Just spent a fortune on getting the belts done, a new turbo intake pipe and a full tank of Vmax.
Took her out for a thrash yesterday, running really well until the engine started clattering and the oil pressure dropped to 1 on tickover.
Parked it up, went to the pub and then slummed it on the bus home.
I will call recovery this morning and get the wife to drop me back in the work van.
She topped the oil on Friday and I had to put some more in yesterday after it started making a noise but there is no evidence of a leak and no smoke from the exhaust which was odd.

Gutted for you John. hope you can get the Coop up & running again. My Coop is still at Joes & every now & again I'm thinking hope all goes well on the drive back up to Inverness when the time comes. I know what you mean though, the time & money sunk in to the Coops, it's that kind of car, it's the way it is.

Thanks, just picked it up and dropped at my local garage.
It knocked when I started it and then quietened down a bit. Oil pressure was ok though.
Oh well at least with all the rusty ones there must be some good engines about.
Even if its a a grand or so to fix I could only buy a shed for that so it's cheap motoring really!
Good luck with yours.

Sorry to hear mate Was the car running ok before you got the belts done? If so then the timing could be out perhaps? Hope you get it sorted soon.

chipped - mine did something similar the other week and it turned out to be the crank sensor wiring - simple fix but REALLY scary at the time
Oil light and pressure on mine reported as of limp mode

Thanks everyone ,I will update.
G-man it was running fine before.

Bottom end has gone.
Rebuild or donor engine? We will be keeping her.
Comments welcome

My take on this is donor engine would probably work out cheaper, BUT if you rebuild you could go down the road of an upgrade forge & practically have a new engine & knowing what you have will give you peace of mind. Just my thoughts. I know what I'd do..

Ha ha, yes.
Niki (the wife) is on the cars side as well, and is all for getting it back on the road.
I will have to price up a rebuild, but a known good low mileage engine would still be an option.