you cant do the big end yourself, its a specialist job and needs pressing equipment and fine measuring equipment, there are firms out there that will check and rebuild cranks, look in CMM magazine...
Jim said earlier to check the pickup coil , check it cold, then check it when it cuts out, pickups have a habit of open circuit-ing when they are faulty and hot. That would be a good place to look.
Hmm doesnt sound good after what I've read in the past, that a heck of an engine to crank over and it seems the starter motor isnt always up to the job, hope its not too serious but you better read...This
Why not pop into the bar and announce youre arrival here...
so just confirm that it has two heavy duty connectors and you bridged those.
also connect a jump lead from battery negative to an engine mounting bolt, just to eliminate a bad earth fault.
If you are happy with the connections you could try bridging the heavy duty connections on the starter relay, use something that will take a big current such as a battery jump lead, if the starter motor turns ok then the starter relay must be at fault if not then the starter motor is at fault.
Sounds like it might be either an ignition coil fault, or an ignition pick up coil fault, faulty coils have a knack of going open circuit as they become warm.
Most likely a bad connection, the click you hear is probably the solenoid relay, check the connections on the battery terminals and on this solenoid relay make sure they are clean and not loose. also applies if there is any ground cable from any engine mounting to battery.
Yep, I'm sure you will get some good tips here, is it something specific or just pre-MOT things to check ?
BTW Kendo Phil popped in the other day told him to go away before he broke something...