KABOOM!!! engine has let go...
Discussion
my engine has let go. i was on the motorway & it stuttered & started billowing white smoke from the area of the left exhaust (not sure if it was from the exhaust itself). on pulling over it was losing its coolant but no oil loss.
firstly, does anyone have any idea of what the problem may be?
and
secondly, i have contacted a local tvr specialist & have been quoted £1500 + vat just to open the engine up & diagnose the problem!
that seems steep to me, to say the least!
i'm based in essex, does anyone have any recommendations of knowlegdable independents that could help? i know about leven but they have a 6 week waiting list!
i was told by a cateram racer about some guys who are ex mole valley tvr technicians who have set up shop not too far away (cambridge i think it was). does anyone know of them?
any help would be much appreciated.
firstly, does anyone have any idea of what the problem may be?
and
secondly, i have contacted a local tvr specialist & have been quoted £1500 + vat just to open the engine up & diagnose the problem!
that seems steep to me, to say the least!
i'm based in essex, does anyone have any recommendations of knowlegdable independents that could help? i know about leven but they have a 6 week waiting list!
i was told by a cateram racer about some guys who are ex mole valley tvr technicians who have set up shop not too far away (cambridge i think it was). does anyone know of them?
any help would be much appreciated.
MarkoTVR said:
Where was the coolant being lost from? Just throwing the question in, but was it definitely smoke and not water vapour?
form the centre of the engine, maybe slightly to the left side. the smoke was very white & stopped as soon as engine was turned off. had to back the car up slightly to let the tow truck get infront & there was no diagnostic codes showing & it squirted out a bit more coolant. no oil loss at at any time.Hi,
Sorry to hear about your engine woes. I`m afraid it sounds like a classic speed six engine implosion to me.
I may have a solution for you. I have recently had a fresh speed six engine built for me to a fantastic specification.
My intention was to slot it into my 2003 Tamora but financial pressures have forced me very reluctantly to sell the new unit and continue running my existing engine.
The work was executed by Dulford Automotive in Devon. A highly respected TVR engine/tuning/service specialist.
I have outlined a brief specification below but Richard at Dulford with whom the engine is located will be happy to give you a complete specification. If required, Dulford are fully equipped to install the engine for you and of course this would avoid protracted rebuild time.
Engine cost circa £11,000 to build but I will accept large discount on this price for quick sale.
Dulford Automotive: 01884 266675 www.dulfordauto.co.uk
Engine specification.
Full rebuild by Dulford Automotive
Gas flowed & ported cylinder head
Block honed and bored to 3.8 litres with uprated lubrication
4 bolt main cap engine block (much stronger than standard)
New JE forged pistons
New scat forged con rods
Chilled iron cam shafts
Uprated finger followers/valves
Sorry to hear about your engine woes. I`m afraid it sounds like a classic speed six engine implosion to me.
I may have a solution for you. I have recently had a fresh speed six engine built for me to a fantastic specification.
My intention was to slot it into my 2003 Tamora but financial pressures have forced me very reluctantly to sell the new unit and continue running my existing engine.
The work was executed by Dulford Automotive in Devon. A highly respected TVR engine/tuning/service specialist.
I have outlined a brief specification below but Richard at Dulford with whom the engine is located will be happy to give you a complete specification. If required, Dulford are fully equipped to install the engine for you and of course this would avoid protracted rebuild time.
Engine cost circa £11,000 to build but I will accept large discount on this price for quick sale.
Dulford Automotive: 01884 266675 www.dulfordauto.co.uk
Engine specification.
Full rebuild by Dulford Automotive
Gas flowed & ported cylinder head
Block honed and bored to 3.8 litres with uprated lubrication
4 bolt main cap engine block (much stronger than standard)
New JE forged pistons
New scat forged con rods
Chilled iron cam shafts
Uprated finger followers/valves
just had compression test & coolant tests done & cranked it over.
coolant spewed out of the passenger side exhaust when i started it up, as well as dropping some coolant at back end of engine.
no 'mayonnaise' in oil top up chamber though.
i think i vaguely remember that No.6 cylinder failure is the most common?
is that the case?
obvioulsy i need to open the engine up, but does this sound like a routine engine failiure?
coolant spewed out of the passenger side exhaust when i started it up, as well as dropping some coolant at back end of engine.
no 'mayonnaise' in oil top up chamber though.
i think i vaguely remember that No.6 cylinder failure is the most common?
is that the case?
obvioulsy i need to open the engine up, but does this sound like a routine engine failiure?
For some reason work on the Speed Six seems to cost the earth, its only an engine, and the parts are available to buy...
Note that the ngine has to come out to access all the bits - 1/2 day to get it out, a day to put it back. In theory a headgasket is pretty straightforward just like any other car, but it depends whether you have other problems which caused, or were caused by the failure. Cracked head, valve damage or whatever.
Note that the ngine has to come out to access all the bits - 1/2 day to get it out, a day to put it back. In theory a headgasket is pretty straightforward just like any other car, but it depends whether you have other problems which caused, or were caused by the failure. Cracked head, valve damage or whatever.
Targarama said:
For some reason work on the Speed Six seems to cost the earth, its only an engine, and the parts are available to buy...
Note that the ngine has to come out to access all the bits - 1/2 day to get it out, a day to put it back.
You have to take the engine out to access all the bits?!!?! I wish I knew this before I took my head off with the engine in situ!Note that the ngine has to come out to access all the bits - 1/2 day to get it out, a day to put it back.
Jediworrier said:
Targarama said:
For some reason work on the Speed Six seems to cost the earth, its only an engine, and the parts are available to buy...
Note that the ngine has to come out to access all the bits - 1/2 day to get it out, a day to put it back.
You have to take the engine out to access all the bits?!!?! I wish I knew this before I took my head off with the engine in situ!Note that the ngine has to come out to access all the bits - 1/2 day to get it out, a day to put it back.
Targarama said:
Oh good - now we know it is possible!
Not only is it possible but it's possible in a diy bods garage, I have no mechanical training whatsoever and used a standard tool kit. 
Edit to add - I lied, I had to make a tool to release the fromt pulley!
Edited by Jediworrier on Tuesday 12th August 23:20
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