How much to re-build an AJP V8

[suprazed]

As part of my research prior to taking the plunge I was wondering what the approximate cost would be to re-build an AJP.

Would it be any different between 4.2 and 4.5 and is there an approximate mileage at which they tend to require a re-build?

There doesn't seem to be many threads about this which I guess is promising.

Many thanks.

[gattor]

Depending whether your going for a blue print rebuild or also upgrading anywhere from 5k to 10k plus

[Malx]

4.2 currently being rebuilt. The rebuild with the valves and pistons being upgraded will be about £4500.
Best way to find out i would say is to call a few of the garages you will find mentioned in the forums. They'll give you the most accurate price.

Edited by Malx on Wednesday 29th August 19:45

[suprazed]

Up to 10k!! Yikes.
Glad there aren't that many posts about people who have had to have re-builds.

I've just been searching through old posts and discovered that someone called Simon Sparrow has over 120k miles on his which I thought was amazing.

I know that an engine re-build would be among the jobs that I definitely wouldn't be able to do myself.

Cheers

[SimonSparrow]

suprazed said:

Up to 10k!! Yikes.
Glad there aren't that many posts about people who have had to have re-builds.

I've just been searching through old posts and discovered that someone called Simon Sparrow has over 120k miles on his which I thought was amazing.

I know that an engine re-build would be among the jobs that I definitely wouldn't be able to do myself.

Cheers

127k now

You may not need a re-build, or at least not as soon as you fear.

Edited by SimonSparrow on Wednesday 29th August 20:42

[The AJP Griff]

I would call Jamie at Castle Race Engines.I couldn't beleive the price of a re-build by him,and it is of the highest quality,and his years of experience with the AJP whilst working for TVR really does show.His Red Rose conversion is much more involved than the std TVR/Power one,and the price just doesn't compare either.His porting work is just beautifull

[suprazed]

SimonSparrow said:

127k now

You may not need a re-build, or at least not as soon as you fear.

I assume you use the car most days of the week, do you still get the niggly electrical gremlins and how many clutches have you gone through?

Edited by SimonSparrow on Wednesday 29th August 20:42[/footnote]

[footnote]Edited by suprazed on Wednesday 29th August 21:01

[The AJP Griff]

suprazed said:

....................127k now

Thats fabulous!

[suprazed]

The AJP Griff said:

I would call Jamie at Castle Race Engines.I couldn't beleive the price of a re-build by him,and it is of the highest quality,and his years of experience with the AJP whilst working for TVR really does show.His Red Rose conversion is much more involved than the std TVR/Power one,and the price just doesn't compare either.His porting work is just beautifull

Sounds good, but are we talking more or less than 5K?

[SimonSparrow]

suprazed said:

SimonSparrow said:

127k now

You may not need a re-build, or at least not as soon as you fear.

I assume you use the car most days of the week, do you still get the niggly electrical gremlins and how many clutches have you gone through?

Edited by SimonSparrow on Wednesday 29th August 20:42[/footnote]

[footnote]Edited by suprazed on Wednesday 29th August 21:01

One clutch, slave cylinder failed, but we replaced the clutch anyway. I think the previous clutch was good for about 30-odd thousand miles. The car is my only one in the UK and is used most of the time for all sorts of things, rain sun or snow. There are occasional gremlins, but as I came from a background of old cars, nothing too annoying.

[The AJP Griff]

suprazed said:

Sounds good, but are we talking more or less than 5K?

Obviously i've got to be carefull what i say here,your own engine may need different work to mine,but as a guide,what he quoted me(without it being a favour of any kind)was far less than any of the others quoted.My re-build was certainly a lot less than £5K.He can do a re-build to any spec,so whatever you require can be priced accordingly.It srikes me that Jamie is charging to re-build an engine,without charging extra for the 'enigma' of it being an AJP!

[FUBAR]

PHer manou(sp?) must have well over 100k on his Cerb now too?

[Tvr_Edd]

The AJP Griff said:

suprazed said:

Sounds good, but are we talking more or less than 5K?

Obviously i've got to be carefull what i say here,your own engine may need different work to mine,but as a guide,what he quoted me(without it being a favour of any kind)was far less than any of the others quoted.My re-build was certainly a lot less than £5K.He can do a re-build to any spec,so whatever you require can be priced accordingly.It srikes me that Jamie is charging to re-build an engine,without charging extra for the 'enigma' of it being an AJP!

Jamie is a top bloke who is extremely helpful and well respected.

His pricing is very competitive and a price on any engine will vary dependant on what needs replacing and what your power output goal is.

For a basic standard rebuild with some porting you would get plenty of change from £5k assuming you don't need anything replacing. Just remember most people when rebuilding will fit a new clutch which can add £600 to the bill and maybe other things.

[BCA]

The AJP Griff said:

My re-build was certainly a lot less than £5K!

I believe thats to Red Rose spec too?? Joo seems to rate CRE highly, not had to use him ourselves yet, hope we're a looooong way away! (71k miles+ so far)

I'd agree with what has been said, rebuilds arent too bad - certainly no more than any other car with a similar engine - remember despite the power it produces/noise it creates/light weight - its actually a very simple engine if you think about it.

Simonsparrow We were catching at one point, but the Cerb is seeing less miles each year now (due to other cars in the household doing more of the boring stuff!) you've just proven how strong these cars are when looked after.

I'd like to see a Ferrari of the same era rack up the same miles without a rebuild - and I'd like to see if it keeps its power. Ours should be making a return to a rolling road shortly, last time we measured it the car had only done about 30k, we'll have to see how well the AJP ages in terms of keeping the blackpool ponies inside.

[SXS]

Tvr_Edd said:

The AJP Griff said:

suprazed said:

Sounds good, but are we talking more or less than 5K?

Obviously i've got to be carefull what i say here,your own engine may need different work to mine,but as a guide,what he quoted me(without it being a favour of any kind)was far less than any of the others quoted.My re-build was certainly a lot less than £5K.He can do a re-build to any spec,so whatever you require can be priced accordingly.It srikes me that Jamie is charging to re-build an engine,without charging extra for the 'enigma' of it being an AJP!

Jamie is a top bloke who is extremely helpful and well respected.

His pricing is very competitive and a price on any engine will vary dependant on what needs replacing and what your power output goal is.

For a basic standard rebuild with some porting you would get plenty of change from £5k assuming you don't need anything replacing. Just remember most people when rebuilding will fit a new clutch which can add £600 to the bill and maybe other things.

I've too heard some great feedback of CRE's Jamie. Their prices seem to be more realistic than others. Guess the old you get what you pay for doesnt really apply here, here it seems that you get more than you paid for, which is always a good thing in TVR ownership as these cars can start ripping holes into your pockets when things start failing...

[suprazed]

Fantastic, looks like the possibility of Cerbera ownership just got one step closer.

Where are CRE based by the way?

TIA

[JensenA]

Worrying about an engine rebuld should be the least of your worries. General consensus is a Cerb costs about £3k tear to run (plus Petrol, insurance etc). You just need to be prepared for that Big Bang 'just in case'.

[suprazed]

Oh I know, I've already seen plenty of posts about that and would have 3k ready if/when I buy one.

Cheers

[The AJP Griff]

suprazed said:

Fantastic, looks like the possibility of Cerbera ownership just got one step closer.

Where are CRE based by the way?

TIA

Theyre based in Eastcote,near Towcester,Nothampton.A google for 'Castle Race Engines' tuns up all the info.

[Corky]

Tvr_Edd said:

The AJP Griff said:

suprazed said:

Sounds good, but are we talking more or less than 5K?

Obviously i've got to be carefull what i say here,your own engine may need different work to mine,but as a guide,what he quoted me(without it being a favour of any kind)was far less than any of the others quoted.My re-build was certainly a lot less than £5K.He can do a re-build to any spec,so whatever you require can be priced accordingly.It srikes me that Jamie is charging to re-build an engine,without charging extra for the 'enigma' of it being an AJP!

Jamie is a top bloke who is extremely helpful and well respected.

His pricing is very competitive and a price on any engine will vary dependant on what needs replacing and what your power output goal is.


For a basic standard rebuild with some porting you would get plenty of change from £5k assuming you don't need anything replacing. Just remember most people when rebuilding will fit a new clutch which can add £600 to the bill and maybe other things.

Jamie did the cam on my griff this year, top bloke, good advice and honest prices IMHO.