The V8 Owners Forum -

Ok I you took a bare block to a specialist. and asked them to test it, and fit new bearings.

They said the block is fine but needs hone, so I say ok.
They they say that when they was going to hone it they found the bores was oval, being a 4.0 you can't get +0.020 Pistons, so the only option was new liners, so I paid the extra to have TOP HATS.

Then after them fitting them they call me up and say the threads for the heads are all knackered, and would be another £235 to fix.
I asked why they did not tell me before me agreeing for £900 for tophats. as I could get a new block cheaper then the £1135 they now want to charge me.

Answer you never asked us to check the threads (FFS). but I would have thought they would have checked the block before doing £900 of work to it.

If you haven't paid anything so far then don't, tell them to keep it!

Was tempted, but they had my pistons.

How much are the pistons?
If they are less than £900 I would walk away, then they might think twice about that sort of sharp practice again. They don't pave driveways in their spare time do they?
Mike
PS Once had a fiat 126, cost me £130 without an MOT but with a fail certificate, 9 months tax and a list of jobs to do.... cost me £48 to do the work (new steering rack, a few other bits free up the handbreak etc). Any way took it to another MOT place agb guess what it failed on break pipes, "needs all of them sir, but we just happen to have all the stuff for the job, your dead lucky we only just got the kit I can do them all for you for £150+vat and a retest for £18" I reached into the car pulled out the tax disk and threw hin the keys and started to walk away without saying anything.... by I stopped he actually only needed to replace the front left side pipe and he would do it for £36 including the retest. some times they get too greedy.

TVRleigh was it one of the companies that supports the forum?
if so can you PM me so i know please.

how bad are the threads mate?
could you get away with running head studs??? once in they dont come out.

Sent a PM,
But it was not one of the sponsors.

Lol talking about sponsorship. I don't think I'm going to have there stickers on the Race Car now. unless I put are w****rs after there name.

I have paid them the money for the tophats, but not to do the threads, as can't be arsed with them sueing me for not paying them for the work.

Plus not got the time to sort an new block and pistons.

Pistons are about £200 for a set.

Leigh,

Was that £235 just for the Helicoils for the 8 head bolt threads, as it seems like a lot of money. I've got to have some done on my heads so hope they are not that expensive.

I looked up Helicoils and they are pennies so they must be charging a fortune for the labour,. I was under the impression that it was a quick and easy process if you have the correct tools.

Anyone else had Helicoils fitted recently?

Kevin.

i do my own mate,
buy a kit and fit your own.

Tony,

Whats actually involved in fitting a Helicoil and how much is a kit.

Kevin.

CastleMGBV8 wrote:Leigh,

Was that £235 just for the Helicoils for the 8 head bolt threads, as it seems like a lot of money. I've got to have some done on my heads so hope they are not that expensive.

I looked up Helicoils and they are pennies so they must be charging a fortune for the labour,. I was under the impression that it was a quick and easy process if you have the correct tools.

Anyone else had Helicoils fitted recently?

Kevin.

Yes was just to put helicoils in the duff threads.
It's a 10 bolt head, so 20 helicoils at most. you thought they would offer to do at cost as was there mistake.

CastleMGBV8 wrote:Tony,

Whats actually involved in fitting a Helicoil and how much is a kit.

Kevin.

I checked on the price of a kit and it was £30 with 10 helicoils.
you get a drill bit, tap and tool.

going to fit timeserts as they are better anyway.

as above Kevin,
you get a helicoil kit, which is a drill, a tap, the helicoils and the tool for fitting the helicoils,

I obviously can't count today, so not as expensive as I thought.

Kevin.

I agree that timeserts are superior to helicoils.

I timeserted the exhaust manifold threads on the Griff engine. Cost me £25 or so for everything. A nice easy job too.