LSV is still alive!
Discussion
Apologies folks, our website is down temporarily during its periodic upgrade, and I'm not sure what the problem is with the telephone! Please call us on 01933 670982 for attention.
A quick update is in order. Doug Duguid joined us a year ago on a short term contract to tide us over a period of staff illness (namely me). Living in Cheddar (we are in Northamptonshire!) he had always planned to resume his career in sales after twelve months, and he has now secured a senior position with a Vauxhall main dealer in the south-west. We are very grateful for his assistance during that period, which frankly was something of a favour to Eric McClenaghan, our MD.
As for LSV itself, the business has split into two distinct entities, Special Vehicles dealing with 'standard' performance upgrades (anything up to around 550 bhp), and Special Projects, which involves the more extreme stuff, including whole car builds and work with manufacturers. We base a lot of our work around our 4wd chassis dyno, and sub-contract ultra-specialist work to high-end engine and gearbox specialists with whom we've built long-term relationships.
Everyone is aware that the power 'arms race' is rather frantic at the moment, and with the availability of mass market supercharging (at £3,500 plus VAT this is half the price of what was available a couple of years ago) and affordable brakes and exhaust upgrades, we are rushed off our feet. Turning the Monaro into something truly awesome is now a very practical proposition. There are still customers out there with deeper pockets, and the options open to them are (literally) frightening. It is not unusual for us to be building supercharged 6.3 strokers up to 700 bhp in road cars, and I have to put them through their paces. A tough job, but someone has to do it.
We'll be at SEMA in Las Vegas next week and if anyone is there who wants to share a beer we'd look forward to seeing you. Give us a call in the next couple of days to make arrangements to meet. The garage will be open next week but we will be restricted to service/similar work for that period.
Regards to all, Tim Alanthwaite
A quick update is in order. Doug Duguid joined us a year ago on a short term contract to tide us over a period of staff illness (namely me). Living in Cheddar (we are in Northamptonshire!) he had always planned to resume his career in sales after twelve months, and he has now secured a senior position with a Vauxhall main dealer in the south-west. We are very grateful for his assistance during that period, which frankly was something of a favour to Eric McClenaghan, our MD.
As for LSV itself, the business has split into two distinct entities, Special Vehicles dealing with 'standard' performance upgrades (anything up to around 550 bhp), and Special Projects, which involves the more extreme stuff, including whole car builds and work with manufacturers. We base a lot of our work around our 4wd chassis dyno, and sub-contract ultra-specialist work to high-end engine and gearbox specialists with whom we've built long-term relationships.
Everyone is aware that the power 'arms race' is rather frantic at the moment, and with the availability of mass market supercharging (at £3,500 plus VAT this is half the price of what was available a couple of years ago) and affordable brakes and exhaust upgrades, we are rushed off our feet. Turning the Monaro into something truly awesome is now a very practical proposition. There are still customers out there with deeper pockets, and the options open to them are (literally) frightening. It is not unusual for us to be building supercharged 6.3 strokers up to 700 bhp in road cars, and I have to put them through their paces. A tough job, but someone has to do it.
We'll be at SEMA in Las Vegas next week and if anyone is there who wants to share a beer we'd look forward to seeing you. Give us a call in the next couple of days to make arrangements to meet. The garage will be open next week but we will be restricted to service/similar work for that period.
Regards to all, Tim Alanthwaite
The power of Pistonheads......ask a question and get a reply straight from the horses' mouth 
OooooOOOOoooo SEMA. Didn't realise this wasn't open to Joe Public (not that I was planning to go, but I love a lot of what's on show there). Please take lots of piccies.
Also, you can't just go around talking about 700bhp motors willy-nilly! I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to know much more detail. Perhaps an official Pistonheads review is in order......although by the sounds of things, you're a tad busy
OooooOOOOoooo SEMA. Didn't realise this wasn't open to Joe Public (not that I was planning to go, but I love a lot of what's on show there). Please take lots of piccies.
Also, you can't just go around talking about 700bhp motors willy-nilly! I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to know much more detail. Perhaps an official Pistonheads review is in order......although by the sounds of things, you're a tad busy
To be fair you may need to blag your way into SEMA if you don't have a fairly direct motor industry connection, but it's been done before!
It is simply an eye-boggling, mouth watering, impossible to take it all in, impossible to forget it, kind of show. OK, it's America, but BIG doesn't do it justice. The quality and variety of what is on show and available can't adequately be put into words.
To be fair, the 700 bhp+ conversions we do aren't just a blower and a re-map, and unless you can easily afford it, what's the point? With 500 bhp most drivers will be struggling to tap the power to its full potential. In case you were wondering, I do always question why a customer wants that kind of power; we're here as enthusiasts after all, and selling something that someone doesn't really want if they thought about it a little more isn't part of the ethos.
You can guess the most prevalent reason for going to an extreme: "I just want it". I can't knock that; my baby's at about 650 bhp. Still, it's sobering to drag it up the Pod and get beaten by the 20 year olds in their Novas!
It is simply an eye-boggling, mouth watering, impossible to take it all in, impossible to forget it, kind of show. OK, it's America, but BIG doesn't do it justice. The quality and variety of what is on show and available can't adequately be put into words.
To be fair, the 700 bhp+ conversions we do aren't just a blower and a re-map, and unless you can easily afford it, what's the point? With 500 bhp most drivers will be struggling to tap the power to its full potential. In case you were wondering, I do always question why a customer wants that kind of power; we're here as enthusiasts after all, and selling something that someone doesn't really want if they thought about it a little more isn't part of the ethos.
You can guess the most prevalent reason for going to an extreme: "I just want it". I can't knock that; my baby's at about 650 bhp. Still, it's sobering to drag it up the Pod and get beaten by the 20 year olds in their Novas!
Size wise the only place I've ever been to compare it to would be the likes of the Essen Motor Show which is coming up soon at the start of December, but in true yank style they take everything to extremes (and then add a few more dollops of madness just for good measure). Trade only show, but most people know someone connected with the motor trade to be able to get in the door 
Linden said:
To be fair you may need to blag your way into SEMA if you don't have a fairly direct motor industry connection, but it's been done before!
It is simply an eye-boggling, mouth watering, impossible to take it all in, impossible to forget it, kind of show. OK, it's America, but BIG doesn't do it justice. The quality and variety of what is on show and available can't adequately be put into words.
It is simply an eye-boggling, mouth watering, impossible to take it all in, impossible to forget it, kind of show. OK, it's America, but BIG doesn't do it justice. The quality and variety of what is on show and available can't adequately be put into words.
That's really not helping. SEMA is one show I want to attend before my time's up
Boss talk to me. Ill sort you out for next year
Hell Ill even swap you for a new v2 Efilive scan tool at the time!
Im helping Efilive man their stand on site. Stand #13059
www.efilive.com/default.aspx
V2 is out with loads of nice features for those who like to tweak their engines to perfection.
Hell Ill even swap you for a new v2 Efilive scan tool at the time!
Im helping Efilive man their stand on site. Stand #13059
www.efilive.com/default.aspx
V2 is out with loads of nice features for those who like to tweak their engines to perfection.
BO55 VXR said:
OK, here's the deal... This year's a no go... to shorter notice...
Next year, if someone in the trade can get me a ticket, I'll fly them to Vegas with me...Upper Class...for free (err, not free, just airport taxes)
Next year, if someone in the trade can get me a ticket, I'll fly them to Vegas with me...Upper Class...for free (err, not free, just airport taxes)
Why do ya think i asked about flights the other day!!!!!!
caspy said:
BO55 VXR said:
OK, here's the deal... This year's a no go... to shorter notice...
Next year, if someone in the trade can get me a ticket, I'll fly them to Vegas with me...Upper Class...for free (err, not free, just airport taxes)
Next year, if someone in the trade can get me a ticket, I'll fly them to Vegas with me...Upper Class...for free (err, not free, just airport taxes)
Why do ya think i asked about flights the other day!!!!!!
Well, if you had said so, I would have sorted you out... Doh!!!
Maybe next year....or if there's anything sooner
Edited by BO55 VXR on Wednesday 25th October 17:53
Well_Fans said:
anyone else notice the subtle price increase in LSV's superchargers? I'd heard a rumour the first batch were a special offer at 2.5K+VAT. See they've crept up now to 3.5k+VAT. Oh well thats a bit more to save up then :-)
And that adds up to approx £4000+ when you add VAT... If it was my money I would save the extra and get the wortec harrop unit...
Dan_S V8 said:
Well_Fans said:
anyone else notice the subtle price increase in LSV's superchargers? I'd heard a rumour the first batch were a special offer at 2.5K+VAT. See they've crept up now to 3.5k+VAT. Oh well thats a bit more to save up then :-)
And that adds up to approx £4000+ when you add VAT... If it was my money I would save the extra and get the wortec harrop unit...
why?
Yes, unfortunately the price of the superchargers has gone up; we were able to install a number of initial units with major assistance on the price from our supplier as a promotional effort. We still believe the price is more than competitive, and less than half what it was less than three years ago. It also includes a bespoke set-up on the dyno; in our experience there is quite a difference between each of these engines, which is down to fairly lax mass-production tolerances.
As for AP brakes, again the new price is less than the competition, but we actually make a profit now; a novel concept. Note that this is not an exchange price; you get to keep your old brakes. Bear with us while we change the PH banner advert, which is now out of date.
Regards, Tim
As for AP brakes, again the new price is less than the competition, but we actually make a profit now; a novel concept. Note that this is not an exchange price; you get to keep your old brakes. Bear with us while we change the PH banner advert, which is now out of date.
Regards, Tim
Gassing Station | HSV & Monaro | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff