twincam engine rebuild company recommendation

PostPost by: elanbaby » Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:16 am

Hello,
can anyone recommend a company that is familiar with twink rebuilds and has a good reputation? My first thought was QED, but I learned they are only in parts supply business since last year.

I live in Germany but visit my relatives in Beds/England quite frequently, so either country suits me well.

Thank you very much,
Juergen
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PostPost by: trw99 » Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:52 am

Miles Wilkins at Fibreglass Services should see you right: http://fibreglassservices.com/

He is based not too far from the south east channel ports.

Tim
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PostPost by: simonknee » Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:25 am

I second Miles (and Ian, his partner in grime). I am now 2500 miles into one of his rebuilds and it is all running very nicely. He is not cheap, you need to start thinking about ?5000 and up. I believe it is worth paying the money.

BTW he does not do email at all. You could try a fax but then I've seen his office! He takes an age to answer the phone but that is usually because he is in the middle of something Lotus and greasy :)
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PostPost by: elanbaby » Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:29 am

Tim,
great! Didn?t know Miles Wilkins runs a workshop, though I?m studying his twincam engine book at the moment. Probably missed the hint.

I?ll have a talk with him as I?ll be in England on holiday the following 3 weeks. As a nice coincidence he?s located very conveniently on our route. We are heading for Cornwall and plan to drive along the south coast :-)

Other recommendations are still welcome! I live in Germany near Cologne; any reputable twink wizards known in Germany?

Cheers,
Juergen
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PostPost by: elanbaby » Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:41 am

simonknee wrote:...BTW he does not do email at all. You could try a fax but then I've seen his office! He takes an age to answer the phone but that is usually because he is in the middle of something Lotus and greasy :)


:D Yes, he even mentions not-answering-mails on his homepage! Funny nowadays, but I?ll give him a call when I?m in his region.

BTW, I am into old Land Rovers as well and most companies on this subject are very slow or resistant in emails as well. Fax seem to be quite progressive to them and works from time to time. Telephone calls work best

I can adapt myself :)

Juergen
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PostPost by: SADLOTUS » Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:34 pm

Another good recomendation

http://www.racingfabrications.co.uk/


Paul
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PostPost by: Allison » Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:30 am

Juergen,
I can recommend Brian Randall at BBR Engineering Ltd who are in a little village called Hepworth near Diss on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk. They are specialist engine rebuilders and did a good job on our S3 S/E engine. Phone +44 1359 251888. Since the rebuild the car has been on a rally to Morocco and done 6250 miles round Argentina and Chile. See www.rallyelan.com for reports.

Peter
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PostPost by: gino1 » Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:11 am

Hi All,
Well I've just bought a DVD on a detailled filmed twin cam engine rebuild from this site
www.classiccarengines.co.uk. I've still to recieve it but the comments from a magazine I read were very good.
Keep you posted after i've seen it.
Anyone out there bought one already ?
Gino
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PostPost by: Baggy2 » Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:31 am

I can tell you one not to go to. I'm not sure of legalities etc of publicising here - is there a way I can contact you direct?
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PostPost by: pereirac » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:27 am

Hi Baggy2,
Sounds like information which could 'help' a number of people. Can you not just say "I used XXXX but was not happy with their work"??

Carl
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PostPost by: gerrym » Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:50 pm

Agra in Scotland are highly rated and still building twincams for competition. They also won't job out the work like some other Twincam specialists

Regards
Gerry

PS, here's aYoutube video of a LTC on test at Agra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSSYcVTUrT8

I think it was posted by one of the regular foristii.
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PostPost by: Baggy2 » Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:38 pm

Hello Carl (and anyone else), I dont know why but I feel uneasy about a posting on here regarding my negative experience. I will respond to any pm that is sent. I know its not logical but somehow that seems more like a conversation with a mate in the pub. Hope you'll understand.
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PostPost by: dodo_z » Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:54 pm

elanbaby wrote:I live in Germany but visit my relatives in Beds/England quite frequently, so either country suits me well.


There is an option located in Dinslaken - Dabeos Racing http://www.dabeos.de/
These chaps run a TC Escort at the FHR endurance cup, their twink runs quite reliable and has about 178PS. I think they will do also a good job on a street engine, but they are quite expensive.
There are some other options within Germany, but as I live in the south I tend to ask Bruno Schaffner (Schaffner Racing, Switzerland) to do my twink.

Within England, I now a chap called Brian Wills, located in Newton-Abbot (Devon). I think he also does a great job at a fair price. If you need further detail, feel free to ask me via PM od eMail.

dietmar
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