Recommend me an engine guru in SE England

[Fezant Pluckah]

I want to do some work to the Cleveland 351 in the Pantera, including a rebuild, new ali heads etc so I can get LOTS more power out of it.

Can anyone recommend someone in SE England (I am in East Sussex) who can do such a task?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

[SurreyMustang]

Try Mathwall Engineering. Just off the A3 South of Guildford (sorry, I don't have contact details).
Mathwall have been getting reliably big horsepower from Ford V8's for years.

[Fezant Pluckah]

I've just looked at their web site and they've moved to Northamptonshire!

[SurreyMustang]

Buer!

I think you may have to travel that far to get a really good engine specialist. Mathwall are good, ICE (North London?) have a very good rep, Knight Racing (in Daventry) get huge horsepower from Ford small-blocks, John Sleath in Yorkshire has produced some amazing numbers from flat-tappet engines.

Unless you are just looking for a stock-ish rebuild with a hot cam and intake I think you should be talking to the real 'High Horsepower' engine building experts. All of the above guys have their own dyno's so there is no 'horsepower speculation' involved.

[chevy-stu]

you may find it's cheaper to buy a new ready built crate engine, and sell your's ...

[Fezant Pluckah]

Problem I have heard of with crate engines, Stu, is that they claim x amount of bhp/torque and when you slap it in the car you find it has considerably less and you need to spend money spanking it up. A decent crate with say 500bph, by the time I have shipped it over, will cost me £10k with all the associated bits that are required, and even if I get £2k for engine I have, I am sure with £8k I can do the job better (and perhaps for less)

Decisions decisions!

[crisisjez]

Fezant Pluckah said:

Problem I have heard of with crate engines, Stu, is that they claim x amount of bhp/torque and when you slap it in the car you find it has considerably less and you need to spend money spanking it up. A decent crate with say 500bph, by the time I have shipped it over, will cost me £10k with all the associated bits that are required, and even if I get £2k for engine I have, I am sure with £8k I can do the job better (and perhaps for less)

Decisions decisions!

Just remember US horses are much smaller than ours (I think it`s something to do with their feed)

Either buy the bits youself in the States and get it built over here by a top bloke, or just buy over here . If you have a problem with anything you buy complete abroad you generally end up kissing all your money goodbye.

Use one man for the job and you`ll never find yourself piggy in the middle between two groups arguing over who`s to blame.

BTW Peter Knight is well worth the drive. (I`ll be using him in the build process for my 427 twin turbo setup next year)

Look to Aus for stuff as well, the US Dollar is V strong at the mo.

Edited by crisisjez on Saturday 20th December 20:00

[Fezant Pluckah]

Hi Jez

I didn't realise American orses were smaller than ours!

I kno the Australians make good ali heads for the Cleveland (mine still has the orginals made from carved granite!)

With the exhcnage rate as it is it would almost be as cost effective to buy here; by the time I've paid shipping and tax I'd say they would be on a par.

I'll consider Knight when I come to make my final decisions.

[jeremyc]

You might also consider contacting Revolve (formerly known as Roush Technologies) who have a lot of experience with Ford engines.

No idea if they have anything for the 351, but no harm in asking.

[roscobbc]

I had my 'stroked' 489 BBC built-up by John Sleath. I supplied new Brodix 'street' heads, Edelbrock dual plane inlet, 950 dp carb. He sourced machined & blueprinted seasoned block from 'States, rotating assy, hydraulic flat tappet cam. Built it all up and run it in/proved all figures on dyno. This is really the best wy to go as figures are 'real' UK horsepower and not the American 'exaggerated' ones - and they are exaggerated, very few of their claims ever hold out! My engine has given an very easy 'mild' 528 bhp & 565 ft/lbs torque. John should easily be able to do same with Cleveland - get the heads ported (or better still buy aftermarket ones) use a sensible cam and 425/435 will be easily achievable and even better you get a guarrantee with the engine!

[Fezant Pluckah]

Well a US crate engine it won't be then!

Thanks for all the advice guy, I'll do some deliberating over the Xmas/NY period and let you know ho it goes!

[chevy-stu]

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

[crisisjez]

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

[chevy-stu]

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. hoped to go last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

[crisisjez]

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. hoped to go last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

Was there with my mates S/C Monaro (His is exactly the same spec as mine)

Camaro eh!!! Got a 68 Firebird in the garage

Edited by crisisjez on Thursday 18th December 21:05

[chevy-stu]

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. was there last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

Was there with my mates S/C Monaro (His is exactly the same spec as mine)

Camaro eh!!! Got a 68 Firebird in the garage

I missed the Monaro(s), (think there were two).. looks a pretty mental spec car, I've seen your car on a LTR too.. !
I reckon you should get the Firebird sorted and out too.. Not many 1st gen firebirds out there..

[crisisjez]

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. was there last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

Was there with my mates S/C Monaro (His is exactly the same spec as mine)

Camaro eh!!! Got a 68 Firebird in the garage

I missed the Monaro(s), (think there were two).. looks a pretty mental spec car, I've seen your car on a LTR too.. !
I reckon you should get the Firebird sorted and out too.. Not many 1st gen firebirds out there..

LTR? The firebird is for my other half, she`s got the drag racing bug so we`ll set it up so she can have some fun next year. Nothing stupid just open heads and an LSD initially and a good go over to make sure its top banana..

Edited by crisisjez on Friday 19th December 10:52

[chevy-stu]

swerni said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. was there last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

Was there with my mates S/C Monaro (His is exactly the same spec as mine)

Camaro eh!!! Got a 68 Firebird in the garage

I missed the Monaro(s), (think there were two).. looks a pretty mental spec car, I've seen your car on a LTR too.. !
I reckon you should get the Firebird sorted and out too.. Not many 1st gen firebirds out there..

Stu,
you are probably think of Chris ( Boss VXR) with the black one and Smiler,(red one) they used to come out and play.
Next time you're coming over give me a shout, it's not far from me

Hello guv.... !

Yep, remember those two Monaro chaps, sorry probably wasn't clear but I meant the old blue 48' chrysler was one a 'run' a while back I'm sure...
Will let you know when I book for another day at Surrey rollin rod.. we can have a cuppa !

[crisisjez]

chevy-stu said:

swerni said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. was there last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

Was there with my mates S/C Monaro (His is exactly the same spec as mine)

Camaro eh!!! Got a 68 Firebird in the garage

I missed the Monaro(s), (think there were two).. looks a pretty mental spec car, I've seen your car on a LTR too.. !
I reckon you should get the Firebird sorted and out too.. Not many 1st gen firebirds out there..

Stu,
you are probably think of Chris ( Boss VXR) with the black one and Smiler,(red one) they used to come out and play.
Next time you're coming over give me a shout, it's not far from me

Hello guv.... !

Yep, remember those two Monaro chaps, sorry probably wasn't clear but I meant the old blue 48' chrysler was one a 'run' a while back I'm sure...
Will let you know when I book for another day at Surrey rollin rod.. we can have a cuppa !

Yeah that`s my other toy, Mental Betty (The 48 Chrysler) she`s now running a 375HP SBC and a 700r4 Well, when I get her back.....
Did we chat at the run?

[crisisjez]

swerni said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

swerni said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

crisisjez said:

chevy-stu said:

I was hoping to get my car rolling road dyno'd last weekend, but didn't happen unfortunately.
it's a crate 460bhp stroked 383 small block chevy, so really wanted to see how near (or not) it was. I'll run a new thread when it's happened.

Are you going to Charlies (Surrey Rolling Road)?

Aye.. was there last saturday but couldn't take the Chev in the end, so took the jap car.. But plan to go back in jan if poss with the Camaro....

Was there with my mates S/C Monaro (His is exactly the same spec as mine)

Camaro eh!!! Got a 68 Firebird in the garage

I missed the Monaro(s), (think there were two).. looks a pretty mental spec car, I've seen your car on a LTR too.. !
I reckon you should get the Firebird sorted and out too.. Not many 1st gen firebirds out there..

Stu,
you are probably think of Chris ( Boss VXR) with the black one and Smiler,(red one) they used to come out and play.
Next time you're coming over give me a shout, it's not far from me

Hello guv.... !

Yep, remember those two Monaro chaps, sorry probably wasn't clear but I meant the old blue 48' chrysler was one a 'run' a while back I'm sure...
Will let you know when I book for another day at Surrey rollin rod.. we can have a cuppa !

Yeah that`s my other toy, Mental Betty (The 48 Chrysler) she`s now running a 375HP SBC and a 700r4 Well, when I get her back.....
Did we chat at the run?

I know we did
We were parked up by Tooley street. I'm the big bald one with the Mustang

Oh hi fella, have to get out on another run, building our house at the moment so not as much time as i`d like.........