Discussion
A note to perspective wedge owners (or other Tivs).
Get a check on the engine if buying sold as seen. Most of the chasis and drive train can be assertained by a good mech (and was deemed OK). I should have asked for at least a compression test and a chemical test. Now looking at a heads off on a 4.3 SE to see where the water is going after a few months. Not at home a lot so not driven much! And not hard when at home.
Could be looking at thousands to cure. Well 2k maybe. Cannot sell so have to pay.
It was a 400 with a 4.3 transplant unless someone knows its history better than me (I know diddly) Monza red magnolia interia, loud as ell.
PS £100 notes to be sent to £U% line terminated.
Edited by jmorgan on Sunday 1st July 11:47
Whats the diagnosis to give a £2k bill? Certainly sounds like dicky Head Gasket(s) but thats not £2k to sort out. I'm not familiar with the 4.3 so dont know what the compression should be but, if something has gone in the bottom end I would have expected the compression to vary according the health of the pot. Having re-built v'high mileage 4 pots in my mis-spent youth, even when piston rings etc start to go I always found 1 or 2 pots to be much worse than the others. Seems strange if all 8 are similar - hope you haven't been stuck with some sort of dodgy conversion??? Who is looking at it for you?? If you haven't already I suggest you have a chat with one of the Rover V8 gurus listed in the Sprint helplines??
Russ
Edited by Brm Brm on Sunday 1st July 15:28
Thanks for the replies. Home again after another week away. D.J.E. in Nuneaton is going to have a look. 2k seems to be the worst case short of cracked block.
I have contacted Penninsular and they told me some of the upgrades carried out. Quite a few. Seems I have a hot wire, Lucas injection and a jag airflow meter together with increased capacity injectors and an adjustable fuel press reg and ported heads.
Will dig out my last copy of sprint and ask advice as advised so to speak.
Cheers
The "old unit" was badly built and it seems with a lot of bits of metal that should not be there. The block is a nearly new 390 done up to 4.2 and appears ok. The crank needs regrinding, timing cover replacing, both heads were cracked in the inlet area and badly ported (hence the cracks). The trumpets were loose and floating around, inlet manifold badly ported and the list goes on. A lot of work will be done to make it a better motor. Cross bolting, trumpets cut shorter, sump baffled again the list goes on. There is no history to who built this unit and supplied. The nearest is a racing firm somwhere. The idea is to get a 260 BHP+ when all goes together and I know it is sound. 350 would be nice but can a 400 chasis etc handle it? Not being cynical but curious.
Oh yes, lighten the fly wheel, balancing, 218 cam, clean and stary metal off castings and for that price we are painting the moon yellow.
Edited by jmorgan on Wednesday 25th July 20:57
HMM - sounds like a bodge job to me. Have you spoken to Tower View or Tim Lamont (ACT) about engine upgrades - recommend you check out their websites. A genuine 300BHP is possible out of a 4.2 although the torque curve on my SEAC is a bit peaky. Wedges can handle the power - remember Steve Heath has I believe a 5.2 with well over 300BHP in a 390 chassis, and SHAYES has a similar engine in his SEAC although I dont know how much it cost!. I also remember talking to someone at the NEC a couple of years ago (DJ Ellis?) who said 300 BHP in my otherwise standard 400SE would cost 4-5K. Shopping around might be worthwhile!! Good Luck - it will be worth it!
Edited by brm brm on Thursday 26th July 00:08
Brm Brm it is DJE doing the work. Very clean shop but I am at the stage of its in bits and has to be done. I am not worried if he is a good V8 guy, which he seems to be although it may cost. Want a tip top job. Went in for a water loss problem and got to the point of go no go (NASA here I come), bit hard now to change to another builder. Hope my god Stipibuger smiles on me.
OK bought the car sold as seen. The previous owner must have known there was somthing wrong (if he reads this, defend yourself). Water going out of the engine at rate of knots. Every drive is a fill up on the water front. Now being rebuilt at a cost! Call it passing the buck. Muggins here bought it. I have no problems with minor probs and would not sell without pointing out major probs. Some people are just waiting for people like me (stupid buggers).
May the fleas of a thousand camels infect his A**hole
OK a HUGE!! wad of cash (but worth it and I asked for more to be done and the advice by DJE was spot on and all questions I asked were explained in a manner a could understand) lighter and I now have a sorted motor (with a lot of mods). Looking forward to the run in period finishing. A heck of a lot of work has been done (not by me I add). It is now a different animal. No overheating, water loss, and a host of other problems the previous unit had. One of the many curious points was that although the oil filter and cooler were plumbed in, they were plumbed in wrong so no oil was going through them, just around the engine, nasty sharp bits in tow!
Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 9th August 23:04
Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 9th August 23:30
quote:Unfortunately ANY private Sale is essentially 'Sold as Seen' - It does not have to work in any way shape or form - Let the Buyer Beware. Hence the reason many people fork out hundreds on Car Checks ( Shame I find they are crap too, not spotting problems with the cars I`ve bought )
OK bought the car sold as seen. The previous owner must have known there was somthing wrong
quote:This is not completely true. You are covered by the sale of goods act (i.e. it should be capable of performing the task it was designed for to a reasonable standard), but it is just much more difficult to obtain a conclusion. Also a dealer (or trader) selling 'sold as seen' can be hauled up if he does not point out any major problems. This is from memory, please correct me if I am wrong. Sparks
Unfortunately ANY private Sale is essentially 'Sold as Seen' - It does not have to work in any way shape or form - Let the Buyer Beware. ..........
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