Anybody got a beta engine/box/head...

[mudhut]

Ah umm...

My engine is not at all well and I'm going to have to get the head off - dodgy plug thread and something happened yesterday to cause loss of sompression on all cylinders - think it was fuel related even though I'd restored the incorrect fuel levels that it had when I got it. This must be something I've done though :o
- an expensive lesson but the car died after doing what it was built for (shortly after chasing a couple of Ferraris in Basingstoke - they got away of course). Didn't over rev it. Cant tell about the pistons yet...

Wasn't planning doing this quite so soon but an unleaded conversion can happen at the same time and I'll also know the spec of the head.

What are my engine options chaps? Don't want to do the Alfa thing quite yet unless total cost to fix is comparable - 164s seem to be appreciating in value for some reason. Want it on the road asap.

Will consider:

Whole engine/box/carbs, any spec. I quite like this as a temporary solution.
Head only (if my pistons OK). With manifold/carbs or without.
Some other head but what will go on? (aside of HPE/Monte)


Anybody have the bits sitting in the corner of a shed somewhere and want to sell them? Complete engine is an option I'd like - esp. if with decent g/box so I can look at it all closely - it is rather different to a 1500 Dolomite!

In spite of all this I love the car to bits and fixing it is all part of the game for me.

[Swamprat33]

Sorry to hear that you have broken it so soon Peter.
I am sure someone has some spare Beta parts.
Good luck
Tim

[rutthenut]

Gerry Hawkridge has a couple of Volumex engines that he wants to sell on.

Could be worthwhile checking with him about either of those.

[Sando]

Hi Peter(oops) sorry to hear about your troubles.


........One of the Vx Engines Gerry H has will be Bob Sharps old engine I believe and should be a good one....clean enough to eat your dinner off.... It's featured in Guy Crofts book on Twink tuning.
Betanut also had some Beta Engine bits for sale on the forum some months ago if I remember.

Good luck
Rob

[SUSIT]

I can give you a head FOC for the cost of postage. also have 2L short engine with HC pistons sitting in my garage taking up space. Was told it was rebuilt but I have no idea how good or bad it is. Again if we can arrange a courier for not stupid money you can have it. Head has valves etc but no cams.

[mudhut]

Thanks for the words of sympathy chaps - appreciated.

I really think this trouble is of my own making but will learn from the experience. Despite having probably bo****xed the engine and definitely should have known better I'm quite capable of fixing it properly. Ther's a good local rolling road and a very experienced carb man down here.

The bottom end was rebuilt to quite a high spec by Oselli and I 'm hoping the problem is confined to the already suspect head. Don't know what was done to raise compression ratio to 10.5:1. Head presumably planed flat and different pistons - does anybody recognise the pistons' part number 667689?

Thanks for the offer of these bits Stephen. Will get back to you when I've had the head off (my own deserves this treatment) but might take a few days as my dad is not too well and 92 years old.

I'll maybe give Gerry a call about a VX unit, so thanks for the heads up on that.

[roger001]

The other VX that Gerry has is my old one, not as clean as Bob Sharpe's but had been freshened up wiyh new rings/shells etc prior to fitting - that was before taking the V6 plunge.

[mudhut]

Spoke to Mr Hawkridge this morning - both engines now sold I'm afraid.

Anybody doing a V6 conversion want to unload the whole motor/gearbox?

[Martin K]

You could try asking John Day at TNI:

http://www.tnimotorsport.co.uk/

Martin

[Sando]

Anybody doing a V6 conversion want to unload the whole motor/gearbox?

Ask me again in six months time :) ...........
Rob :cool:

[shaun]

Didn't you mean six weeks time, just after abingdon?

[mudhut]

Think I'm looking for more like six days...

[Sando]

Didn't you mean six weeks time, just after abingdon?
:D :D
Only if it goes Bang! :eek:
Hopefully shouldn't and will make someone a very nice complete package when it does come out....... definitly won't be before Abingdon, it's a winter job and lots more bits to collect (and pay for :rolleyes: ) before I'll be ready.

Have you got your head off yet Peter? Any idea what has gone?

Rob

[mudhut]

Not yet Rob - dad is not very well. I need to do it quickly esp. if the gasket has failed or I'll be in for even more trouble with all that coolant.

[Cloggie]

Peter,
I've got a 2.0L Beta engine and Box that Chris Smith took out of my new car that's now being prepared as a 3.0L for Abingdon.

Only problem, it's sitting at my house in Holland right now, but if you're interested, I could bring it over within a couple of weeks.

Engine looks in good in condition, only done 7,500 miles since fitted to the car in 1992, with twin webers (got to check specification, etc.)

If you're interested, please PM asap.

Regards,
Nico/

[mudhut]

Nico, have sent PM.

[mudhut]

Head is off. Putting up new thread in the main discussion area.