Non boaty car question for Cardiff dwellers

[Sneds]

I have a siezed/blown engine in my MR2 -

Any one heard of or know of these people?

http://www.svscardiff.co.uk/

Are they any good?

Cheers

Iain

 

[Cymraeg]

Dunno about this company, but are you thinking of having the current engine rebuilt or an exchange fitted? And which model MR2?

A couple of MR2 specialists are Fensport and Rogue Systems.

 

[Sneds]

Thanks for that will check them out

 

[Cymraeg]

No worries - not sure what your requirements are i.e. is this a 'cherished' car or do you need/want it done as cheaply as possible? If the latter then do be sure that you find someone who has experience of these cars as, with the engine in the middle, any air pockets in the coolant system caused either by leaks or not bleeding it out properly will cause the head gasket to blow. I'm a bit busy right now with other stuff otherwise I'd offer to help as rebuilt a few of these cars in the past, but feel free to PM me with any techie questions. There's also a searchable forum on the MR2 Drivers Club web site which may help :- MR2 Drivers Club

 

[Sneds]

Thanks again, the car is an X reg convertible 1.8 VVti
Not particularly cherished but worth to muny ££££££££s to throw it away!
I will check out all your links when I get home tonight.

 

[matelot]

How did you manage to do that? Not only is it a Toyota, but allegedly its the most reliable car Toyota make!

 

[Sneds]

The early MR2 VVTI (the comvertible) had a problem with the engine, something to do with piston rings.
They replaced quite a few "short" engines when the cars were under warranty and sorted the problem on later cars.
I wrote to Toyota but they told me to sod off!
If anyone is in the vicinity of the above garage (I believe they work on hearses!) I would appreciate some feedback/opinion their premesis.

Cheers

 

[NicM]

I have a particular weakness for old cars and had the misforrtune to blow the engine on my Lotus 7 a couple of years back. A replacement unit (Ford XFlow) was built by a company called Hargreaves Engineering (I think) in Carmarthen. A small outfit who build engines for local rally cars, auto cross, etc. Excellent workmanship, clean and well equiped workshops and he also took the time to talk through everything when I collected it. Don't know what he would charge for a straight rebuild as mine was somewhat tweeked.

 

[Sneds]

I'm hoping these people in Cardiff are going to be similar.

 

[Cymraeg]

Doesn't look like - from their prices it looks like they source a replacement engine and swap them out. These can be a very cost effective way of getting back on the road, but depends very much on the state of the replacement engine. This can't be checked thoroughly without a strip down and partial rebuild, although tests such as a compression test will help. Hargreaves, on the other hand, do not (or didn't last time I was there) supply exchange engines, they rebuild your existing one. They used to specialise in Minis but may have moved on now. Good luck with whatever you decide on!

 

[Mike_S]

Friend of mine had his MR2 engine rebuilt by a firm in Hereford, now I *think* it was this lot, but they seem to have moved to the north of Hereford rather than the south

http://www.rawengineering.co.uk/RAW_engines.html

I know someone else who had a blown engine same as yourself, funnily enough his was X plate as well. He managed to source a nearly new engine out of a Lotus Elise and threw that in. Elsie's have the Toybota motor in them if you're lucky, so try hunting one of those out. I seem to recall he bought the engine & gearbox (6 speed mebbe?) and got the lot put in.

 

[Sneds]

Cheers SVS Cardiff will supply a rebuilt engine with a 2 mth guarantee.
Will let you know how I get on

Thanks for all the input. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Sneds]

Sorry 12 mth not 2!