Kit car mechanic in Lancashire

[Jukebag]

Just wondering if anyone know where I can find a good mechanic that deals in kit cars in the Lancashire area (ideally Wigan, Bolton, Chorley, St Helens). I have an E-Type kit car which has been stood in a garage for about 3 years and in need of someone more knowledgeable than myself to come out and access what needs doing to the engine. I've been in contact with the former secretary of the club and he suggested a kit car mechanic.

The engine housed is a 3 litre Essex V6 (the original engine was a Pinto). It was last run in 2014 or 2015, but prior to this the car had a few engine issues and gearbox problems.

I'm hoping to get the engine in working order so I can sell it in running order.

I've heard that Rye Motors located on the 3 Sisters Ind Estate near Wigan do work on various motors; I believe they restored a series 3 E-Type convertible a few years ago, but whether they will cater for kit cars I don't know. I suspect they'll be expensive though.

Edited by Jukebag on Sunday 5th November 12:37

[Benmac]

Not really a kit car mechanic as such but I suppose a Lotus specialist is close enough and he's built all sorts himself. Ollie at Phoenix Motorsports in Accrington would I'm sure be able to help if you could get it up there.

[Jukebag]

Thanks for that, appreciated.

But I think getting it to Accrington would be difficult (I live in the Wigan area) and no doubt quite costly to trailer it there, not to mention they'd probably cost an arm and a leg to just look at it. As far as I've been told the car won't budge (brakes seized likely). It was my dads car and he had a few problems with the gearbox and engine since he bought the car a few years ago; car went from one local garage to another and tyey didn't know what they were really doing. Even though it was running OK just before it was last run, there were still a few teathing issues that needed sorting. He had considered putting in an automatic but never got round to it.

I've been told that, in its current stationary state, it wouldn't sell for much if engine and other mechanicals arent sorted, especially with no MOT.

[SantaBarbara]

Is Gordon still at Up Holland Garage?
He designed the Beumont kit car.

[Jukebag]

I've never heard of Beaumont but I've heard of Beauford kit cars ( popular wedding cars) who I think were based in the Wigan area, but I don't think they're still around. I know there's a garage which specialises in restos located near the Stag at the back of Gathurst road in Orrell; looking at their website they seem to get in some expensive motors, one looked like a Ferrari Dino undergoing a full body respray. Probably won't deal with kit cars though and likely very expensive.

[CrutyRammers]

John Clarkson in Westhoughton? Just down the road, not used them myself but they always advertise in the kit magazines.
http://www.johnclarksongarage.co.uk

[SantaBarbara]

Jukebag said:

I've never heard of Beaumont but I've heard of Beauford kit cars ( popular wedding cars) who I think were based in the Wigan area, but I don't think they're still around. I know there's a garage which specialises in restos located near the Stag at the back of Gathurst road in Orrell; looking at their website they seem to get in some expensive motors, one looked like a Ferrari Dino undergoing a full body respray. Probably won't deal with kit cars though and likely very expensive.

Thank you for correcting my recollection. I meant Beaufort or Beaufort, and Gordon once had a garage at UpHolland, between Skelmersdale and Orrell

[Jukebag]

CrutyRammers said:

John Clarkson in Westhoughton? Just down the road, not used them myself but they always advertise in the kit magazines.
http://www.johnclarksongarage.co.uk

Thanks for that.

I believe the car has been to John Clarkson a few years ago. I cannot recall really what work it went there for as like I say it was my dads car and I'm not very mechanically minded. The car was running before it was taken off road (albeit not very reliably though due to a number of issues).

I would just like someone experienced to come out and have a good look at the engine and mechanicals to asses what may or may not need doing to it to get it running efficiently, and whether it would be an expensive job.

[Little Pete]

Does the car have basics like a charged battery, working starter motor etc? It’s possible that it might have to go to a workshop just to do basic tests, let alone assess what is needed to get it running properly. I’m based not too far from you and I’d take a look if time wasn’t too much of an issue. I’m old enough to have worked on these engines when they were current!
PM me if you want any more advice.

Edited by Little Pete on Monday 27th November 19:41

Edited by Little Pete on Monday 27th November 19:43

[droopsnoot]

I'd have thought any mechanic capable of working on classic cars would be capable of looking it over and assessing what is required. At the end of the day it's a kit car, so it will have the majority of mechanical and suspension parts from more mainstream models. I doubt there are many who specialise in kit cars, but you'd imagine most could have a stab at getting a Ford engine running.

[Jukebag]

Little Pete said:

Does the car have basics like a charged battery, working starter motor etc? It’s possible that it might have to go to a workshop just to do basic tests, let alone assess what is needed to get it running properly. I’m based not to far from you and I’d take a look if time wasn’t to much of an issue. I’m old enough to have worked on these engines when they were current!
PM me if you want any more advice.

As I said previously, the car was last run in 2015, though the battery will likely be dead and will need a new one. There are family members who are more knowledgeable about these things than I am, but they're not very helpful in giving any advice. As I said, the car has had quite a number of issues: gearbox problems, manifold, exhaust, some of these were rectified in some way, though the car wasn't running 100%. It's one of those cars we've had which, once one problem was fixed another problem occurred which became a real pain to fix.

[dhutch]

I mean, if it went only two years ago, fresh fuel and jump start it?

Even if that's only the first step it will be much more mobile if it's up and running and allow you to assess the issues first hand. Even if you then lowloader it off to someone.

Moving other equipment I have hired a 3.5ton beavertail from these guys for reasonable money.
http://www.transporterhire.co.uk

Daniel

[Jukebag]

Thanks for the help, will look into it, but I'd rather have someone to come and look over it. Time is passing by and don't wish to leave the car standing too long (especially during winter months).

[Little Pete]

From what you can remember, if it had fresh fuel and a charged/new battery, would it run? If it’s a yes then at least if someone comes to look at it they’ve at least got a running vehicle to assess. Otherwise you are asking for someone to do an unknown amount of work just to get the thing running/driving in order to assess what is needed. Whilst there are plenty of people out there who would be prepared to do this, you might struggle to find someone who would be willing to do it at your home.
Maybe a mobile mechanic is the way to go?

[Jukebag]

If anyone knows a good mobile mechanic within the Wigan or who knows a bit or two about Essex engines who could come out and look the car over, I would be very grateful.

A family member has mentioned a friend of theirs who knows someone local who's worked on various classics who may come out soon and assess what would need sorting, but it's them getting the time.

Edited by Jukebag on Tuesday 5th December 11:23

[Jukebag]

Reply to an old thread here, staying with the car in question but not engine wise more body. The car, although been sat for a few years is in relatively good condition, however, it does have two (the ones I've seen) finger nail sized marks where the paint has been worn away or scratched, maybe due to something having been left on the fibreglass body like a nut of screw and this has somehow peeled the paint off revealing the primer underneath. I'm no expert on paint jobs, but could this be patched up in some way?. It's not very noticeable at a distance. BTW, the colour is old English white.

There are also a few other issues which I've yet to get time to sort, such as why the doors won't open.

[droopsnoot]

It depends on the size of the blemish, but some of these stonechip repairers can do a fantastic job on making small blemishes disappear. Failing that a decent painter should be able to fix the problems, as long as a decent colour blend can be found.

Probably get the doors opening first, though.

[Jukebag]

Thanks for the advice there, very much appreciated. Will look into that.