True rebuild costs?
True rebuild costs?
Author
Discussion

BDM

Original Poster:

408 posts

211 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Ok so me doing my usual nosing around, i like to look at other cars for sale etc

From looking at most the cost of an engine rebuild seems to vary. I was looking at one on fleabay and his 4.3 engine rebuild was like over 12k. When i look on TVR Powers website i can see a cost of 7k.

Im confused... scratchchin

rob280

37 posts

257 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
BDM said:
Ok so me doing my usual nosing around, i like to look at other cars for sale etc

From looking at most the cost of an engine rebuild seems to vary. I was looking at one on fleabay and his 4.3 engine rebuild was like over 12k. When i look on TVR Powers website i can see a cost of 7k.

Im confused... scratchchin
is this for the speed 6 engine? increasing cc?

BDM

Original Poster:

408 posts

211 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Yep speed 6 engine...

rens914

678 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
i have seen various prices too
think the question is: what kind of rebuild former to were you'll have it done
top end, full rebuild, full rebuild and upgrade to 4.3
what i've seen is a top end rebuild between 3-4 k
full rebuild between 6-7 k
upgrade to 4.3 or 4.7 ++++
do a lot of work yourself and you can cut costs (take engine out etc)
rens

NCE 61

2,457 posts

310 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
The 7K is +VAT then depending how the engine failed possibly a new block was required, then add a clutch and slave cylinder it can soon get up to five figures!

TVR_owner

3,349 posts

220 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
NCE 61 said:
The 7K is +VAT then depending how the engine failed possibly a new block was required, then add a clutch and slave cylinder it can soon get up to five figures!
Which is an absolute nonesense.

Curdster

484 posts

213 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
John. Is that nonesence in an over or understated way?

BDM

Original Poster:

408 posts

211 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
So is the 7k just to upgrade to 4.3 and not including the actual rebuilding?

Sorry complete newbie here. I dont need a rebuild just scary seeing crazy figures comming out on some rebuilds. Wanted to know if you guys knew the dealio...

da_murphster

1,053 posts

276 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
When do you only need a top-end rebuild?

Is it just pure chance when you open up the engine and look to see what needs doing or can you be pre-emptive and open it up early to just get the cheaper rebuild.

I'm never sure whether to worry more about my engine or not!

rens914

678 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
from what i have heard is that you have to look closely to your valve clearances
keep them on the max
keep the oil topped up to the max and allways use the car with the right warm-up procedure
once the valve clearance gets to tight and your on the max you can do with other tappets it can be an issue of days that your engine will suffecate
it's an easy yob or let your mecanic check it every time

the difference between beiing on time and to late is top-end or total rebuild
and when you need a total rebuild it's a matter of failure of common sense or an overfilled wallet what your going to have done to the engine
rens

Mark A S

2,091 posts

217 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
The 7k + VAT for a 4.3 is a complete re-build, and includes numerous new components to a much higher specification than was factory fitted, including higher spec Cams.
If yours is an S version, then that’s it, if not add injectors, and possible a higher spec starter motor. Best bet is speak to Dom, he is VERY strait forward in his explanation.
He did tell me the Crank and Rods for a 4.3 cost TVR power over 2K alone.
So, don’t be put off, for a 4.3 your paying just under 3K just for the Crank and Rods, the rest is similar to a normal re-build. Also, you get a bespoke mapping RR session, which is fun!
Last time I was there, Dom showed me a Sp 6 engine which the owner had pretty much let it destroy itself, the 10 figure sum would be to replace everything, Block, head, pistons etc etc.

da_murphster

1,053 posts

276 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
rens914 said:
from what i have heard is that you have to look closely to your valve clearances
keep them on the max
keep the oil topped up to the max and allways use the car with the right warm-up procedure
once the valve clearance gets to tight and your on the max you can do with other tappets it can be an issue of days that your engine will suffecate
it's an easy yob or let your mecanic check it every time

the difference between beiing on time and to late is top-end or total rebuild
and when you need a total rebuild it's a matter of failure of common sense or an overfilled wallet what your going to have done to the engine
rens
So I assume if you are getting it serviced by a decent garage then they should be able to forewarn you if your engine is getting close to the limits?

I would hope that any garage familiar with Speed 6's would check this every time - right?

I would be annoyed if I needed to spend more than necessary on a rebuild, but I would be even more annoyed if I had recently spent £500 on a service and then needed to spend lots on a rebuild!!

rens914

678 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
it all depends on how you drive your car an how often (how many miles a year)
you yust can't say that if you drive only 1k miles a year you'll need only 1 inspection in 6 years
don't laugh
there are people who think like this
even with 1 k a year you'll need at least 1 inspection (and oilchange etc) per year

and when they adjust the clearance be sure your there and they adjust it to the max

rens

Robertjp

2,281 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Even a specialist would struggle to give you an accurate healthcheck of your engine without stripping it. For instance - high oil consumption on my engine - without taking the head off its pretty tough to diagnose from a one off inspection.

Not all rebuilds are equal, a full rebuild at TVR power is different to what might be termed a full rebuild at Str8 six for instance. The difference is in the marketing! Components used may be different, quality may be different etc.

Speaking from recent experience, a full rebuild with all the latest mods would take you to around £8-£8.5k. But - in order to understand that cost, and to prevent someone coming along to say 'thats cobblers' you need to break down the component costs.

IMO the term 'full rebuild' varies widly from a couple of bearings replaced bottom end to complete new hardware.

My car had apparently had a 'full rebuild' when in fact i have since found out it had simply had the finger followers, cam shafts replaced and main bearing replaced eek

Noisy

4,489 posts

306 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
What makes you say the tappets need to set to the maximum value? I know some engines suffer with valve seat recession and valve stretch but if the tappets are within the recommended settings surely they should be fine? Mine is set within the recommended values, having heard of a lot of shims coming out of their seats and getting lost in the engine I make sure the tappets never go over the recommend values.


so called

9,160 posts

238 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Top end rebuild = no warrantee
Full rebuild = warrantee.
Thats what I was told by TVR Power and Str8Six.
Point being that the wear materials from the top end all travel down into the bottom half and contribute to bottom end wear.

Not forgetting the cost of engine out and in.

rens914

678 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Noisy said:
What makes you say the tappets need to set to the maximum value? I know some engines suffer with valve seat recession and valve stretch but if the tappets are within the recommended settings surely they should be fine? Mine is set within the recommended values, having heard of a lot of shims coming out of their seats and getting lost in the engine I make sure the tappets never go over the recommend values.
inlet is 15 but set on max is 20
outlet is 25 but set on max is 30
rens

Noisy

4,489 posts

306 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
rens914 said:
Noisy said:
What makes you say the tappets need to set to the maximum value? I know some engines suffer with valve seat recession and valve stretch but if the tappets are within the recommended settings surely they should be fine? Mine is set within the recommended values, having heard of a lot of shims coming out of their seats and getting lost in the engine I make sure the tappets never go over the recommend values.
inlet is 15 but set on max is 20
outlet is 25 but set on max is 30
rens
What is the reasoning for setting them to maximum value though?

rens914

678 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
because of ware it can only get less
inlet should be between 15-20. so put them on 20 when you're on the yob
if you set them on 15 (inlet) you can only go to 10 or worse
with the outlet the problem is even bigger
if the outlet is to thight the engine can get warm and the valves can burn (is that proper english ?)
rens

Noisy

4,489 posts

306 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
That's not strictly true, wear between the follower and cam or follower and shim will increase the gap in the gap not decrease it, only valve stretch or seat erosion will cause the gap to decrease, having checked mine I've found the gap increase with wear not decrease.