OK. The story begins with a melted piston on a recently rebuilt engine using 205 block and 0.5mm oversize pistons. I managed to trace a decent 2nd hand 200 block and decided to get this rebored to O.5mm O/S and buy ONE replacement piston (because the others were as new) - so I end up with 4 the same in a better block. So I price up the job from Teesside Motor Factors, who are OK on machine work but way overpriced on parts. To cut a long story short they do supply one new piston, but a DIFFERENT make to the rest. I asked if this was OK in terms of compatability and was told 'no problem'.

Just to be sure, I check the weights - new (AE) piston 50G lighter than existing (Karl Schmidt) units! If I'd gone ahead my engine would have shaken itself to bits in no time. When confronted, they show no signs of remorse and even admit that they'd tried and failed to get one of the correct type.

Coupled with 3 broken promises on completion dates, and silly piston prices I would advise anyone else to steer clear.....