Small Block Ford In Need Of A Rebuild

[longshot]

Not sure if this is the right place to put this but..

I have a 1965 small block Ford that needs some head work done and may need a rebuild.

Does anyone know of any good shops capable of doing this in the Midlands area?

Thanks.

[aeropilot]

Most of the well known small block Ford specialists that I know of are all down south.



You could try Geordie Paul at Duksville Speed Shop, he might be able to make a suggestion of someone nearer your area (Duksville is Manchester but closer than south coast!).....?

http://www.duksville.co.uk/

[V10Mike]

What about Knight Racing Services in Daventry?

[aeropilot]

V10Mike said:

What about Knight Racing Services in Daventry?

Bingo

[rabidant]

try Tim Adams 01630638712 not far from you at Market Drayton he does a lot of 60's American V8 stuff for race cars very highly regarded rebuilt my Chevy v8 for me

[longshot]

Thanks for the suggestions.

By using Google alone the chances of finding somewhere are very slim.

Edited by longshot on Tuesday 10th February 15:47

[longshot]

Thanks for all the replies.

I tried Knight Racing Services in Daventry but they are primarily and engine builder (a bloody good one too by the sounds of it) so not ideal for my cylinder head work which will require strip, dip and machining.

Wards Engineering in Rugby has been recommended to me.
Does anyone have any experience of these guys?

Thanks

[Classic_Tim]

Have you tried David Knight
http://www.knightengineservices.co.uk/

He had all sorts (Ferrari, Jaguar) in there when I went a few years ago.

[longshot]

Classic_Tim said:

Have you tried David Knight
http://www.knightengineservices.co.uk/

He had all sorts (Ferrari, Jaguar) in there when I went a few years ago.

Thanks for that.

I sent him a message the other day but he hasn't replied to it yet.

I do suspect though that he may be out of my budget.

I'm suspecting that this is going to turn into a bigger task than I hoped though as I delved deeper today and found the lifters to be worn. Doesn't bode well for the cam.

[Hoonigan]

aeropilot said:

Most of the well known small block Ford specialists that I know of are all down south.



You could try Geordie Paul at Duksville Speed Shop, he might be able to make a suggestion of someone nearer your area (Duksville is Manchester but closer than south coast!).....?

http://www.duksville.co.uk/

Any pointers for the ones down south, as I'm in need of their services

[straker]

I'd say a decent engine shop / tuner would be worth the travel, or put your engine on a pallet?

only ones I have experience (good that is! ) of are Kenny Coleman at EDA in West Yorkshire, and
John Sleath of John Sleath Race Cars in South Yorkshire. They both do lots of american v8 stuff, have their own engine dynos too so the engine can be run, tested and tuned before you put it back in the car. Should have websites on google. . . .

[Dollyman1850]

My advice would be to do it yourself..they really are very simple engines to work on??
What kind of 289 is it? how many times has it been bored in the past?

I would buy the Tom monroe book how to re-build small block ford engines and go from there..
Parts are cheap from either real steel or Summit racing in the states and if you are not building to race regs then doing things like head work when cheap aluminium heads etc are available are probably not cost effective..

Even if you strip yourself and let a machine shop mike everything up and do you a short block You will save lots of folding.



Last one I did. Next winters project is a late 5.0 roller block..Don't let people mystify you have a go yourself.

[longshot]

The idea of doing it myself is appealing but I just haven't got the confidence. I promise you I haven't.
I would end up second guessing myself ad infinitum and checking things to death.

It's a 260.
I have Tom Monroe's book and have trawled many times.
It's how I know my lifters are worn.

Just out of curiosity, where would you get these ally heads you speak of?

Thanks


You don't fancy doing another engine do you?

Edited by longshot on Monday 16th February 22:41

[Dollyman1850]

longshot said:

The idea of doing it myself is appealing but I just haven't got the confidence. I promise you I haven't.
I would end up second guessing myself ad infinitum and checking things to death.

It's a 260.
I have Tom Monroe's book and have trawled many times.
It's how I know my lifters are worn.

Just out of curiosity, where would you get these ally heads you speak of?

Thanks


You don't fancy doing another engine do you?

Edited by longshot on Monday 16th February 22:41

Its a 260 so I am guessing you have it in a Tiger?
I am a rough arse builder who was taught mechanicing by my old fella.
If you have time and a clean garage I seriously would give it a go..
Things like cams and lifters are just changed for new bits, It only really gets complicated when you want to get into the dark arts of porting etc..

Heads are freely available in tuning packages have a look at the summit racing website

Once you have pulled an engine apart you realise how little is actually in them, Do the block as a separate project to the heads

I think that provided you find a good engine shop, not even a v8 specialist you will be fine..The machining is the most important part of any build. Finding a good machinist is key…Ask the specialists whether they machine in house or just assemble…You will be surprised at how many evasive answers you get!

Edited to add…260 heads may be harder to find and I am not sure of interchange between later 289 stuff??
You could always nurse your existing engine and take your time over a 302 build??

N.

Edited by Dollyman1850 on Tuesday 17th February 08:05

[TurboJet]

You could always speak to Rich & Dave Hayden at Stateside Auto's on the A5.

[GadgeS3C]

If you're looking for general machining then SEP in Kegworth are worth a call

http://www.sep-kegworth.co.uk/index.htm

[longshot]

Dollyman1850 said:

Its a 260 so I am guessing you have it in a Tiger?
I am a rough arse builder who was taught mechanicing by my old fella.
If you have time and a clean garage I seriously would give it a go..
Things like cams and lifters are just changed for new bits, It only really gets complicated when you want to get into the dark arts of porting etc..

Heads are freely available in tuning packages have a look at the summit racing website

Once you have pulled an engine apart you realise how little is actually in them, Do the block as a separate project to the heads

I think that provided you find a good engine shop, not even a v8 specialist you will be fine..The machining is the most important part of any build. Finding a good machinist is key…Ask the specialists whether they machine in house or just assemble…You will be surprised at how many evasive answers you get!

Edited to add…260 heads may be harder to find and I am not sure of interchange between later 289 stuff??
You could always nurse your existing engine and take your time over a 302 build??

N.

Edited by Dollyman1850 on Tuesday 17th February 08:05

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.
Yes, it's from a Tiger.
One of the most critical problems I have is space. My garage is tiny.

[longshot]

TurboJet said:

You could always speak to Rich & Dave Hayden at Stateside Auto's on the A5.

GadgeS3C said:

If you're looking for general machining then SEP in Kegworth are worth a call

http://www.sep-kegworth.co.uk/index.htm

Thanks for the info guys.