My Speed 6 rebuild story
Discussion
For those interested thought i'd detail what went on with my engine, how it has been sorted, who was involved and the spec.
Bought my car from Dream Machines in Sussex, knowing full well there have been a couple of people in the past who have used them and not been happy. Perhaps this may redress the balance. I bought on the basis it had had a complete engine rebuild the year prior to my purchase by one of the best reputed builders of the moment. I am not going to name them on here, please can i ask nobody else does - because that will probably get the thread locked. If you want to know who i refer to PM me. All im going to say on the previus rebuild is that it wasnt done properly, now, i dont care who and what was involved, but it wasnt done properly, and the result was an engine that needed a second rebuild within 3000 miles of the last one
.
All that had actually been done was uprated finger followers, uprated chilled cast camshafts and the main bearing.
The engine consumed several litres of oil within the first 800 miles (all i managed before the car was returned). Dream Machines agreed to take the car back and fix without quibble, and after contacting the previous builder to ascertain if they would fix properly this time, they were having none of it. The engine was removed and shipped to Jason at str8 six.
Upon stripping it was found that there were quite a few issues. Top end, with the exception of the replaced parts that were still mint, was bascially crackered. Valves and valve guides badly worn. Bottom end, the scavenge pump was damaged, big end bearings and crank was scored from debris in the oil and needed new piston rings.
Full rebuild time...
On Jasons advice i also had a few (!) bits done, to make sure of longeivity of the engine this time!! Im focused on reliability in my choices.
So the spec,
Full top end rebuild, main bits included;
Uprated cast valve guides
Tuftrided vavles
valve stem seals
uprated headwashers
MLS head gasket
we reused the finger followers and camshafts as they were mint.
and obviously all the engineering work that goes with this (valve seats, reaming etc)
Bottom end;
Piston rings
uprated copper backed big end bearings
Main bearings
new scav pump
new scav sprocket and chain
aux shaft bearings
consumables
I went to see Jason to talk through all the work, I chose to uprate the block the the latest and greatest casting design - better cooling, better oil gallery flows and more strength. Also chose to uprate the little end bearings and have the half time bearing mod done (change to a roller bearing for more strength)
Dream Machines covered the whole lot with the exception of the bits i chose to do, much to their credit, as the bill was significant and they also bought the car in on the basis of its previous rebuild, so both DM and I were stuffed really. They have been excellent throughout, i have a fiar idea what costs they had - and they certainly made a big loss on this car. Im not splitting out the costs on here but if anyone wants to know PM me.
The drive home today was brilliant, the car purred
, idled lovely and is very smooth, in stationary traffic the water temp never went above 90 degrees, oil stayed just below this, i was sat for over an hour trying to get through a twon on the way home. Both fans on and 28 degree ambient heat, i was very pleased.
Just got to get the run in service done now!! And then i can start really
The only slight fly in the ointment is that DM have asked me to cover this myself, but, given the circumstances and the size of their bill and the way they have treated me (very well), im OK with this.
Bought my car from Dream Machines in Sussex, knowing full well there have been a couple of people in the past who have used them and not been happy. Perhaps this may redress the balance. I bought on the basis it had had a complete engine rebuild the year prior to my purchase by one of the best reputed builders of the moment. I am not going to name them on here, please can i ask nobody else does - because that will probably get the thread locked. If you want to know who i refer to PM me. All im going to say on the previus rebuild is that it wasnt done properly, now, i dont care who and what was involved, but it wasnt done properly, and the result was an engine that needed a second rebuild within 3000 miles of the last one
.All that had actually been done was uprated finger followers, uprated chilled cast camshafts and the main bearing.
The engine consumed several litres of oil within the first 800 miles (all i managed before the car was returned). Dream Machines agreed to take the car back and fix without quibble, and after contacting the previous builder to ascertain if they would fix properly this time, they were having none of it. The engine was removed and shipped to Jason at str8 six.
Upon stripping it was found that there were quite a few issues. Top end, with the exception of the replaced parts that were still mint, was bascially crackered. Valves and valve guides badly worn. Bottom end, the scavenge pump was damaged, big end bearings and crank was scored from debris in the oil and needed new piston rings.
Full rebuild time...
On Jasons advice i also had a few (!) bits done, to make sure of longeivity of the engine this time!! Im focused on reliability in my choices.
So the spec,
Full top end rebuild, main bits included;
Uprated cast valve guides
Tuftrided vavles
valve stem seals
uprated headwashers
MLS head gasket
we reused the finger followers and camshafts as they were mint.
and obviously all the engineering work that goes with this (valve seats, reaming etc)
Bottom end;
Piston rings
uprated copper backed big end bearings
Main bearings
new scav pump
new scav sprocket and chain
aux shaft bearings
consumables
I went to see Jason to talk through all the work, I chose to uprate the block the the latest and greatest casting design - better cooling, better oil gallery flows and more strength. Also chose to uprate the little end bearings and have the half time bearing mod done (change to a roller bearing for more strength)
Dream Machines covered the whole lot with the exception of the bits i chose to do, much to their credit, as the bill was significant and they also bought the car in on the basis of its previous rebuild, so both DM and I were stuffed really. They have been excellent throughout, i have a fiar idea what costs they had - and they certainly made a big loss on this car. Im not splitting out the costs on here but if anyone wants to know PM me.
The drive home today was brilliant, the car purred
, idled lovely and is very smooth, in stationary traffic the water temp never went above 90 degrees, oil stayed just below this, i was sat for over an hour trying to get through a twon on the way home. Both fans on and 28 degree ambient heat, i was very pleased. Just got to get the run in service done now!! And then i can start really
The only slight fly in the ointment is that DM have asked me to cover this myself, but, given the circumstances and the size of their bill and the way they have treated me (very well), im OK with this. 
well done to DM for being very fair there. its good to have some balance Glad to hear everything went fine, Rob. Congrats and enjoy these sunny days out there with your "new car"!
Got mine back with a full rebuild 3 weeks ago and just passed the running in milage today. It´s just AWESOME, solid and smooth both in the high revs as well as at 2 - 3k in town. I almost already forgot about the significant bill I paid...
Would be interested to learn if yours will be using some oil during the running in period as well. Mine has eaten some +/- 2 liters of oil (mineralic only for the first 6k miles), which I was told this could well be the case... - Said this, your report about the first rebuild and oil consumption worries me a bit, allthough I also got a 2 years unlimited engine warranty....
cheers,
Funky Jo
Got mine back with a full rebuild 3 weeks ago and just passed the running in milage today. It´s just AWESOME, solid and smooth both in the high revs as well as at 2 - 3k in town. I almost already forgot about the significant bill I paid...
Would be interested to learn if yours will be using some oil during the running in period as well. Mine has eaten some +/- 2 liters of oil (mineralic only for the first 6k miles), which I was told this could well be the case... - Said this, your report about the first rebuild and oil consumption worries me a bit, allthough I also got a 2 years unlimited engine warranty....
cheers,
Funky Jo
Funky Jo said:
Glad to hear everything went fine, Rob. Congrats and enjoy these sunny days out there with your "new car"!
Got mine back with a full rebuild 3 weeks ago and just passed the running in milage today. It´s just AWESOME, solid and smooth both in the high revs as well as at 2 - 3k in town. I almost already forgot about the significant bill I paid...
Would be interested to learn if yours will be using some oil during the running in period as well. Mine has eaten some +/- 2 liters of oil (mineralic only for the first 6k miles), which I was told this could well be the case... - Said this, your report about the first rebuild and oil consumption worries me a bit, allthough I also got a 2 years unlimited engine warranty....
cheers,
Funky Jo
Will let you know on the oil consumption front Jo, at the moment i have an oil leak so need to get that fixed. Hoping its just a weeping pipe or drain tap. Got mine back with a full rebuild 3 weeks ago and just passed the running in milage today. It´s just AWESOME, solid and smooth both in the high revs as well as at 2 - 3k in town. I almost already forgot about the significant bill I paid...
Would be interested to learn if yours will be using some oil during the running in period as well. Mine has eaten some +/- 2 liters of oil (mineralic only for the first 6k miles), which I was told this could well be the case... - Said this, your report about the first rebuild and oil consumption worries me a bit, allthough I also got a 2 years unlimited engine warranty....
cheers,
Funky Jo
Have a 12" circle of what looks like 'cooking fat' on the drive
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