Advice on company to rebuild BMC engine

[SimonA]

My engine is poorly. Last year it refused to start and a compression test revealed a problem with low compression on one cylinder. It's an old BMC diesel.

I'm looking to get it fixed without it costing too much. I have a quote from the marina for removing the engine and now need to find somewhere good to send it. Looking around it seems a lot of places will recondition the engine for around £3.5k, what with the cost of removing and refitting the engine that pushes it beyond what I can spend at present. Any ideas please?

 

[rickp]

I'd always start with Col - on the basis that I'd want the job done right. Perhaps PM him to discuss anyway - as if he can't help, he can probably come up with some suggestions of where to go next.

 

[rafiki_]

As many of the Norfolk Broads Hire boats use the old BMC diesels, you might give ASAP Supplies a call at Beccles. They carry the spares, and will probably know a couple of workshops. Lancing Marine might also be able to help.

 

[PetiteFleur]

At that price it may be cheaper to bite the bullet and fit a new engine! I had the same scenario a few years back and fitted a new engine. The reasoning being that spares for the BMC will be getting hard to come by(and they are rubbish as they are made in India? or somewhere in the East), the BMC is an old design engine. The advantages of a new engine are reduced pollution, spares easily available, starts instantly BUT you a may have to renew the exhaust system, fuel system engine beds etc etc. I bought a Beta 25HP to replace the old BMC and this has proved excellent. What boat have you got? I got away with a smaller HP engine as I had a 1:1 gearbox driving a tiny prop but the new engine was 2:1 reduction with a larger 3 bladed prop. For my boat the minimum HP required was only quoted as 14HP but I do have a limit on the max. prop size. If you go for a minimum spec. I'm guessing you could get away with your 3.5k, especially if you can do some of the work yourself ie removing all the bits and pieces off your old engine, disconnecting fuel lines and controls, disconnecting the prop shaft, undoing the engine mounts etc., and just get the yard to lift it out. Beta marine will supply wider mounts to suit your BMC bearers, which is what I did, much cheaper than rebuilding the bearers, then I had to raise the mounts by glassing on a 2" thick bearer to suit the new engine. Good Luck

 

[deisel]

why go to a marine company, take it to your local garage, get them to strip it and give you a list of parts req fo r you to source, the labour to recon an old bmc engine would problly only come to around £400.