cheeRS for the replies fellas.

the thing is, although i have removed the head, i can't really remove the block with the car on the drive - it's definitely against the german regulations.

i'm gonna build it back together and get my bro to get a block prepared so that next time i'm back in england we can just swap it over. will only cost me a std head gasket and a set of bolts.

have got the parts for stg 3, but will leave them off until i got a new block.

do you know the p/n for the 200 or 202 block? ford over here might have some at a reasonable price.