Been cheated on a car rebuild - where do I stand please?

[Dr Imran T]

You're getting technical chaps. I am aware that low compression that is uniformly down might point to a bad build.

I suspected a tooth out on the timing, however after this has been done, there isn't a significant improvement.

I was told the said engine is 300+ bhp. I have yet to dyno this engine. I think that is my next step. If I get a very low rolling road figure then I can quantity that the engine is significantly down on power.

Also leak down test is being done. We have just about exhausted every test. Results still show the same.

Only thing I can think of,is it may improve a little with some decent miles put on it?? Can tell if the engine has been stood for a period prior to installation.

[Dr Imran T]

^^ some great points you raise. A so called specialist should not have sent the car back to me without doing some basic checks.

Would it not have been reasonable to do some checks before the car was given back to me?

In hindsight for the amount spent, I could have rebuilt my old engine rather than drop in a 'good' rebuilt one.

I also asked this of said garage - what was the best option to get the car back on the road.

Let's be clear _ I thought it was sensible to take the advice of the specialist.

I also don't buy it that the garage may be innocent in all this. They know the history of this engine and we're happy to chance it.

Maybe someone else might have settled for this - I'm not prepared to do that.

[Dr Imran T]

^^ thanks again - good advice. It's quite hard to hide my dissatisfaction when I'm thousands of pounds out!

[Dr Imran T]

Encantada said:

You do know a leakdown test is not the same as a compression test, they effectively look for aspects of a healthy engine in a dissimilar way.

K.

Yes, I know the difference. My point is that we are conducting as many different tests as possible; and have come to the conclusion that something is wrong or the engine is just tired.

[Dr Imran T]

V8LM said:

I'm no expert, but if the engine is 135 psi across all cylinders, why would it be 'lumpy'?

What was wrong with the old engine?

I'm sure the engine builders in this thread may know better. If the compression is uniformly low that may not cause 'lumpy' running.

It will however cause the engine to be down on power. Lumpy running could be down to many factors - poor timing,worn components etc.

A single cyclinder out on compression would also cause lumpy running too.

Sure the experts can confirm.

[Dr Imran T]

Bert, not had the rr done yet but will share results.

I'll get the results of the leak down test if I can as well.

Thanks for the advice much appreciated.

How can one install piston rings upside down? Not heard of that before...

[Dr Imran T]

Interesting comments chaps. There is a possibility the engine was built in- correctly. Again,I'm not entirely convinced that one would rebuild an engine but continue to use tired old parts on it.

Good point regarding consistent wear across all cylinders. This could point to a poor build or defect perhaps.

I have seen very poorly engine have huge differences across the cylinders.


I'll aim.to get the car on the rollers this week and report back.

[Dr Imran T]

informative post Silentbrown.

Just a small update chaps. We seem to have got the car running significantly better then when I got it.

There was a sensor that was not connected that has now been rectified [ I can't recall which one but will find out for those interested]. Also the timing has now be done to perfection and that has made a big difference.

Although I am yet to drive the car, my mechanic comments on a marked improvement.

There were a few other tweaks done here and there to get the engine running smoothly. It is now less lumpy and more eager high in the rev range.

Above 4000rpm where the car used to feel flat and tail off the power the car now picks up much better. I am sure the compression has improved with perfecting the timing too. As yet don't know exact figures but I've not focused on this so much - rather we have aimed to get the car running better.

Slightly annoying that again I have had to pay for all this to be done, but I feel happier that the car is at least driveable.

Maybe next up is a new set of plug leads as the current ones are on their last legs - again this may help with better running as suggested earlier in the thread.

Also putting some miles on the car could help -especially if it has been sat around for some time. I may have only done 20 miles in the car max.

Putting on a few hundred will hopefully help. I suspect the engine has just sat around for some time prior to installation. Just to be clear this is not a 'fresh' rebuild and does not require running in...

I'm sure most on here have worked out this is an M car - hence me emphasizing that the performance should be pretty good. I've purposely not gone into too much detail until I am totally happy with what I have paid for and what I have received in the end.

I should be getting the car back from my local tuner tomorrow. I'll post back once I have driven it.

Again - thanks for all those who have posted. It's been very helpful and I have learn't a lot.

[Dr Imran T]

BertBert said:

I'm confused. I thought you were getting the original supplier to sort it out. If you are now using an alternative (at your own cost), won't this compromise your argument with the people who did all this for you?

Bert

you're right to be confused. I have spoken to the original supplier and he has agreed to take the car back. However, the problem with that was that the original supplier and I were in complete disagreement.

What he thinks is fine and healthy - I do not. If this ordeal ended up in court I would have had to demonstrate that I gave the original supplier the chance to rectify the problem.

The fact that they let the car out of their workshop in a poor state did not inspire me with confidence. The car has been with my local man for over two weeks and we have made some noticeable improvements.

I wasn't keen to go down the small claims court route. However, I felt that may well have come about if I could not improve the car.

If my local man could get the car to drive well then I would settle for that - even if I have to pay extra to achieve that.

[Dr Imran T]

^^ I'm aware of that - I can still get the initial report from my local man. It would simply state that customer brought car in due to poor running.

If it still runs awful then it is going to perhaps harder to claim but I'd still be able to document what I have done.

Obv. any further work that I have done I would not claim for..

[Dr Imran T]

Hi Bert

I'll PM you later.

thanks