DIY rebuild?
DIY rebuild?
Author
Discussion

RiddleMcFiddle

Original Poster:

192 posts

204 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
Is this possible? im not interested in doing it, as i wouldnt know how to.

But has anyone done this successfully? surely its not an 'art form' like its perceived by many?

smile

Daston

6,148 posts

232 months

Tuesday 15th September 2009
quotequote all
you can do it yourself however there are a few things that make it harder than a normal car.

1) just to get the head off you need the engine out
2) the block has no timing marks on it at all
3) to set up a lot of sensors etc you need the computer software.


RiddleMcFiddle

Original Poster:

192 posts

204 months

Tuesday 15th September 2009
quotequote all
i see. i havent got the means to do it, but was just interested thats all.

how about removing the engine DIY and sending it away to straight six or TVR power then refitting at home?

Anyone done that successfully?


WhyTwo

1,159 posts

221 months

Tuesday 15th September 2009
quotequote all
RiddleMcFiddle said:
how about removing the engine DIY and sending it away to TVR power then refitting at home?
The guy I bought mine from did just that. Speaking to Dom it seems to have been less straightforward than it should've been but this was down to 'user error' rather than anything to do with TVR Power.

It's certainly a way to save a few £££'s though

Daston

6,148 posts

232 months

Wednesday 16th September 2009
quotequote all
WhyTwo said:
RiddleMcFiddle said:
how about removing the engine DIY and sending it away to TVR power then refitting at home?
The guy I bought mine from did just that. Speaking to Dom it seems to have been less straightforward than it should've been but this was down to 'user error' rather than anything to do with TVR Power.

It's certainly a way to save a few £££'s though
Yep no reason why you cant do that bit yourself. The only downside is if something were to be buggered up with putting the engine in Power might not be to happy fixing it under any wauntee.

I looked into this when I was told mine had to come out. Went to my local mechanic who looks after our every day cars but sadly due to the amount of work they have on they couldnt spare the time on a single large job. I also dont have the room or tools to do it myself.

RiddleMcFiddle

Original Poster:

192 posts

204 months

Wednesday 16th September 2009
quotequote all
a full built engine by TVR power or str8 six wouldnt need any setting up would it? surely the ECU isnt that old?

If mine goes pop id like to think i can send the lump off and get it rebuilt, saves on the labour.

YAHOO

341 posts

305 months

Wednesday 16th September 2009
quotequote all
RiddleMcFiddle said:
a full built engine by TVR power or str8 six wouldnt need any setting up would it? surely the ECU isnt that old?

If mine goes pop id like to think i can send the lump off and get it rebuilt, saves on the labour.
It would need to be set up once the unit is in the car .

Noisy

4,489 posts

306 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
YAHOO said:
RiddleMcFiddle said:
a full built engine by TVR power or str8 six wouldnt need any setting up would it? surely the ECU isnt that old?

If mine goes pop id like to think i can send the lump off and get it rebuilt, saves on the labour.
It would need to be set up once the unit is in the car .
Apart from balancing the throttle bodies etc there really shouldn't be too much needed to be set up though? The ECU takes care of the fuel via the lambda sensors so a simple reset of the maps is all that's needed there.

If mine pops I'll take it out at the very least, might actually do the build myself, having spoken with a few well known builders some were willing to sell the parts and do machining work for me so I could then do the build myself.

RiddleMcFiddle

Original Poster:

192 posts

204 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
hi noisy,

Yes i think its got to be a case of balancing the bodies and thats it. providing the cam timing is correct etc it should surely be plug and play?

If anyone else knows different then id be happy to hear more.

smile

Noisy

4,489 posts

306 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
Well all engines are similar, the Speed 6 is fairly basic so no variable valve timing etc, cam timing will be done at the build stage. only think I can think is priming oil pumps with the dry sump system.

RiddleMcFiddle

Original Poster:

192 posts

204 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
yes but surely thats the same as doing an oil change?

When changing oil isnt it just a case of draining, refilling and off you go? or is there priming required of oil circuit?


XTR2Turbo

1,538 posts

260 months

Friday 18th September 2009
quotequote all
WhyTwo said:
RiddleMcFiddle said:
how about removing the engine DIY and sending it away to TVR power then refitting at home?
The guy I bought mine from did just that. Speaking to Dom it seems to have been less straightforward than it should've been but this was down to 'user error' rather than anything to do with TVR Power.

It's certainly a way to save a few £££'s though
This was my brothers car. It wasn't user error.

There tend to be two issues doing it yourself.

1) All the oil lines and tanks need to be very well cleaned. Dom will want the car back after engine installed and will want to inspect before connecting hoses and adding oil. This we did and Dom was very happy.

2) The throttle bodies on these cars are not great and can stick. THis can happen through lack of use or damage cleaning or possibly removing or installing the engine if you were very clumsy.
One of my brothers pots stuck and was initially hard to balance. If TVR Power did not take the engine out they will do their best to sort but will charge extra beyond normal quote as assume it was a problem not covered. If they take the engine out they would check this sort of thing first.

There was also a lambda sensor problem where the connector had melted on my brothers car.

To be honest the cost saving is marginal but my brother was interested in inspecting the top end and one thing led to another.

Hope you are still enjoying.

David