I do enjoy these tricks of the trade stories (thanks Colin) and the mention of core plug failures brought back to mind the failure of one such on an old and abused 60`s Lotus Elan I used for work which involved a few hundred miles a week of travel all over the countryside. Fortunately I carried tools as it was always at risk of breaking something. After a bit of thought as how to affect a repair I tried a two pence coin, which was a tad oversized, I dished it slightly with my ball peen hammer until it would fit with the domed side facing out, and once in place gave the dome a hit to tighten things up... Worked a treat, till I could replace it with the appropriate part. All be it I had defaced a coin of the realm..!!!
