They were NOT happy, we’ve lost the job and could have lost the customer but we had no choice
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- Опубліковано 24 кві 2022
- In todays vlog, we work all day on the old Alfa blocks, some tricky setups that Iv been dreading, but we show you how we go about it. Also, we lost the L200 job because of cost, we had no choice but what do you guys think?
- Авто та транспорт
Maybe that company went back to the original builders armed with your evaluation? They might not hate you at all, might have just found another way out? Either way you clearly did the right thing. Staying clean and honest and protecting your reputation!
I am not a car enthusiast, nor an engineer but I love seeing the skills used on these engines. It is great to see an honest professional at work.
Each one is like looking at an episode of Fred Dibnah. 👍 🙂
Cheap trick; stick the dti on the tailstock so you can check before and after. Use a clothes peg to hold the ball off the liner face while you machine it. (If you aren’t convinced by your compound slide accuracy) :)
Love your personal integrity !
What wonderful and precise work these guys do, the machinery alone to carry the work out is so fantastic.
Well done Folks, I am sure that all your customers must be more than happy with the results and the fact that you are basically showing the public what you do and how you do it must be a great selling point for the business. Thanks for this.
I firmly believe you made a proper decision to quote the client for a total reconditioned motor. We stay away from "fixing" issues from another business. We will provide the proper repairs necessary so we can stand by our work. No reason to bring in a possible headache. The shop is busy enough with work. "Headaches" can consume an enormous amount of time. You may find yourself defending the amount of work necessary to move forward. Great work on the Alfa's. Always a great way for me to take a break from "Hair on Fire" Monday! Be good. Have a Deluxe week Lee...
Very chipper this morning young man...some great work on the Ali blocks...👍👍
fantastic knowledge,
skill, and professionalism as always 👍👍👍
Given your discovery that the block face was not true, the original "re-builder" should be able to resolve this issue of pressurization. Good work on your part.
I understand terms like Blueprint - which is back to new tolerances. Accepted tolerances was new plus a bunch of thou. And build for myself is bigger than accepted, but not something I ever sold or allowed out of my hands. . In my work- back 40 yrs ago, the closest we could read at 1 thou. I was chatting with a machinist friend -and he had a CNC machine. He was a perfectionist back 40 yrs ago. I remain in awe of the changes I have seen in last 20 yrs. Thank You!
ALFA 105, 115 and 116 related engines have 5 main bearings, only 1,3 and 5th bearings have direct oil feed, 2nd and 4th mains are oil fed through the drilled crankshaft. It's a mod done for competition engines but not neccessary for road use. Great vid!
105's Alfa's are worth big bucks now (even in complete wrecks here in Australia are $25,000+ cars) it is surprising they are being given-over to racing, which basically fillets the car.
Imagine having you as an uncle.... god you would be sooo useful, you would deffo be my favourite uncle
Great vid, good to see your work
Aluminium engines have to be done properly and true. Can't get away with things as you can with iron, one supposes. Heat expansion and warping avoidance reasons of ally. Hillman Imps...!
Great Stance, be true to your values & that of your companies.
Great Skills... 👍👍👍
Hi Lee, you very well know yourself, if you are going to garentee your work, it's got to be done to your specifications or you ain't doing it.Its got to be your way or no way. Keep up the good quality work😎🇬🇧
Love it! thanks.
You have done the right thing, too risky for you. Seen it too many times where things get done on the cheap, something goes wrong and the cheap price is conveniently forgotten and you're the worst in the world. Stand on your digs mate.
Loving you work as usual from big baz in the northwest west
Dear Lee have you thought about making a drilling jig for this job? That would make your life a lot easier. Especially if you get repeat orders.
You get what you pay for!! 😆👍. I like the guy who runs this place, seems legit. Good luck
The Imps use to be a sidecar racers favourite, remember them well
love seeing the skills
Lee in America, a rebuild is machining & using new parts! A freshen up is only done on known good engines [Normally race type]! They have all good parts to begin with, & we inspect, measure all the parts, polish the crank, hone the block, skim the heads, maybe touch up the valve job, then we clean, replace any normal wear items, [rings, bearings, oil pump, timing chain, valve springs, ect!] Of course it gets all new gaskets, maybe some upgrades [camshaft] if there looking for more power! Then we dyno it & it will go back in the car! If its not getting overbored, with new hard parts [pistons, rods, camshaft, valves & all valvetrain components] Its only a freshen up! We do not do this on walk in customers! They get a normal rebuild! What that other company did to that engine sounds like a patch job! Not even a good freshen up! You should request that a boss or shop foreman comes to pick it up! So you could show him exactly what you are talking about! Sometimes they just don't understand over the phone! Best of luck!
Do you use exclamation marks in your invoices?
It’s just as well you are level headed, really enjoying your videos man. I can still remember going to my local engineering shop to get the head skimmed on my Singer Chamois, what a piece of crap 💩 car it was. It got its revenge on me when it overheated 🥵 and I always loosened the radiator cap to release the pressure, but this time the sleeve of my jumper got caught on the bloody radiator and got my forearm scalded with the freaking radiator water, 😡 grrrrrrrr, lol 😝, i just drove around all day with my arm out of the window and it was nice and cool . My head and cylinder block must have been like the mountains of mourne, lol 😂. Awesome video man
That’s one hell of a milling cutter .
I wouldn’t take a job on without doing it to the best of my ability especially engine building I’ve been around engine builders all my life from the slap together to the ex cosworth / ford motorsport and every time they don’t do a rebuild how they want to do it ( customer says just use my bits ) it bites them in the arse
Do it right first time
Great blogs
Thanks guys
Car Wizard tells his clients what he will do in a repair, and if they don't like it they can go elsewhere due to this kind of thing.
As the saying goes, pay cheap, pay twice
Really enjoyed your Alfa block repair video, I remember doing similar machining work several years ago in Africa. Confirm they are 1300cc engines ?
To me, a "rebuild" is a complete job, the engine has been completely rebuilt, but an overhaul is a partial job, like rings, bearings, timing set and maybe a valve job. A "recondition" sounds more like an overhaul. We advertised a "complete rebuild" as having been completely machined and all new parts except the castings.
I think you need to get yourself a nice little tilting rotary table for jobs like that first block with the oil ways.
Why not offer to do the head and block grind with new gasket and give a warranty on that part of the engine, surely the gasket would be safe from blowing after the work done right, or offer the work without warranty if you feel their is a risk
I agree rob, a sensible solution. I have watched a lot of Lee’s videos and I can’t help thinking that he seems to end up backing himself into a corner. His attitude I wouldn’t question or his competence so I’ll stay with him I think.
You can’t do half cocked stuff like that it’s just inviting more drama 🎭 its either do it right from the start or don’t get involved. Ask yourself this if that other engineering firm won’t do anymore why because it’s a drama 🎭. I never trust anybody else’s work as that is where it bites you in the arse. O it’s had this that and everything else well why you bringing it to me well the other place says there’s nothing wrong with it. You then take it out strip it ye it’s got all these parts but there all secondhand bits out of other engines. My advice when there’s problems like that give it a mis as otherwise the trouble is yours now
Hi this sort of job really requires a drawing. That would be essential otherwise you don’t know what snags you may face. Andy, ex . Jigborer and now retired engineering inspector.
Doing the absolutely right thing; that thing is a can of worms. Caveat emptor indeed
A messy issue the L200. But you are right, any further work done by you would have the complete engine to be warranted by you (the previous machine workshop would wipe it) so you must maintain your standards. Right decision. If nothing else, the garage customer now knows your standards, and that you will stick to them.
I used to work on the older 1300 and 1600 cc engines, some times the block casting would bleed water thru the casting under the headers
loved the video reminds me of the old machine shops that were in Glasgow but cleaner
I see you only have older engines do the modern engine just need to thrown away
mine is a vauxhall grand x 3 cylinder with a turbo and 130 BHP so much power for a small engine
If you go back a dozen episodes, Lee works on modern Oilers and things like Chrysler V10's, Mitsubishi stuff etc etc
You know, I like this guy's shop. He is extremely thorough and what appears to be honest. He gives you a straight forward opinion and that means to me a straight forward estimate for what you are asking for.
Isn't that what we as Consumers are suppose to get? We go to Experts in their respective fields with a problem. The Expert analyzes the issue in front of the Mechanic. In this case he finds things that perhaps other Mechanics cut to make the requested job affordable. Remember, Mechanics need jobs to pay their bills too. But in many cases, the Client is asking CHEAP and the Mechanic to be in the ball park for the estimate request might cut corners to remain in the estimate cost offer.
This guy finds where others cut the job cheap but ended up ruining a good engine. Of course the Client isn't happy. But don't take it out on him for what the Client did to themselves earlier by going cheap. So now, the Client is being billed twice for a job that should have been done correctly the first time.
Of course the client is upset, they are looking foolish for bad judgement. But you know, that's the price you pay when you pay for the Lowest Bidder.
Sometimes impossible to diagnose pressurising without the full engine & system in front of you.
As said a few times, oil and EGR coolers present the same symptoms as HGF
Could you do an episode on repairing of heads? Talking about cast iron vs aluminum heads.
the engine that was pressuring up it could be the egr cooler or the egr valve if is water cooled one, done a lot of them and they give the same symptoms as a gasket failure
These engines don't have EGR. Crankcase gas is directly fed into the air cleaner.
@@backyardprojects9945 egr is exhaust gas not an engine breather
I would never be apologetic about sticking to your standards because that is the backbone of your reputation. If the customer was expecting a standard less than you are prepared to give then he has the choice of going to someone else who is prepared to work to less. I guess that he was hoping that a miracle was going to happen but as we all know miracles cost more! At the moment I presume that as elsewhere, its a sellers market, but in a buyers market I never dropped the price because that meant spending less time and cutting corners, which ultimately doesn't get you the next job and ruins what reputation you have built up and makes it even harder when the upturn arrives.
Done a few Alfa block oil way mods, don’t see the need to go all the way through side to side on No4. Using 4mm drill.
You did it right and didn't cut corners.
when i was building 2.0 cavalier race engines i had to feed the main oil gallery from both ends because of too much oil loss around the cam bearing and lifters starving the mains and rods
I hope the garage is taking it back to the original people that rebuilt it. Would love to hear how they glued a bolt in😂3k would of been cheaper off you to start with than what they now have to pay😭
Whatever you do, consider that one day the customer may receive a report about your work from your competitor. Keep your conscience clean.
Hi mate, you gotta have a look at this, nissan td2.7 engine overhaul, up loaded by the garage ke, and you worry about things lol, it's on UA-cam
Regards Stoney
can you watch M539 Restorations latest video & comment on what went wrong with the block sleeving job & what you think of the situation?
Yes, the sleeving to shrink is very weird. Why they wouldn't check clearances afterward is beyond me 🤷🏼♂️
I understand not being able to guarantee the whole engine, but surely you could treat it as a head rebuild or similar? If you removed and measured the pistons/rings/crank etc it seems very wasteful and unnecessary just to bin those parts.
Could be something stupid like a blown egr cooler but when you get so many involved you open a can of worms
When you buzz those Alfas past 7 thousand rpm the liners move around and there goes the head gasket, , the plugs on the oil ways on the crank can come out from vibrating, the firing order is switched, for cylinder two and three, and ive asked around for years, crank shaft harmonics?
I always go full rebuild if doing and engine.
Awesome
why would a customer not have new piston's, bearings etc.. fitted on a engine rebuild (especially if old parts could be prone to failure) feel it's crazy not to fit new piston's etc.. and agree with covered warranty has to have new parts and done right, definitely right decision for the warranty 👍
Because of costs.
I can see how it's hard as a business to guarantee used parts already in an engine.
However, if it was my engine and the pistons/rings/crank etc were found to be in excellent condition and within factory tolerance, I would find it hard to justify spending an extra £1k+
@@Mark.D.H. understand I've been there tho when a local garage offered to rebuild my engine (so wish i sent it to a proper engine builder tho) brake cleaner and jet wash all the block and parts, used all the old piston's etc.. back in.. after the rebuild it was smoking like a bitch and badly.. with the smell of burning oil through the exhaust, costing more money on another rebuild with new parts at another mechanical tuning garage, became more costly for me
End of the day I'm pretty sure the customer knew that what was being said was the truth, and decided it wasn't worth going ahead.
I remember my uncle having problems with the ally heads they fitted to the last Sunbeam Rapiers, the fastback top range version. Think they also used them in the last rally Hillman Hunters. Brazil block? Or was that Hillman Avengers? Umm... My uncle was well into Rootes group cars, except Imps - he said their fire pump engines are a nightmare when they go wrong.
The Hillman Imp had a fantastic engine. The problems were caused by Rootes putting the radiator in the back. Cars with front mounted rads were fine. Manufacturer penny-pinching at its best.
Fiat FIRE engines have a reputation for blown cylinder heads (Iron block & ally head). The engines are actually very reliable but will absolutely not tolerate low coolant.
You can't lose what you never had to start with. You simply failed to acquire. You could have acquired the job if you wanted to do it for no profit or less. Good to see that you are reverting from being a no profit charity.
I like your videos keep them coming.
I have one suggestion,maybe make some video's focusing on one job at the time.
I find it hard to follow all the different builds you show in one video.
In my opinion its better to focus one one thing at a time.
This is not criticism just an idea to make your channel grow
I wouldn't be at all upset about losing the Triton job, outside of the fact that I had missed out on a job. From where I am it had ongoing grief and loss maker written alongside it. I do enjoy the challenging jobs, but they seldom make me the money that the bread and butter stuff does. Just my thoughts. Regards Greg
I wanted to watch you bore the external oil supply galleries.
Lol squeaky bottom time with the block oil ways haha
Cracked egr cooler
If this L200 engine is a series 4? They Mitsubishi have had a “problem” with porous block between cylinder 2/3. May be some “good will “ on their part.
You can please everyone part of the time and you can please a few all of the time, but sometimes you just have to do what is right and accept the consequences. Any other "solution" would have ended in tears and gnashing of teeth. If the company that came to you is worth their salt they will understand the situation and not hold it against you.
👍👍
Never apologize for telling the truth
Nobody likes to fix it right the first time because it costs . They all pay the second time even happier
Seems like rebuild and recondition mean the opposite things in the UK vs US.
I may be getting the hang of the difference of what you call a rebuild and a recondition of an engine. Like I said before, when we did a rebuild we were doing what you call a recondition.
I still don’t get it. Those two words are interchangeable as far as I know. Never seen anyone take apart an engine then put it back together with all the same parts - his definition of a rebuild. You take apart an engine, measure/check for wear and replace accordingly. No need to replace all parts for new when there is no wear.
I am a tool and diemaker /machinist and just wanted to compliment You on Your machining approach and skills. a second rate machinist could not do the things that You do
Sixth sense machining. Top drawer. Removal of any stresses when static. They multiply with heat.
Stick to your principles. It's better to knwn for quality rather than shabby.
Leave it till Tuesday
Some individuals, mon ami, refuse to display a sense of humour, pretending not to have one !
Your actions were 100% the way to go. It wouldn't matter if it was an engine, dishwasher or jet fighter.
You can''t take someone else's half ass/semi done job, whack it back together and then stand behind it with your integrity.
You have to stand your ground and maintain your standards. That is what built and will continue building your reputation. - Cheers
The term we use is " has to be technically / mechanically correct"
The garage should have had it reconditioned in the first place, especially if they were a friend of the owner. I wouldn't feel awkward if I was you because your the guy that does his job properly.
They might be going to take it back to the original rebuilder for a solution.
Bob Dove? Wasn't there a Bob Dove that used to rallycross, Mini's etc.?
Never Mini’s. Alfa’s in the BTCC
Simple if you want me to do this engine for you this is the cost if you don't like the cost pick up your items in a timely manner or I will charge you storage and or dispose of it if not picked up it's just business
when do you think you will be metric with everything...can't imagine working in ...th's of an inch!
Do you guys do bike engines???
Brabom. was that a leading engine years back
Brabom?
Do you mean Brabham?
Why not just offer to do what the customer wants, on the understanding that its not what you recommend, and that means no warranty. That way you there's no come back on you, and they get what they want
Thats why I don't trust mechanics there is no way you would replace the rod pistons etc if they were new and perfect if you did you would resell them as new to some other sucker
I'd be wary of giving out too much info on my customers. Your competitors may watch these vids and could easily try and poach your regular customers. Good vids as ever 👍
FUNNY!!.....all the time I hear you say...”two thou”......”eleven thou”...aso....I was thinking you (being British...) were talking inches....
Now I see,on your lathe,as you adjust it.....you are actually talking millimeters!!!
🤦♂️
@@kevinapps1233 .001" he is in Imperial not metric
@@kevinapps1233 I am awfully sorry!!!.....looking at the vid it DOES say millimeters.....but also in inches a bit to the left....and indeed,when I come to think of it:a thousand of a mm (0,001mm) is a clearance/tolerance only found in injectionpumps and nozzles of dieselinjectors:nothing near what can be achieved on a lathe...
Sorry again for false comment/judgement....thanks for replying/correcting....
Greetings from (foolish....) Metric Netherlands...
@@kevinapps1233 Indeed,I noticed as well.... ‘a noisy one at that’....
Never lower your standards just to accommodate a customer that cannot afford to pay for a proper job. I have my own machine shop and if I get a customer wanting a cheap price I tell them to go elsewhere.
Man get the blocks off the concrete 😤 , that kinda stuff would just put me off right off, no reason for it pal
Explain yourself man, what is the problem, they are either dirty or full of swarf and would be cleaned accordingly and then put on a bench or stand. After completion the guys wrap them in plastic If you really want to get angry go watch Pakistani Engines rebuild a diesel engine in the dirt. No reason for your rant Pal!
@@Antony_Jenner if I have to explain it to you , then you need more help then I can provide, say what you want it's just not good practice for professional shop and you can't be serious if you think that a putting a block studs down on concrete is acceptable
Well, we don't work for free.
i think they took car back from customer , and they sold him another car or hi got car somewhere alse
Just to complicate things I see refurbished L200 engines for sale for £1400 😱
Refurbished 🤔, Not Reconditioned 😏, there is a difference 😎😞🇬🇧
@@stephenwilliams6103 I guessed that but they are advertising as refurbished so what does that include,to me that suggests they can get away with just painting the bloody thing?
@@andyhunt457 correct 👍
@@stephenwilliams6103 A pig 🐖 in lipstick sounds an apt description 😄
yes, stick to your guns. Rules are rules
More machine work and less blather
More machining is good, but so is the chatter - especially when it describes how the machining work is done
So much doom & gloom...
Who in there right mind would guarantee someone else’s dodgy work sometimes it’s best to swerve problematic jobs you no are bad from the start. You have to ask yourself firstly why the garage didn’t come to you first of well that’s because they thought £1,700 was good price well it was a false price as now it’s over double that price plus the £1,700 and all the time and labour. The other thing is why is the other engine rebuilders not sorting it out simple they have had the money for piss poor job new crank maybe but now boiling up like a kettle so that engine is goosed. I would say you are well rid of a bad job that will always be a bad job and if they think 🤔 they can do better else where happy days you won’t loose sleep 😴 over that drama 🎭 waiting to blow up in your face. As the old saying goes you get what you pay for cheap price half a job
The L200? Lexus or Mitsubishi? Either way just put it in the skip. Japanese things are just not worth anything.
Better to lose a customer than gain a sack of poo.
Your click bait titles don’t do your company credit
What a load of rubbish !
Why would you replace piston if they are in tolerance and in good condition?
You must replace rods and camshafts aswell when you “recondition” an Engine?
Don’t think so !
Plus your crank grinding that you do on everything, do you have them nitrided????
You are grinding the case hardened metal off and exposing the softer metal !
Plaese use mm, yard and your way of messering is outdated, come into the rest of the world !! MM and CM and M is the way today!!