Engine failure - rebuild or alternatives?
Discussion
Sh*te - my 4.0 has developed a knocking noise.
It has yet to be stripped down but initial diagnosis is either big end bearing or a liner failure due to poor ignition (car had been going off a cylinder when accelerating in 4th or 4th - maybe for c.80 miles).
So, several options come to mind..
1. Complete rebuild - £5k - £6k which would leave me with a 2 year warranty
2. Strip and fix whatever is actually broken, i.e. could be a crank regrind plus shell bearings or whatever - cost unknown
3. Buy an unknown quantity from a breaker - I've been offered an engine out of a 4.0S but as yet do not know year of build or mileage. I suspect there is no way I will know whether this engine has ever been rebuilt or had any work done. The engine is still in a car with front end damage and the breaker will allow me to start it up and perform whatever checks can be done with the engine in the car
4. Take out the Speed Six and put it in a corner. Buy a Corvette engine and get someone to drop it in?
For purely financial reasons, option 3 is the favourite at the moment. Option 4 is interesting in that I can see the benefits of having an engine in the Tuscan which would be just a powerful and much less likely to go bang a few years out.
I'm likely to be keeping this motor for many years so resale is not a particular issue in my deliberations.
So - what's the general wisdom??
Cheers,
Al
It has yet to be stripped down but initial diagnosis is either big end bearing or a liner failure due to poor ignition (car had been going off a cylinder when accelerating in 4th or 4th - maybe for c.80 miles).
So, several options come to mind..
1. Complete rebuild - £5k - £6k which would leave me with a 2 year warranty
2. Strip and fix whatever is actually broken, i.e. could be a crank regrind plus shell bearings or whatever - cost unknown
3. Buy an unknown quantity from a breaker - I've been offered an engine out of a 4.0S but as yet do not know year of build or mileage. I suspect there is no way I will know whether this engine has ever been rebuilt or had any work done. The engine is still in a car with front end damage and the breaker will allow me to start it up and perform whatever checks can be done with the engine in the car
4. Take out the Speed Six and put it in a corner. Buy a Corvette engine and get someone to drop it in?
For purely financial reasons, option 3 is the favourite at the moment. Option 4 is interesting in that I can see the benefits of having an engine in the Tuscan which would be just a powerful and much less likely to go bang a few years out.
I'm likely to be keeping this motor for many years so resale is not a particular issue in my deliberations.
So - what's the general wisdom??
Cheers,
Al
Options 1 and 4 are the only sensible ones.
Option 2 is a half-way house - fixing the minimum and probably only putting off a full rebuild until a later date.
Option 3 is the same - chances are you'll need a rebuild at some point, assuming you are keeping the car.
Option 3 would only appeal to me on the grounds that it would be the quickest fix, but I expect also the most expensive in the long run.
Option 2 is a half-way house - fixing the minimum and probably only putting off a full rebuild until a later date.
Option 3 is the same - chances are you'll need a rebuild at some point, assuming you are keeping the car.
Option 3 would only appeal to me on the grounds that it would be the quickest fix, but I expect also the most expensive in the long run.
I noticed last night that TVR power have a special offer on at the moment - £1000 off their normal rebuild costs...
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.rebuild.php
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.rebuild.php
The engine at the breakers if it had front end damage was the engine still running with water & oil pooring out of it too much of a gamble & most want 3K for them if budget is tight & you can use a spanner fix what you have if not go for a rebuild as the car is a long term vehicle.
Ian
Ian
D14 AYS said:
Personally the only option I would go for is http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.4.3.php
£1k+VAT cheaper now too!For me ,I think if its going to be a "KEEPER" then option 4 of a corvette engine would be my option (I think!!) long term reliability with easy servicing and all servicable parts easy to access. Also good power and performance and can be upgaded to massive HP if you wish fairly easilly.
I don't think their is anyone offering a straight swap out from SP6 to LS corvette engine yet although I understand that SHPUB is in the middle of doing one as we speak or certainly looking to do one soon so might be worth having a chat with him.
However the SP6 is a great engine when its on song and is really suited to the Tuscan and performance is enough for everyday road use, bang on a couple of Carbon Cans and you are
.
I think TVRPOWER are offering a £1K discount on a SP6 rebuild and was it not a 5 year warranty seems like a good deal for peace of mind.
In short like most of my posts Ive been of no help whatsover!! Sorry
Good luck with whatever you choose and please keep us informed.
I don't think their is anyone offering a straight swap out from SP6 to LS corvette engine yet although I understand that SHPUB is in the middle of doing one as we speak or certainly looking to do one soon so might be worth having a chat with him.
However the SP6 is a great engine when its on song and is really suited to the Tuscan and performance is enough for everyday road use, bang on a couple of Carbon Cans and you are
.I think TVRPOWER are offering a £1K discount on a SP6 rebuild and was it not a 5 year warranty seems like a good deal for peace of mind.
In short like most of my posts Ive been of no help whatsover!! Sorry
Good luck with whatever you choose and please keep us informed.
If money is not a controlling factor take option 3 AND get the current engine re-built to a decent standard. That way you will have a spare should anything happen to engine A.
I am seriously thinking of this route after I have satisfied the itch to get another money pit - a boat this time rather than a woman !
I am seriously thinking of this route after I have satisfied the itch to get another money pit - a boat this time rather than a woman !
A few weeks ago I visited the London Motor Museum where I meet the owner who owns TKO Kustoms. He said he is looking to buy a Tuscan for an V8 engine project. Saids he has lots of engines lying around. He was very intested in my Tuscan but its not for sale since it's just had a rebuild.
If you thinking of selling or intersted in an engine swap then can contact him using the website - http://www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk/
If you thinking of selling or intersted in an engine swap then can contact him using the website - http://www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk/
G20RG B said:
I don't think their is anyone offering a straight swap out from SP6 to LS corvette engine yet although I understand that SHPUB is in the middle of doing one as we speak or certainly looking to do one soon so might be worth having a chat with him.
The Cerbera SP6 conversion is well under way. The T350 conversion starts this weekend. Or, to be more accurate, it started on the way to Le Mans when the engine gave up....... The owner is taking the engine out this weekend. So it is looking very promising.
shpub said:
G20RG B said:
I don't think their is anyone offering a straight swap out from SP6 to LS corvette engine yet although I understand that SHPUB is in the middle of doing one as we speak or certainly looking to do one soon so might be worth having a chat with him.
The Cerbera SP6 conversion is well under way. The T350 conversion starts this weekend. Or, to be more accurate, it started on the way to Le Mans when the engine gave up....... The owner is taking the engine out this weekend. So it is looking very promising.
Currently we can do the Cerb V8 conversion for about 7K exc VAT. This includes a new crate 6 litre L98 engine (Ls2 with LS3/7 heads - 450-475 bhp out of the box). Cam changes etc can take this into the 500+ bhp level. We do the fitting. Engine service intervals are 100k miles excluding oil changes. Price may vary on the engine spec and currency exchange but that's the ball park.
I am expecting the Tuscan/Tcar Sp6 conversion to be around the same price. So far haven't seen anything to say otherwise.
More info here...
I am expecting the Tuscan/Tcar Sp6 conversion to be around the same price. So far haven't seen anything to say otherwise.
More info here...
Has anybody got a definitive list on the pricing structure for each of the rebuild options, namely, TVR Power, Racing Green, Str8Six. Would be interesting to compare that with a price on the V8 engine option.
I'll start the list, please correct if wrong:
(prices include VAT)
TVR Power:
4.3 upgrade: £8049.99, warranty 5 years
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.4.3.php
rebuild : £5175.00, warranty 3 years
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.rebuild.php
Str8Six: http://www.str8six.co.uk/
Could not find any prices on website
offers rebuilds, upgrades and superchargers
Awaiting prices over email
Racing Green TVR:
Finger Follower Free design
Could not find any prices on website
Awaiting prices over email
Al Melling:
?
V8 options
Steve Heath Engineering: Ls2 with LS3/7 heads - 450-475 bhp - £8050 (1 year warranty)
https://delta.securesslhost.net/~shenglt/catalog/i...
I'll start the list, please correct if wrong:
(prices include VAT)
TVR Power:
4.3 upgrade: £8049.99, warranty 5 years
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.4.3.php
rebuild : £5175.00, warranty 3 years
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.rebuild.php
Str8Six: http://www.str8six.co.uk/
Could not find any prices on website
offers rebuilds, upgrades and superchargers
Awaiting prices over email
Racing Green TVR:
Finger Follower Free design
Could not find any prices on website
Awaiting prices over email
Al Melling:
?
V8 options
Steve Heath Engineering: Ls2 with LS3/7 heads - 450-475 bhp - £8050 (1 year warranty)
https://delta.securesslhost.net/~shenglt/catalog/i...
Edited by Lucozade on Thursday 25th June 16:43
UpTheIron said:
D14 AYS said:
Personally the only option I would go for is http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.4.3.php
£1k+VAT cheaper now too!GALLARDOGUY said:
UpTheIron said:
D14 AYS said:
Personally the only option I would go for is http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.4.3.php
£1k+VAT cheaper now too!Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff