14 replies to this topic

[joekenton]

Hi,

 

I've just had my SPI Mini back from the bodyshop, very happy with it, but of course now it's time for the engine to complain. It's done 77k miles, it's currently stalling when coming to a stop, and the oil light is on at idle, and the idle is very low. I'm quite sure it needs a rebuild, and even if I can get another 5k miles out of it, I wanted to tune up the car a bit anyway, so now is the time.

 

The problem is, the cost. I have talked to Swiftune about a rebuild and a tune to around 85bhp, their estimate was £5000-6000, I have also talked to KAD and they told me it'll likely be 4-5k. This includes the following spec: 1) Rebuild 2) Fast road cam 3) 'Stage 2' cylinder head

 

Considering the cost involved, I'm not sure there is any reason not to go for a already fully rebuilt engine with all the parts I want, such as this: https://www.minispor...spi-models.html

 

This engine is £4350, and that price is only in the worst case scenario if they won't give any of the surcharge back for my cyclinder head and block! It could be as low as £3100 if I get the full surcharge back. 

 

So my question is, why would anyone go for a full rebuild at the cost of 4-6k when a fully rebuilt tuned engine is 3100-4350... I know I need to pay labour for it to go into the car, and then a rolling road, but it seems the engine kit from Minisport seems to be the best deal.

 

Any suggestions for my situation would be appreciated, thanks. I'm not biased to Minisport, but Mini spares seem to be mostly sold out of engine kits at the moment.

 

 

[Hedgey]

I have wondered the same myself and I think I would buy one of Minispares offerings if I had to do an engine rebuild again. The minispares engines seem to be a better deal although you do need to purchase the head separately 

[joekenton]

I have wondered the same myself and I think I would buy one of Minispares offerings if I had to do an engine rebuild again. The minispares engines seem to be a better deal although you do need to purchase the head separately 

 

The full engine I linked includes their stage 2 head, it doesn't include a gearbox, but I had a new one around 2 years ago, so should be set.

[JXC Mini GT]

I was in a similar position, my engine was a bit rattly and using a bit of oil plus the gearbox was jumping out of 2nd gear, the front bodywork was being carried out by Mill Road garage and it seemed the ideal opportunity to have the engine upgraded, I asked Ben to fit a Minispares 1293 short engine using my existing cylinder head and install a reconditioned gearbox. The labour cost for removal of the engine/gearbox was already included in the works to the bodywork.

 

I am still taking things easy with the new engine but it is noticably smoother and more driveable at all revs.

[imack]

You really can't begin to compare the quality or workmanship of Swiftune or KAD with anything that minisport are offering.

[Hedgey]

You really can't begin to compare the quality or workmanship of Swiftune or KAD with anything that minisport are offering.

Swift tune or KAD would be the obvious choices for race engines but do you really need their level of expertise and workmanship on a road engine?

I probably wouldn’t consider mini sport due the issues others have had with customer service. Minispares on the other hand are much more reputable

[Hedgey]

I have wondered the same myself and I think I would buy one of Minispares offerings if I had to do an engine rebuild again. The minispares engines seem to be a better deal although you do need to purchase the head separately

The full engine I linked includes their stage 2 head, it doesn't include a gearbox, but I had a new one around 2 years ago, so should be set.

Even if you add one of Minispares heads (upto £1000) they still work out cheaper.

I’m not sure who does the work for Minispares but Keith Calver used to work in the heads. This may have changed now

[nicklouse]

Join  TMF+ And get short motor hand head from them. Short motors built by Bill Richards racing. Heads done by Keith Calver and you get a discount if 7.5%

 

its a no brainer.

 

maybe also throw in a Guessworks gearbox at the same time.

 

what I did for a friends engine a few years back still going strong.

 

i have also just finished an engine build.

The machining alone was about 2k,

3.5k crank assy,

800 fly assy,
and another 2.5k in gears and bits.
Head and head parts I had but there were still a full set of valves that were needed.

 

engine work is not cheap when done well. And cheap engine work does not last.

[Hedgey]

The more you look at the Minispares engines the more of a bargain they look.

Plus as Nicklouse pointed out the £5 TMF+ discount will save you a tidy sum

[joekenton]

The problem is... Everything on Minispares is out of stock. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what the deal is. They are by far the most bang for buck, but if it's not going to be available for 6 months I'll have to go MiniSport

[nicklouse]

The problem is... Everything on Minispares is out of stock. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what the deal is. They are by far the most bang for buck, but if it's not going to be available for 6 months I'll have to go MiniSport

I would wait rather than go to MiniSport.

 

i remember the days when they had to get their engines build by some one else for their rally cars as theirs kept failing.

[Chris1275gt]

I had a bog standard cylinder head refurbished by mini sport last year. They did it in the specified time, refunded the surcharge in the specified time, always answered and rung back when they said they would and always answered emails. It's done 1500 miles with no problems. I personally wouldn't hesitate to use their services again.

[joekenton]

Ok, so, to post a quick update. Maybe the engine will last a bit longer. The fuel had been sitting for a long time, so after google around for a while, I figured this could be the cause of all the issues. I used some fuel storage additive then topped it up to full with 97 octane, and now it seems to run just fine.

 

I will inevitably need to do a engine rebuild sooner rather than later, so will update here once I decide what to do! Just signed up to TMF+ so that KAD discount is looking good! 

[Ben_O]

Speak to bill Richards directly 07876017800.

 

Tell him your requirements and let him give you a quote.

having dealt with Bill myself on a number of things now, I would always go to him. Throughly nice guy, knows exactly What he is doing and gave me a very nice quite to fully rebuild a 1275mpi engine including head and gearbox.

 

Cheers

Ben

[MrBounce]

Just as a curveball, have you thought of building it yourself? It's a great learning experience and with the wealth of knowledge on here if you run into issues we can usually help sort stuff.