Engine builder?

[BRAD]

Does anyone know a decent engine builder near Gatwick?

 

[StuF]

I know it's not near to Gatwick but the only guys I would use for engine builds is Aircooled Engineering in Birmingham.
http://ace-vw.com/site/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fantastic setup and great guy

 

[BRAD]

Looks perfect, bit of a long way for me though 8)

 

[Stevec]

I know a guy based in Erith near Dartford?

 

[BRAD]

Cheers, it's getting closer!

 

[Marriedblonde]

Don't worry about having one close to you, get an engineer builder who has decent rep. No point having a crap engine just round the corner from you

 

[BRAD]

Very true mate, looking at one near Hove, I'll call them tomorrow

 

[Clem]

Autotechniks?

 

[matt-me]

yes, Mark Prosser, Auto technics
Langley bottom farm
Langley Vale
01372 878 464

Built my 1914 engine three years ago, no problems

 

[matt-me]

near Epsom......

 

[BRAD]

Cheers gents, how much did the labour set you back matt?

 

[matt-me]

there was no split in labour/materials. they gave me some options and i made a choice. They did build it and fit it though which makes sense (single point responsibility) although not all people go this route. It also depends on what they may re-use from your engine (not much but I had a 123 dizzy, st steel exhaust and some other bits) but the vasty majority were new. It was about £6-7K from memory so not cheap. However, it turned out I had a single port with twin port heads so they couldn't re-use the fan housing, oil cooler etc nor heat exchangers which i kept, so had to spend more on these unexpectedly.

Worth it to me. Helps that they are quite close to me too I suppose but i would travel for the right people anyway. Give them a call although it is the show/summer holiday season so they are often away at this time of year.

Al

 

[matt-me]

https://www.facebook.com/Autotechniks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

for more info. Looking at this my engine is now 4 1/2 years old, time passes so quickly, it's in this link way back as Al's engine..sav beige camper

 

[BRAD]

That looks good to me, cheers.

Not sure I want a balls out 1900 though :lol:

 

[matt-me]

No it's not balls out, it's built for torque really. It's by no means a racer. They are heavy lumps remember.

My brief was I wanted to be able to cruise at a decent speed, 65 mph (does go faster but wouldn't like to drive too often at more) climb hills without losing too much speed, in a fully laden camper with me, mrs and three kids. That's what Mark recommended. That's what I got. If you've got less load then you could think about a 1776 but really this is still all about the other components like cam, rockers, porting/flowing heads etc. Alex from VWH had a 1776 Autotechniks engine and it flew. So really it is what you want, how you drive it etc. I think the extra costs aren't that great in this range of engine to move up a few cc's, when you start going 2110 + then I think you are in a different ballgame.

The price did include alot of other bits and pieces, ie balancing, new weber 40 carbs plus more but not a taller geared gearbox, which I also got at the same time.

Good luck with it anyway you go.
Al

 

[matt-me]

oh, you're welcome to check it out if you want. I'm not far from Gatwick. Pm me if you want. Al

 

[bobbyt]

I can vouch for Autotechniks, I brought Alex's old 1776, and it's still going strong, goes really well too.