short is that i have been offered a lower mileage engine with all ancillaries except the starter motor for £400.00.

Rope seal crank so have the option of stripping down to get it if i want.
It gets delivered tomorrow so will know its condition better this weekend.

Will do a leak down test and if unlike mine it reads ok i will probably look to use the engine as is and keep an eye out for another crank so i can still rebuild and have a spare engine ready for if and when its needed.

The down side is that for now i might not be completing this thread as i intended at the start eg an engine rebuild being the main part.

Well still have lots of work to do even if the newer engine is better so will continue to post as and when i have move pics and updates

 

Sounds like a good plan. I hope it all goes well. A spare engine is well worth having.
Greg