I have come across a low cost alternative to saving my Z and would like your advice. I have come across a place in Birmingham who will fit one of their 40-50k TT engines, inc turbos, they have 5-6 engines at present and will charge a flat rate plus bolt on whatever else I need, water pump oil pump and fit timing belts etc plus what ever other parts I want to bring to them, they say they have done around 5-6 Z's in the past. they say if they fit an engine and its not right etc they will refit another of their engines for no extra cost. All I pay is around £1400 in total. Sounds too good to be true but there doing the business. I would like your advice please.

What extra things should I insist on installing or doing whilst the engine is out, aswell as the engine and tubs?

I just dont know what to do.

hmmm,,, how long have they bin running?? personaly iwouldnt unless you now satisfied customers ie genuine ones, these type of places are a nightmare, "in the past, not knocking the one you no just in general, on the whole they are bad

Whats bad about them? I am indifferent at the moment. What should I look out for and after installation what do people recommend I check as I know an aparrently ok working engine may be not quite so! Im not very technical your advice is welcomed!

Is the work guaranteed? How long for. If the recon of their engine hasn't been done thoroughly (eg big end bearings, rings, all gaskets, etc) then it could go 3mths down the line. The warranties are quite subjective. You should find out what sort of rep they have. Traders on here who do similar things have an impeccable reputation for doing the work properly. Do they specialise in jap performance cars? As a comparison I got quoted aprox £2500 from a jap performance garage in Devon for 6mths warranty jap sourced engine and all labour, electric work that needed doing, etc,etc. The engine was from API engines ltd (see website). The traders on here would probably be loads cheaper but I wasnt able to bring the car to them and in the end bought another car anyway.

bite the bullet. buy the best bits you can afford and do the work yourself, it is not difficult , if you need a hand give a local good mechanic a call and ask if he is available for a few hours on an evening to help with an engine rebuild ......its another option and then at least you know its been done properly with no cut corners because you have done it yourself

Hi TopChilla,

 

From what you have said, personally I think you are buying into more trouble than you want.

Judging how you described this company in Birmingham, are you referring to Japparts? If so, then I don't know how they can guarantee the mileage on a doner engine, or gearbox for that matter as I understand they have these units delivered from breakers in Japan by the container-load. Personally, I think you would be much better off contacting someone like Jeff at Zedworld in Tamworth, who I understand also breaks vehicles. The main difference being, not only does Jeff know what he is talking about, he also knows what he is doing!!

Hope this helps

Sam

i would have to say jeff as well

 

in have spoken to him a few times, he knows his stuff.

 

have all the respect in the world for him after he found the prob with my Zed and arranged for it to be fixed

 

top bloke, top company

some times it is better to pay a bit more and get a top job

 

i have been done over by cheap bodyshops in the past

 

best not to get burnt in the first place m8

 

check um out, speak to them in depth, contact any previous customers

 

they should not have any problem with u getting previous customers details off them if they want your buisness

I got quoted aprox £2500 from a jap performance garage in Devon for 6mths warranty jap sourced engine and all labour, electric work that needed doing, etc,etc. The engine was from API engines ltd (see website). The traders on here would probably be loads cheaper but I wasnt able to bring the car to them and in the end bought another car anyway.

 

API only sell reconditioned and part conditioned Zed engines now as they cannot get hold of low milage Z engines any more. Part conditioned means new pistons and rings, crank alinment checked, big and small end bearings all for £1400 + if you provide them with the forged pistons, cams etc they'll build it for you. They did mine fore me and give me a 12 month warrenty providing I insalled a new cam belts, water and oil pumps. Which you'd do anyway if the engine is out.

 

So £2500 for an API 300 lump fitted is a bloody good price mate.

some times it is better to pay a bit more and get a top job

 

i have been done over by cheap bodyshops in the past

 

best not to get burnt in the first place m8

 

check um out, speak to them in depth, contact any previous customers

 

they should not have any problem with u getting previous customers details off them if they want your buisness

 

There is no cheep jobs on these cars. If you get it cowboyed it'll cost you a fortune. If you have someone like C&S woods etc do the work it'll cost a bit more but you endup witha reliable performance car.

The company in birmingham is called foreign car spares ltd anyone heard of them? any good? I will take a look at API they sound good, where can I get these pistons from and new oil and water pumps?

Quoted by TopChilla "The company in birmingham is called foreign car spares "

 

Call or e-mail before you comitt to this, not to get the work but to help you make a better informed decision.

 

Jeff TT

There is no cheep jobs on these cars. If you get it cowboyed it'll cost you a fortune. If you have someone like C&S woods etc do the work it'll cost a bit more but you endup witha reliable performance car.

 

 

thats my point m8

 

spend a bit more and get a top quality job :hyper: