Diagnosed inlet valves as fault.

 

After Speaking to Peter and Bob (both from SE) at Billing, they said the job could be done in two weeks from drop off. So I booked her in for 13th September 2003. I was very sceptical as I had heard nightmare storied about the time they took to do the work. The rule was if they say two weeks it’s going to take 2 months.

 

Anyway the car went in on the 13th Sept for new heads which would mean skimming the heads and reseating the zorst and inlet valves. I thought to myself there is no way they are going to do that in two weeks so I thought I’d test them. Can I also have my plenum and water pipes polished?. “OK” said BOB we can do that for you. “Ok” then can I have rose jointed tension rods as well then please (really starting to take the piss now LOL) . Sure said BOB we’ll sort that as well.

 

So on the 2nd Saturday I went down there to check on the progress actually expecting the car to still be in the same position I left it. I was wrong, as soon as I got there the wheel arches were sitting about 6 inches above the wheels, hence no engine.

 

They were on Schedule, so I thought I’d push my luck some more, I held up injector connectors, coil pack connectors and smithy stainless steel rad pipes and said can you fit these for me please. Then I asked to see my clutch as BOB was showing me my engine with new heads already in place. I suspected a problem with y clutch as it was starting to get a bit sticky when warm. The edge was starting to ware quite badly, so I asked BOB about a new clutch. I ordered an SE fast road clutch good for about 550BHP. I also asked fro my flywheel to be skimmed as there were a few heat cracks on the surface. LMAO, how much of a piss take am I ?

 

Anyway, I was about to call Bob to see if my car was ready when Bob called me. “Not good news” he said, “can you come down and speak to Peter ?”. so I headed down to SE, when I got there my car had the engine in it with polished plenum & water pipes, new clutch, new connectors all round, new radiator, engine mounts, & SS smithy hoses. I looked the part for sure.

 

Peter then told me that the inlet valves were hiding a bigger problem. Once the engine was back in and the inlet valves were all sorted he took it for a test drive and something wasn’t right. He checked everything again and it turns out that cylinder 4 piston was not right, either broken rings or a fractured piston. He knew the bore was ok as they checked this when the engine was out. So it looks like I’m going to have to get the piston done, so that’s another £800 labour plus piston. I was a little sad as you can imagine. Peter told me to take it for a test drive, so I took it for a spin and notice that yep there was still something very wrong. Well, when you’ve been running on 6 cylinder of 60% compression due to inlet valves, you don’t really notice a difference. However I was now running on 5 cylinders at 100% and 1 at 70% and it was very noticeable.

 

When I came back from the test drive Bob notice a water leak. So we got the car back on the ramps expecting it to be a hose from the rad. Peter made sure they were tight and topped it up. This time he took it out but there was still a leak. Back up the ramps she went. Peter looked for a while and then turned to me and said

 

“Well there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that you won’t be taking her away tonight, but the good news is that it’s our fault as once of the heads is causing the leak”.

 

“How is that Good news I said ?”

 

“Well it means it’s under warranty and we have to take the engine out again and it just so happens that the head that is leaking is on the right bank, where number 4 piston sits, so you just saved yourself £800 labour and moved yourself into the priority build queue”.

 

So I didn’t get my car back that day, but all the work that was supposed to be done was done, so I can’t complain there. It also means that that extra £1000 I would have had to spend changing one piston over means in now going to cost me next to nothing to get sorted. Also I didn't have to wait another 2 months for the rebuild. Only 2 weeks

 

And now the two weeks is up I got my car back and I'm all :hyper: again, was smiling all the way home even though I'm not allowed to go above 4 - 5k rpm :(.

 

I really want to thank Peter and Bob. Not only did they fit everythink in that I asked within the two weeks, they then took the engine out and stripped it once again to replace the dodgy piston. So not only have they kept to their word and timescale Once but twice :D.

 

SE Nissan 10/10. I am very, very happy with their work that they have done and also very happy with their customer service. >From now on I won’t be using anyone else.

 

Thanks Peter for taking time out today to teach myself and James a little more about the way the engine works and upgrade hints and tips in the tutorial lesson. Was very interesting and useful info.

 

Thanks to PaulC for helping with the original diagnostics.

 

Thanks to Jaffa who picked me up and drove me there. Was good fun and I really appreciate your help today.

 

Also thanks to the 8 people that also offered to take me up there. It's amazing how many of you were so willing to help, I really appeciate that. Thanks all :D.

 

Thanks Simon and Mac for introducing me to SE in the first place and putting in a good word or two ;).

nice one mate :)

Originally posted by SMW1

SE Nissan 10/10. Although I’ve still not got my car back I am very, very happy with their work that they have done and also very happy with their customer service. >From now on I won’t be using anyone else.

 

Stu – no problem about the lift, good excuse to go down to SE for the first time and it was good fun!

 

As for SE, I was very impressed by Pete’s professionalism, honesty and knowledge. Also appreciated him taking time out of his day to talk to us both, learnt a lot. I for one will be seriously considering them for future work when the need arises.

 

James

Ohh yeah, and I think Stu got carried away with cut & paste as he has definately got his Zed back!!

Originally posted by jaffa

Ohh yeah, and I think Stu got carried away with cut & paste as he has definately got his Zed back!!

LOL I sure did mate :D. But I've sorted it now ;)

Hiya stu just a rough question how much in total did you spend at SE

 

Just want a rough example of what they charge as i might want my turbo by pass hoses done and want professionals taking the engine out and not cowboyz.

 

Cheers

I spent £4k in total, but the Engine work itself was £2.2k

Sounds like a case of you having to much money.:D :D :D

 

If u need a friend to spend that money dont hesistate to look anywhere im right here :dance:

 

So how much do u reckon theyll charge if i get my hoses replaced on a rough estimate.

 

Do u think i should go to some1 else for something like this as its not exactly a performance upgrade job.

 

Im just worried that its a engine out job and that scares me id rather let a professional at it.

 

Any ideas

best people to ask would be SE....

 

you can find their number in one of the RR day thread in the Events section

Or in the links section at the very top of this page :D.

 

 

SE are split into different sections, Body shop, General maintainance, Engine repairs, Engine Upgrades, Brakes/exhausts etc.

 

Best thing to do is phone them tomorrow and speak to Bob about a price.

Originally posted by SMW1

I spent £4k in total, but the Engine work itself was £2.2k

Now that's the kinda customer i'd like :D wel done stu and SE for showing how things can be done.

So yer spent 1.8k on bits and bobs then 2.2k on labour for the engine pulled, heads re-done and valve work and polishing the plenum, oh and fitting the rose jointed bits ?

just to give us some rough ideas on prices yer see.

cheers

smithy

Yep also have new fast road clutch. Skimmed flywheel, new engine mounts, new connectors for coil pack and injectors, new Radiator and polished water pipes.

 

Oh and they did some extra little bits for free, like connecting my boost gauge up and sorting out a few other connectors.

nice one stu.. good to see you back zeding

 

jay:cool:

Originally posted by Smithy

So yer spent 1.8k on bits and bobs then 2.2k on labour for the engine pulled, heads re-done and valve work and polishing the plenum, oh and fitting the rose jointed bits ?

 

at £30 an hour, my garage would have taken just over 73 ??:eek: hours to do the work - r u sure that is good value ??:confused: That's about 9 solid days of work on your car.

 

My 200SX has recently had a rebuild - gas-flowed head, new piston rings, hydraulic lifters, con-rods, big-ends, cam shafts, s/steel braided turbo oil-feed pipe, battery, starter motor, 2 tyres, oil + filter, water pump, timing belt, MOT, air filter fitted.

 

Parts = c. £1500

Labour = £400

At the end of the day Stu as long as YOU feel happy with the money spent then that's all that matters, it certainly looks the biz now too. Shame SE didn't think yer leaking head was going into the cylinder area that had low compression, otherwise your bill would have been a bit smaller ;) did they give you the knackered Piston as a momento ? have seen a few now that guys make into a little kinda trophy to remember what cost em the earth to replace :D

smithy :cool:

Sorry guys I think I've mislead you a little. £2.2 was the total price for the new heads and the labour to replace them. The rest of the the money that made up the £4 was things like polished plenum, clutch, rad, rose jointed tension rods etc.

 

Nelson, I appreciate that your garage may be a little cheaper, but to be honest I have been to many garages since I've had my Zed. All have worked on Z's before and not one of them did a good job, even minor things, some were cheap and some were not so cheap.

 

But I am more than happy with the money I spent and what I got for it and the fact that SE kept to their word about the time it took and the work they did.

 

Was very sceptical about going there because of some stories I had heard, but I'm very glad I did :D.

Originally posted by SMW1

 

Nelson, I appreciate that your garage may be a little cheaper, but to be honest I have been to many garages since I've had my Zed. All have worked on Z's before and not one of them did a good job, even minor things, some were cheap and some were not so cheap.

 

But I am more than happy with the money I spent and what I got for it and the fact that SE kept to their word about the time it took and the work they did.

 

 

No probz -just making sure u weren't blatantly ripped off - my car took 6 months (long story:rolleyes: , ) so £400 bill was to make up for this). He said gas-flowing a head would normally cost about £400 on it's own :eek: :eek:

 

Glad u r pleased with your car ;) :dance: