Problems - decision - new engine

Back from MOT, driving home the engine drops onto 3 cylinders with resulting vibration. Metallic sounds..... 

I clean the plugs and test, no change. 

The release bearing is very noisy too. 

So, no driving the car unless further damage results. The engine has to come out - the plan is to build a 'new' standard-capacity engine.  Max finds a reconditioned (lined) L block on eBay, I collect it from Suffolk. 

Lakeside are very busy at the moment so not sure when the engine will be built. More news when I have it.

Thanks for Tim at Lakeside for this picture, though.