Some great replies, cheers chaps.
I drove the car from my house to my workshop today. It got up to working temperature in about normal time, but then just kept climbing, and didn't stop until it was way out in the red.
Got to the garage. Stripped off the rad, check it for flow, it's clear, and no mud in fins etc.
Then stripped off the end casing took the cam-belt off, and removed water pump. Pump and impeller all fine.
So then it was a case of removing the head to investigate.
Clutch was on it's way out anyway, so gathered it'd just be easier to whip the whole donkey out.
Me and Bobb had it out and on the deck in about an hour flat (Taking into account the number of seized bolts, didn't think it was bad time really)..
Truck washed and jetwashed everything off. Waterways are choker block with rad-weld obviously!
Head gasket looked okay to be honest. But could be wrong.
Now I am in two minds whether to get the head skimmed and pressure tested. Or just get another lump.
Issue I will have, is any lump I do buy, I WILL want to rebuild it before it goes in. The 1.0 is already in bits, I did kinda admire the little soldier with it's 4 speed box. It was fun, economical(ish), and quite revvy. At the same time, I'd like to think a good one, will be really bullet proof.
Who knows...
So now I need to either tot up the price of Head gasket set, Cam belt kit, water pump, piston rings, shells, another service kit, head skim and pressure test, and then a load of time re-lapping the valves, and building an engine.
Are the 1 litres worth having? (Good ones?). Or do people really detest them?...
Cheers,
Ben