Hi Simon

Glad you got a fix for this one but, I think this is worthy of a discussion.

As far as my knowledge and experience goes, with the symptoms you originally described, with regards to high compression, kicking when started and severe pinking when revved stationary, I would've bet my arse it was over advanced timing.

I believe if it had such a huge air leak, being MAP based it would've been very rich, high idle and would have expected engine vacuum to be low, which this car had a very healthy, if not a slightly higher vacuum of 21in. I always associate pinking with lean fuel control and timing.

I can't help thinking there was another problem besides the air leak.

Not wanting to get your back up and start an argument but like I said, got to be worth a discussion?

Chris