Looking for a 1725 Holbay Engine.

[djnippa]

I'm not looking any more.
I did see the listing last weekend, someone got a real bargain.
The number plate alone is worth more than that.
Somebody will farm it out for spares no doubt.

[gijoe]

I have a Holbay 1725 engine (and more) 99.99 % complete

https://timetoosellit.shutterfly.com/pictures/165#165

take a look..........
thank you

[thowman]

I'm not looking any more.
I did see the listing last weekend, someone got a real bargain.
The number plate alone is worth more than that.
Somebody will farm it out for spares no doubt.

The number plate is only worth something if the car can be MOTd.

[gijoe]

FOR SALE HOLBAY H120 1725CC WITH GEAR BOX,TURNS OVER ALSO HAVE MANY
OTHER PARTS, YOU CAN SEE THESE AT https://timetoosellit.shutterfly.com/pictures/165#165
LOCATED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAKE AN OFFER,THANK YOU

[djnippa]

I finally managed to drop my 1966 Humber Sceptre MK2 off at Coltec Racing nr Ipswich.
UPDATE: I WISH I HADN'T. THE CAR IS A DISASTER!!

I'm keeping the original engine block, and upgrading it to fast road specs.

I have asked for the following:-
1. Engine reconditioning + fast-road conversion to 120 BHP / 1850cc
2. Holbay Head fitted (supplied)
3. Twin webers fitted (supplied)
4. Flat Top Pistons (To be supplied upon size given after rebore)
5. Racing Cam (supplied)
6. Lighter fly-wheel.
7. Full balancing.
8. Hardened valves (for unleaded petrol only - no lead additives needed)
9. heavy duty bearings & springs.
10. Full tuning on rolling road.
11. Chromed push rod cover plate & Crank Cover.
12. Polish & spray other parts of engine.
13. Add polished Holbay rocker cover.
14. Gearbox reconditioning.
15. Take photos of each process. (if possible)

[turbinecol]

Good to see this topic back

This has to be the right move. Rather than buy somebody else's retuning efforts (like that Ginetta FI engine, with no idea how it would run), put the car into Coltec and let them handle it - hopefully you will get a chance to drive the package when they are setting it up to check you are happy with the camming, for instance.

Gearbox wise you should have no issues, although the Hunter parts manuals showed some small differences to go with Holbay engines (I think the parts are identical except for special measurement pre-selection, or possibly some kind of special induction hardening of them to suit) Coltec will presumably replace the baulk rings, seals and gaskets?

What are you doing suspension wise by the way?

[djnippa]

Most definitely the best way to go.
It keeps it numbers matching and looking original.

I have thought about the suspension, and everyone asks what am I going to do about it.
So I have asked Coltec what they would recommend.
They said they'd look into it, and get back to me.
Do you have any suggestions?

[turbinecol]

Again, I'd surf and talk to guys on the Sunbeam Rapier forum for ideas on that- generally on Arrows, a small drop and a very slight stiffening on the springs and dampers helps handling quite a bit.
Some of the Spax adjustables for the back are apparently too stiff even on the softest settings, so not necessarily a good plan.

How long for Coltec to do the work?

[djnippa]

They said about 2-3 weeks depending on delivery of parts, and any unforeseen delays.

[djnippa]

2-3 weeks they said... WHAT A JOKE!.......IT'S BEEN SEVEN MONTHS AND 2 DAYS and I still haven't got my car back!!
They've now said it will be another 2-3 weeks, because of some other bullshit excuse.

it's excuse after delay, after excuse, after more excuses.
It even took them 4 weeks of ringing and ringing just to send a part to be reconditioned.
The guys reconditioning it, only took 2 days to do it.

Rant over.

[turbinecol]

frustrating to say the least, what sort of excuses are they coming up with?

[djnippa]

He mainly says it's staffing issues.
His staff seem to be constantly ill and in hospital....... all year !

A typical example of a minor delay is it took him 11 working days (2 and half weeks) to post an item to the metal polishers (30 miles away) via courier!!
They blamed DHL for not picking it up, stating it was probably 'flooding' they'd had in the area, and that DHL had probably turned back because of it.
So I called the local council, and they hadn't had any flooding or closed roads for 5 months!!
Then I called DHL, and they said the item was only booked in the day before at 5pm (This was obviously after I'd rang the previous day, and I'd asked why hadn't it been posted?),
and DHL said it was scheduled to be picked up at 1pm the next day, which it was.

Then when it arrived at the polishers, only half of it had been sent!!!!
The garage apologised, and said they would get DHL to collect the other half.
That night I wrote them a very stern email.
I also called the polishers in the morning to apologise, and he said the garage had called, and said they would personally drop it off first thing next morning.
The polishers is only 30 miles away, it was dropped off at the polishers the next day.

The weird thing is, is the boss is the main Holbay engineer, and the one reason I took it to them in the first place.
He tolds me they are short staffed, and he has to man the front desk, but when I call, a lady or another guy answers.
He also doesn't own a mobile, as he doesn't like to be 'contactable'.

I've really had enough of it. Any suggestions?

[rusty nuts]

Look they obviously can't be bothered with your car, can you pay for what they've done and pull it out of there. They will then tell you its all going to happen soon which it wont and it all starts again. Maybe they quoted you a price that was to little and will do everything else first.

[djnippa]

I got this off them on Friday after I sent a "I'm totally pissed off with waiting for my car type email":-

"Nippa
i have read your email and understand your position
and i promise to do every thing i can to finish
your car by this time next week."

So I think I'll give them to the end of the week, then pull it out of there, and knock off transportation costs of transferring it to another garage who can turn it around quick.
I'm actually shaking my head, seven months, what a f*M*%$g joke. I'm fully expecting an excuse from the school book of excuses, probably involving something very personal. As the more personal the excuse, the less we question it.

I know it's not the same but when I was nineteen, on my first MK2 I pulled out the engine, had it all rebored, head skimmed, new rings, shells, valves, 2 new pistons (as weirdly 2 were flat, 2 were con-caved) etc etc
It took 3 weeks to finish (six days of that were postage time, and waiting on parts).
They have had all the parts for since end of February.

[djnippa]

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WARNING:- NEVER GET YOUR ENGINE DONE at COLTECH RACING ENGINES LTD in HOLLESLEY, WOODBRIDGE, SUFFOLK.
THEY HAVE TAKEN 8 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE FAST-ROAD UPGRADE, EVN THOUGH THEY KNEW I HAD A DETERIORATING HEALTH ISSUE, AND TIME WAS NOT ON MY SIDE.
I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD 4 WEEKS MAXIMUM.

IF YOU DO, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FIXED AGREEMENT SIGNED with a TIME SCHEDULE PENALTY CLAUSE.
OTHERWISE THEY WILL DO THE WORK, BUT WON'T AT ANY POINT TELL YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO COST EXTRA.
EVEN IF YOU THINK IT WAS PART OF THE RE-FIT, AND YOU SUPPLIED ALL THE PARTS!
THEY'LL JUST SEND YOU A £3900 INVOICE. WHICH IS £2100 MORE THAN YOU ORIGINALLY AGREED,

THEY WILL EVEN TRY TO CHARGE YOU FOR BROKEN PARTS, THAT WERE BROKEN AT THEIR GARAGE.

THEY ARE NOW HOLDING MY VEHICLE FOR RANSOM, SO WE ARE HAVING TO GO TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO RESOLVE THE MATTER.

Even though their working practices leave a lot to be desired, and on a positive note, they are really nice knowledgable people. It's a shame it has come to this.
.......and due to my health, I will probably only get to drive the car for a few months.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________