Engine reconditioning.

[frank rabbets]

My friend with a Daimler Dart needed his engine reconditioning as it was worn out. eg Pistons Bores Valves, Guides etc. He had a job finding anyone to do this job but in the end found a specialist who charged £6000. It is a very simple 1969 engine. Engine rebuilding seams to be a dying trade so in some years time where are owners of 80's going to get theirs rebuilt or do these engines keep going forever?

 

[Paddler Ed]

I've had a Mazda FE engine reco'd here in Australia for $1500 or so, but it did come back to me as a box (or several) of bits... head in one box, pistons and con rods, bearings, piston rings etc in various other boxes.

Currently have my heads in for reco for my 4Runner, they're going to cost $650 or so for the 2, and that's stripped right back and rebuilt as good as new.

I think that the short term environmental goals of the UK government are actually going to stop these sort of industries, or drive them to small workshops that know they can charge a fair bit. On the other hand, over here we've got 2 engine rebuilders in town here (population of about 24,000) and as a lot of vehicles here are still worth money with north of 150,000miles (about 250,000km) then I can't see it stopping any time soon.

 

[Chas]

Ooh! Daimler Dart (SP250) My dream car, I had a 1960 model.

Frank as far as I can remember they were only made from 1959-1664? but you say your friends one was 1969?

I only sold mine because I couldn't find spares, 3 months after selling I found a place that sold and manufactured spares in Golders Green just three miles from where I lived at that time,

 

[yogi]

Ed they are tax related goals,not environmental in any way. Its worse here in Ireland, third party only insurance on a car over ten years old is double that for fully comp on a new car, also road tax for a 2000cc diesel car is nearly 800 euro a year, versus virtually free for most new cars.

If I taxed my 80 as a car it would be in the region of 1500 euro a year.

There is nothing environmentally friendly about it, the government collects 30% excise duty with VAT on top of that on all new cars sold here, so they do all they can to try to force you to buy new. Its actually an illegal import duty, and was ruled as such in the European courts a few years ago but when we started paying for the European bank debt that ruling was 'modified'. You have to love the EU!

 

[Towpack]

A sweet engine was that. 2.5L V8 Hemi. I think it also appeared in a jag Mk2 body under the Daimler badge. It was popular for small capacity dragsters when I frequented Santa pod back in the 80's.
I've rebuilt a few engines over the years, both cars and bikes. The last one was a 2.9L V6 Ford from a Sierra 4x4 back in '97. Stripped the engine in the garage, sourced new parts and rebuilt it. Just outsourced specialist work like reboring/honing, crank grinding etc. We have (or used to have) a few companies here in Sheffield that did that kind of work but don't even know if they're still around.
Years ago a true mechanic would tackle just about anything. I think many mechanics these days are just parts fitters. If you took your 80 into a dealer and said "2nd or 3rd gear has gone" etc would they just quote you for a replacement box or for diagnosing the problem, stripping the box and replacing the broken parts? Would they even be prepared to do that?

 

[Gary820]

Apart from the specialist stuff like crank grinding etc I'd do my own (i'd still measure for my bearing shells). 2 places in the York area that do it.
I've got stuff for bore honing, I'd happily rebuild gear boxes but manufacturer says no.

 

[frank rabbets]

Sorry Chas 1963! I had a 1959 one which I restored and had to rebuild the engine on.


Yes they are a nice engine and they used it in the small Daimler saloons. You could select 3rd by mistake and it just pulled away as normal. The larger Daimler limos and hearses had the 4 litre version of the same engine!!

I imagine one of the problems today would be to find a shop able to rebore blocks and regrind cranks. Is there any new blood coming in or are we just stuck with the dying out old fossils like myself?

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

Pete and Dick at Beckett and Garners in town are long gone, superb engineers. Rotherham Rebore are still doing engine machining though.

Andy