lol, I was never claiming to be treading completely new ground
That's what I figured (about the earth). It's fine. It's all fine. Three of us have checked it and re-checked it about eight times apiece, and it's fine. The good news is it's been running fine all day with the new control box and no repeat of it going phut as yet. Fingers crossed. Must have been a dodgy box, just hard to tell cos of course they make them up and then fill them with that molten plastic stuff which sets solid, so it's really hard to tell what it is that's got all hot in the first place. It's just one big melty mess now
I thought Ramo smiling and nodding was the default setting for anyone listening to my drivel

I scarcely notice it any more. I physically struggle to even sit in an FC, let alone drive one. Though I must confess I've a morbid fascination for how they actually drive. Yours might be a goer since it's all stripped out. Normally I need an extra joint in each leg to make them short enough to sit on the pedals... and the trim pieces then get in the way. As to the FD engine, i suspect in order to get any worthwhile money I'd have to break it... which would really gnaws me off... but in which case the engine would have to go too. Shame, as it's still tempting

Think there'd be serious turbo clearance issues in an FB bay though