APM Engine Rebuilds

[jonnyw]

Picked up Cerby from Andy last night having had an engine rebuild, what a job !

Why is it a good job?

Andy talked me through all of the parts and issues all the way and showed me them all last night.

The price was right for the job, shame about the VAT man!

The engine bay looks new, it is an imacculate job, every detail covered. Every pipe is clean, every jubilee clip shiny, not a speck or grease mark anywhere, real pride went into the job.

The engine sounds smooth and is rattle free and the new manifolds, with their ceramic coating, look and sound great and get the heat away to the extent that the cold air now blows cold. Where the manifold goes in to the cat pipes it is still only warm after a run, the rest of the pipe is very hot, so it is getting the heat away from the engine.

Currently running at below 80 degrees and 80+ Ib/In at 2000, 65 at idle.

After 150 miles yesterday, ran beautifully.

Now the hard part, can't go over 3000 rpm for 200 miles and then can lift it by 500rpm every 100 until 4500, then has to go back to Andy to have the chain tightened and valves checked etc..

Driving home a fully fettled Cerb below 3000 rpm is the hardest thing of all, particularly when I have all the racing decals on it and every hatch back trying to race me, and succeeding!

But best of all, I have a new graphic on the car, I have reached the standard to be blessed by an APM Logo !

Andy, thanks mate, fantastic job

[gazzab]

The price is great value at Andys hrly rate !!!??
Oi Andy where's my sticker !?

[RUSSELLM]

Why did it need a rebuild ?

Symptoms ?

Please

[Tam Lin]

jonnyw said:

Picked up Cerby from Andy last night, what a job ! ..and the new manifolds, with their ceramic coating... Andy, thanks mate, fantastic job

I think it's great the way Andy explains what is going on where. When we picked our Cerb up last Saturday, he was deep in the bowels of an AJP8, yet still took time to show exactly what he did on our Cerb. Much appreciated, and the work does look absolutely first rate.

Re. the new manifolds, I could be imagining it, but I think they improve low down torque a little. Either that, or the roads have been really greasy since they were fitted

[longbow]

Tighten the chain??? Doesn't make sense to me - surely thats what the tensioner is for???

[APMAUTO]

ajp8 chain tensioners are not self adjusting, when fitting new timing chains you invariable get some initial chain stretch hence the need to check the chain tension
regards andy

[350matt]

How often / at what mileage should the timing chain be replaced?

Matt

[jesfirth]

nice one john. did andy fit that nitrous kit he had going begging?

[APMAUTO]

350matt said:

How often / at what mileage should the timing chain be replaced? Matt

i check chain tension at 12k services as the cams come out for valve adjustment anyway, as far as im aware there is no set mileage to replace it. As a rule if im doing engine work i change the chain as a precaution. regards andy

[diycerb]

Hi, I've got mine in bits at the moment to replace some tappet shims. I thought the tensioner was a spring loaded arrangement, as its not how can I check the tension is ok and adjust if neccesary. Thanks for any help.
Rich.

[longbow]

Interesting - when I dismantled my engine the tensioner bolt/plug assembly was screwed fully in and then wire locked in place. In that case, how do you check and adjust the tension?? Any special tools required?

[ncs]

Good news John - hope to see you showing off Andys handywork in the not too distant future

Nick

[jonnyw]

ncs said:

Good news John - hope to see you showing off Andys handywork in the not too distant future Nick

Nick, good to hear from you. I logged off the regions link as my blackberry was suffering TVR overload, Dave passed on your message thanks, and I see Jez is sniffing about to see what Andy has done on the Cerb to make me more competative next season!! Suffice to say it seems to have a lot more power since the rebuild and I am only allowed to go up to 4,500 rpm! See you soon , John