Thursday 21st July 2005

Al Melling announces Speed Six session

Melling & Autocraft claim longevity improvements

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Al Melling -- the 'A' in AJP8 -- is to give a talk about his involvement in the design of TVR's Speed Six engine.

Melling, a veteran engineer, is launching the talk in conjunction with Autocraft, which has recently launched a number of modified components for the Speed 6. Autocraft claims it can increase the longevity of TVR's powerful Straight Six.

The talk will be followed by a question and answer session.

When: Sunday 14 August, 1pm to 2.30pm. Doors open at noon.

Where: The Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, Wiltshire. It's on the A343 between Andover and Salisbury.

The event is free of charge, but numbers are limited so admission will be ticket-only.

Please contact Autocraft with your name and address to register for tickets (and to give a head count for catering).

Contact Autocraft on email or Web site or phone [phone].

• Museum of Army Flying

[kickingback]

Just what will he say about the current brain drain at TVR!

[targarama]

kickingback said:

Just what will he say about the current brain drain at TVR!

Not a lot I suspect. He's talking about the engine. I would also expect a very politically correct response around what TVR might have done to cause the engine to be less reliable.

[bennno]

The s6 has awful reliability as did the AJP v8 which Melling also designed, but this doesnt mention.

Dont tell me the components or manufacturing processes are entirely to blame and that swapping some cam followers and widgets will suddenly turn the engine in to something with the reliability of a BMW 6 or Ford/GM V8.....

There should be a 50k, 3 year warranty on the engine for the reworking to make sense. Without this its just an alternative when the inevitable happens.

Bennno

[dvpeace]

Without a substantial guarantee covered by an insurance company, this is all pointless. I believe that this lot a in bed with SP6 Tech and the management have a track record of closing down companies to avoid liability.

What’s to stop this lot running into trouble in a few years time when the modified engines go pop and people start to claim of them instead of TVR.

[blue 4.5]

Wouldn't It be a good excuse just to get a load of our cars together for a meet (see if we can borrow the air strip!) Just down the road from me!

[don pringle]

It's all Grass!!!!

[tommyLeone]

dvpeace said:

Without a substantial guarantee covered by an insurance company, this is all pointless. I believe that this lot a in bed with SP6 Tech and the management have a track record of closing down companies to avoid liability. What’s to stop this lot running into trouble in a few years time when the modified engines go pop and people start to claim of them instead of TVR.

i think it is very unfair for us to judge a company who does not have a single unhappy customer. you really should pay them a visit and see what they do apart from tvrs (and yes i have been in contact and am considering a number of performance upgrades for my recent purchase). i've only been here a short while and now I realise why a few I have spoken to stay away from these forums, its like the concepts of 'positive mental attitude' and 'prove them wrong' dont exist here.

these engineers at tvrcraft are seriously hardcore, they do not take shortcuts at the expense of their customers, i have heard this and seen it with my own eyes (ie. 600bhp+ trike project worth in-excess of 50k currently nearing completion), and i believe it was their knowledge and experience in the engineering world and race proven big-block 1800+bhp engine development work in the past which prompted Al Melling to join forces with them.
also, Al Melling is the designer of the renault F1 engine thats been in use for a while and is a serious piece of kit. his original speed 8/6 designs were very 'expensive' to implement in mass production, a nightmare which all designers face when their designs are cut to pieces to save a few 'pennies', i guess he is trying to help the ownerbase in order to prove he was right and 'they' were wrong, nothing wrong with that, unless 'they' can prove he is wrong, and i doubt that very much.

(on the matter of insurance, they have a 'generous' insurance scheme, call and ask, i did. jumping to conclusions is the first step to victor meldrews doorstep)

[yanmar]

Lets not forget that when any T V R with a S6 is on song NOTHING can be better. Let Al Melling have his say and draw conclusions.

[dvpeace]

tommyLeone said:

dvpeace said: Without a substantial guarantee covered by an insurance company, this is all pointless. I believe that this lot a in bed with SP6 Tech and the management have a track record of closing down companies to avoid liability. What’s to stop this lot running into trouble in a few years time when the modified engines go pop and people start to claim of them instead of TVR. i think it is very unfair for us to judge a company who does not have a single unhappy customer. you really should pay them a visit and see what they do apart from tvrs (and yes i have been in contact and am considering a number of performance upgrades for my recent purchase). i've only been here a short while and now I realise why a few I have spoken to stay away from these forums, its like the concepts of 'positive mental attitude' and 'prove them wrong' dont exist here. these engineers at tvrcraft are seriously hardcore, they do not take shortcuts at the expense of their customers, i have heard this and seen it with my own eyes (ie. 600bhp+ trike project worth in-excess of 50k currently nearing completion), and i believe it was their knowledge and experience in the engineering world and race proven big-block 1800+bhp engine development work in the past which prompted Al Melling to join forces with them. also, Al Melling is the designer of the renault F1 engine thats been in use for a while and is a serious piece of kit. his original speed 8/6 designs were very 'expensive' to implement in mass production, a nightmare which all designers face when their designs are cut to pieces to save a few 'pennies', i guess he is trying to help the ownerbase in order to prove he was right and 'they' were wrong, nothing wrong with that, unless 'they' can prove he is wrong, and i doubt that very much. (on the matter of insurance, they have a 'generous' insurance scheme, call and ask, i did. jumping to conclusions is the first step to victor meldrews doorstep)

Thanks for the post, It IS good to hear that they have a proven track record with other customers. It is very easy for them to say that TVR messed the design to save money, but one of the designers conciderations should be production costs. I'm sorry if my post was a bit of a Doubting Thomas I posted it in the interests of debate and waited to be corrected.

I have been corrected in a very constructive and proactive way .

Regards

David

[dinkel]

More

[bjwoods]

dvpeace said:

Without a substantial guarantee covered by an insurance company, this is all pointless. I believe that this lot a in bed with SP6 Tech and the management have a track record of closing down companies to avoid liability. What’s to stop this lot running into trouble in a few years time when the modified engines go pop and people start to claim of them instead of TVR.

This is a biyt confusing are you talking S6 engine Tech in Henley, as I believe they are a totally separate company from Autocraft... Is that not correct?

B

[red rose]

Yes, I am sure they are separate companies.

[TUS 373]

I can hear the padlock and chain coming....

[apache]

begsbie said:

stuff

If that's true his questions and answers session is a brave move isn't it

[GreenV8S]

begsbie said:

I would like to set the record straight on this matter, ...

That's a remarkably bold statement to make on a public forum isn't it?

Given that we have no idea who you are and you haven't provided any tangible information to back up your allegation, why should anyone believe you?

[19560]

begsbie said:

Al Melling is a ...

What you say is vague however Al Melling did provide the initial design for the engines 6, 8 and 12 which each produce around 100bhp/litre without VVT.

[-SXS-]

Bloody hell, just joined and one post and making a bold statement like that - total bullshit mate, Melling has worked for nearly all the big-boys out there and is a highly regarded authority on engine design - isnt the Renault F1 engine his baby? Exactly.

Something very very dodgy is going on here. I'd be careful whoever you are, Melling is a millionaire with a BIG reputation and if he gets wind of this accusation, Dave the owner of Pistonheads will not be a very happy bunny.

Could someone please remove that post and related posts before this escalates and kills this useful thread!

[-SXS-]

begsbie said:

I'm sorry to make maves, but I saw it all happen. Time will tell.

Introduce yourself, who are you? Who did you work for? (I'm assuming you are linked to some outfit)?

[PetrolTed]

Best we let people draw their own conclusions until further information is available.