Spare 4.2 engine?
Discussion
Anyone got a spare engine?
Mines an early engine, so on stripping has been found to have the old style chrome valves with bronze guides, wear to the camshafts etc.
Bottom end has the small main bearing cast crankshaft, which even though it's not snapped, noone is keen to rebuild with it.
Cost to repair/replace everything is extortionate, so I was wondering if anyone had a spare engine. It'll probably still need stripping and examining but I'm wondering if this is a cheaper route. Otherwise I'm looking at selling the car to pay for the engine rebuild
Or does anyone want a project for a LS3? Full body off Chassis restoration 4 years ago, paint job 6 months ago, every mechanical replaced.
Arse
Mines an early engine, so on stripping has been found to have the old style chrome valves with bronze guides, wear to the camshafts etc.
Bottom end has the small main bearing cast crankshaft, which even though it's not snapped, noone is keen to rebuild with it.
Cost to repair/replace everything is extortionate, so I was wondering if anyone had a spare engine. It'll probably still need stripping and examining but I'm wondering if this is a cheaper route. Otherwise I'm looking at selling the car to pay for the engine rebuild
Or does anyone want a project for a LS3? Full body off Chassis restoration 4 years ago, paint job 6 months ago, every mechanical replaced.
Arse
Byker28i said:
Chimp871 said:
I believe you can line bore the main journals for the larger diameter crank and then drop in a forged crank that tvr power sells.
You can indeed, but the cost of the total work to update an old engine to new spec is about the cost of a cheap CerberaIt's only £4800 for a crate ls3 engine. The rest is all the other parts required, ecu, clutch, mounts etc and the labour.
To be honest, I'd keep the ajp. I don't need more power and its part of the uniqueness.
Only way I can keep it i guess is to get a second hand engine and drop that in,then get mine done bit by bit over the next few years, or just stick it away in the garage for 2-3years, but by that time I'm looking towards retiring and would probably get shot of then.
I think intending towards getting the engine done so it's the best it can be then flog it to a lucky person.
To be honest, I'd keep the ajp. I don't need more power and its part of the uniqueness.
Only way I can keep it i guess is to get a second hand engine and drop that in,then get mine done bit by bit over the next few years, or just stick it away in the garage for 2-3years, but by that time I'm looking towards retiring and would probably get shot of then.
I think intending towards getting the engine done so it's the best it can be then flog it to a lucky person.
What does your crank look like? It was the earlier small journal one that was susceptible to snapping, there was a revised small journal that was OK. I spoke to Andy @APM about this.. Clive Ford built his 410bhp 4.2 AJP with a small journal crank..
How many miles has your engine done?
How many miles has your engine done?
What actually needs to be changed to put it back to a working engine ? If it's just a refresh as such just ask for that, sign a no-warranty disclaimer, and use it as you have been all these years with no issues.
If the engine builder wont do that, get your bits back and take it to someone like mat smith, or ian at track vroad, or that guy in blackpool who used to build engines for the factory (forget his name) or any of the other garages that have rebuilt engines.
Don't you use niel garner? can't they help you out ?
I fully understand the element of wanting to protect a businesses reputation and also the profit of selling new cranks, but I prefer to see a more real-world approach to these things (unless someone is loaded, in which case go for it with twin turbo LS !!)
If the engine builder wont do that, get your bits back and take it to someone like mat smith, or ian at track vroad, or that guy in blackpool who used to build engines for the factory (forget his name) or any of the other garages that have rebuilt engines.
Don't you use niel garner? can't they help you out ?
I fully understand the element of wanting to protect a businesses reputation and also the profit of selling new cranks, but I prefer to see a more real-world approach to these things (unless someone is loaded, in which case go for it with twin turbo LS !!)
Mine is a '97 with (I suspect) a small journal crank and 175k miles on it. You could get the crank crack tested as part of the process to put your mind at rest, but it may not need changing for road use. As others have said, the ones that were going to break most likely have by now. Readman racing used to have some cranks for sale. There are quite a few re-power options, including a guy who put an AMG V8 in one, I read about it in an old Sprint magazine from 2014.
I agree with you though, I don't feel the need for more power, and I think rebuilding the AJP will be the most economical approach. Unless you are really fed up, don't sell. We won't see the likes of these cars again, the world has moved on, possibly for the better overall, but you won't get the same feeling firing up a Tesla or whatever we'll be driving in the future.
I agree with you though, I don't feel the need for more power, and I think rebuilding the AJP will be the most economical approach. Unless you are really fed up, don't sell. We won't see the likes of these cars again, the world has moved on, possibly for the better overall, but you won't get the same feeling firing up a Tesla or whatever we'll be driving in the future.
Byker28i said:
It's only £4800 for a crate ls3 engine. The rest is all the other parts required, ecu, clutch, mounts etc and the labour.
To be honest, I'd keep the ajp. I don't need more power and its part of the uniqueness.
Only way I can keep it i guess is to get a second hand engine and drop that in,then get mine done bit by bit over the next few years, or just stick it away in the garage for 2-3years, but by that time I'm looking towards retiring and would probably get shot of then.
I think intending towards getting the engine done so it's the best it can be then flog it to a lucky person.
Pal of mine bought 2nd hand LS engine from US (you're probably aware that there's loads of 'outlets' over there that pull engines out of insurance write offs).To be honest, I'd keep the ajp. I don't need more power and its part of the uniqueness.
Only way I can keep it i guess is to get a second hand engine and drop that in,then get mine done bit by bit over the next few years, or just stick it away in the garage for 2-3years, but by that time I'm looking towards retiring and would probably get shot of then.
I think intending towards getting the engine done so it's the best it can be then flog it to a lucky person.
He bought engine - plus loom, ecu and gearbox, hired a van to pick engine up from Tilbury/Felixstowe at a total cost to him of £3,300. OK - that was when $/£ exchange rate was probably more favourable ~ 5 years ago?
Body was coming off for chassis refurb' anyway, so it was just a case of making new engine and 'box mounts and shortening the prop' shaft. So, if I said it cost £5K for transplant, it'd probably be a generous estimate.
He went on to fit after market traction control - and supercharge it. Video of it outdragging Fezza Enzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASQxFLHxS3M
Nick
Edited by nawarne on Tuesday 16th January 09:45
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