28 replies to this topic

[wbutcheruk2]

A.C Dodd at ML Motorsport, have had work by them in the past, did a good job on recon my stage 3 head and sorting my twin su's out on my old 1310. Think they have moved to Gravesend in Kent now.

[Scoop77]

i like the idea of putting my head and recon gearbox to this= http://www.minispeed...t-omega-pistons

Very nice mate. Someone's doing ok for Christmas money. Lol.

[Stevie W]

I've recently purchased a Minisport stage II 1293cc engine kit.
I know some people are wary about Minisport, but I have to speak as I find.
The kit was delivered quickly and well packed on a pallet with everything included.
Machining and components were all first class and the kit went together very well, after carrying out a "dry build" first.
The engine started first time after spinning it over on the starter with the plugs out to build up oil pressure first.
Although the engine has only had a basic set-up carried out, it runs very smoothly and the crank has obviously been well balanced during machining.
Cheers,
Steve.

Edited by Stevie W, 20 December 2012 - 03:18 PM.

[holmesy]

does this sound good from jonspeed for £1550 fully built? any ideas of what power and torque i would expect?


1310cc Stage 2 engine
10.5:1 compression ratio
AE 21253 +.040 Cast pistons
Crankshaft reground, new Vandervell comp bearings and thrusts
A+ Conrods balanced
Kent megadyne 286, steel faced oil pump & duplex timing chain kit
Stage 2 ported and polished cylinder head with bosses removed, 35.5mm inlet, 29mm exhaust triple collet valves fitted with 185lbs double valve springs
Turbo verto clutch assembly
Rebuilt gearbox using all new bearings, baulk rings, choice of final drive ratio, uprated diff pin & central oil pickup pipe

[Bungle]

my Paul Inch engine fully built was a similar price to that

[Hegnirst]

I had them build my first 998 turbo engine. it wasn't a complicated build and I defined the requirements quite well. I paid for the crank to be nitrided, it wasn't, but at the time I didn't know what to look for. A number of other errors led to the engine failing prematurely.

However, the head he did was very nice for the money. I personally wouldn't go back, but if you only want a straighforward build, you'll get what you pay for.

 

 

I purchased a head from Jonspeed a few years back.

Asked for it to be black. It turned up red with an awful paint job! it was a stage 3 998 head and the work was good and gave a good power increase (although i never had it on a rolling road).

I complained and got a free sportex exhaust so it wasn't all bad!

Just tell them not to let the apprentice paint it....

 

 

 

basically i brought a crank which was x drilled knife edged wedge and ni tempered which got fitted to my race engine in the second heat at racing i was still running the engine in when suddenly the engine went bang! what had happened was they x drilled it BUT only drilled one extra hole (instead of two) then they grub srewed it but went too deep and blocked the oil way all together causing is to wear the shells out and because it got so hot locked the engine up and the flywheel turned on the crank which was then scrap (ulta light steel billet). the old man i spoke to said i didnt know what i was talking about when i rang him to tell him so i went down to his shop and chucked it on the bench and tell me what was wrong which hey presto he apolagized and made me a proper one.
the head i brought from them was ground too deep into the chambers which caused it to crack on the inside and seep.

i went to them as they were cheap, there cheap for a reason!
it was about 5 years ago now but ive learnt my lesson, id rather got to the like of morspeed, med, or swiftune and pay ££££'s reather than going chep and getting rubbish!

Things like that happen anywhere when you are machining the life out of parts for racing

 

 

 

if i was you i would steer clear from jonspeed! (from personal experience). there are plenty of good engine builders out there just depends on what budget you got and what you want in the end.

 

this sounds very simular to my experience. bought a 1310 block from them. ran in, now ive got black and i mean black smoke out of the back. and a rubbish paint job. not happy one bit considereding there charging me for taking the engine out and back in and oil and the petrol to get there and back for 2 cars and ive had it R&R'd as well so all that money down the drain. DO NOT USE THEM they dont like keeping people happy I dont think. this means its cost me £800 for a block in total!

[62S]

Many years ago Jonspeed were OK but these days I wouldn't spend my money there.

 

I bought a cylinder head that filled two cylinders with water when fitted to the car, It turned out it had a huge crack in the inlet port,

 

A friend bought a Cooper S block via ebay that literally turned out to be scrap. Luckily he was protected by PayPal for that.

 

Another friend bought a set of wheels that they couldn't even measure the width of correctly, they claimed they were 5" when they were 4.5". If they can't get a wheel width to 0.5" what chances on engine tolerances being any good.

 

One is told, but of course this is only heresay, that Southam Mini Centre do quite well from putting right Jonspeeds work.

[holmesy]

well ive currently had then engine in nearly 4 months now, had a few little issues but they quickly solved them and the parts turnt up the next day free of charge and a couple of little extras i wasn't expecting :) 

 

ive done about 1400miles on it, ran it in properly and have been taking it to 6250rpm a couple of times. 

 

im very happy with the engine and box, they have since put the price up 500 quid now to match other companies but the power is there, the oil pressure is there the head was a stage 2 but i have seen stage 3-4s from other companies with less work so im happy. will get it on the dyno with the weber and nodiz and see what it put out put im very happy and not had 1 issue since ive had it (touch wood  ) 

[robminibcy]

I can't say id recomend them. Ordered a standard cylinder head in green last November. Was told it would take a week and they knew it was needed quickly as the car was off the road due to the head gasket having gone. A week later no head, phoned up to ask and they were waiting for valves but was machined and painted. Went on for another week and again phoned up only this time no paint?! Went on for 2 months and I had to use my old worn leaded head (which its still using and burning oil badly) and finally asked for a refund.

[holmesy]

back again, finally had it rolling road'd today, made 87bhp@flywheel and 83lbs/ft of torque which im really happy with, thats with an old tired dizzy cap years old and taken lot of abuse held on by a tie wrap because my laptop died so i couldnt map the mappable ignition :/ im gained me 4.5hp with the dizzy swing but i had gotten the fueling perfect on my own so was even happier  

 

will post the printout up as soon as my phone decides to make contact with TMF

[bitsilly]

I know this is an old thread, but have Jonspeed improved at all.

Can anyone vouch for their current offerings?

Cheers

[Chris1275gt]

I know this is an old thread, but have Jonspeed improved at all.
Can anyone vouch for their current offerings?
Cheers

I can only speak for myself. Andy and his team rebuilt my engine and gearbox last year in May I've done about 1500 mi since and it's not missed a beat. I think he's aquired the business since the 2012 you'd have to ask him?
He answered every email promptly, and every phone call. He sells parts and services on eBay as jonspeed4minis with 15,799 with a 100% feedback, which I find is a very good indication of reliability.
So yes and I wouldn't hesitate to use his services again.

[whistler]

has anyone here know of any good and bad reviews of them as my father wishing for me to buy a stage 2 engine from them instead of doing my own but as cooperman has said to me 1500 just seems too cheap.

http://www.jonspeedr...=14523&cID=2095

this is the head which comes with the engine which is 500 from them on its own!
http://www.jonspeedr...=14480&cID=2090

too good to be true????

Can't comment on Jonspeed but look at the options wth Minispares. I believe they're built by Bill Richards, who is a well known and respected engine builder.

[bitsilly]

Thanks gents