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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

1042.0. "Machine shop in the Basingstoke area?" by COMICS::TURNER (Neil Turner UK PTG 833-3009) Tue Apr 24 1990 14:01

      Does  anyone  out  there know of an Engineering/machine shop in the 
      Basingstoke area. I am currently building a race Mini engine and I 
      need  to  have about 50 thou milled of the top of the engine block 
      (to get the compression ratio correct), I'm relatively new to  the 
      area so don't know of anywhere to go.

      Incidentally  I  need  to get this work done in a big hurry...I've 
      entered a race a week on Sunday! The reason for the speedy rebuild 
      is  I went testing at Silverstone on the Thursday after Easter and 
      after 20 laps a connecting rod bolt sheered when  the  engine  was 
      doing  about  7500rpm....what  a mess, the cod rod ended up coming 
      out of the side of the engine making a hole in the  gearbox/engine 
      block  big  enough  to  put your arm through! Hence I needed a new 
      block, crank, cam, pistons, the  only  thing  salvageable  is  the 
      cylinder head!

      Neil

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1042.1	want a new engine?	IOSG::MITCHELL	Elaine	`Tue Apr 24 1990 14:43`	6
	I know where you could get a new mini race engine if that's any help! Mail me if you're interested! Elaine
1042.2	Ralph Motors may help .....	SUBURB::GALEC	Chris Gale	`Tue Apr 24 1990 14:46`	11
	Hello Neil, Chat to Ralph Motors just down the road as I think they used to race an RS2000. Alternatively I've used M & J Rebores in Reading just behind Caversham Laundry , but that was a little while ago. Chris.
1042.3	Guildford Autos	COMICS::TURNER	Neil Turner UK PTG 833-3009	`Tue Apr 24 1990 17:36`	10
	Thanks for the suggestions. I talked to Ralph Motors and they use Guilford Autos (0483-64886), who they say do a very good job. They said there was no one in Basingstoke who they would trust with this kind of work. Fortunately one of my neighbours works in Guilford so I can get him to take it there tomorrow. I'll make that race yet! Neil
1042.5	It lives again!	COMICS::TURNER	Neil Turner UK PTG 833-3009	`Thu May 03 1990 18:03`	15
	Just to close this note I eventually had the machining work done at Brian Slarks (who is quite a famous Mini tuner/racer of old). I discovered that his place is only about 5-6 miles away from where I live in Andover. He did an excellent job, and in the same day too. He is located at Lopcombe (sp) Corner between Andover and Salisbury just off the A343, phone 0264-781403. He does work for a lot of the Metro Turbo Challenge runners. Regarding the engine itself I spent many hours in the garage last weekend and finally started it up at around 4.00pm on Sunday afternoon, so I WILL make the race at Donington on Sunday! Neil
1042.6	Good luck for Sunday, let us know how you get on!	IOSG::MITCHELL	Elaine	`Thu May 03 1990 18:21`	5
	Glad to hear you got it all put back together again! How's the gear box for the other Mini? Elaine
1042.7		COMICS::TURNER	Neil Turner UK PTG 833-3009	`Thu May 03 1990 20:32`	19
	The gearbox which I was building when you brought the engine hoist back was actually for the same car. The full explanation of the two cars is... I have a racing Mini which for the moment I don't have sufficient funds to use (mainly due to the mortgage rate). But one of my neighbours decided that he like the idea of racing a Mini so rather than sell him my car, between us we built another car for him. As it happends it is almost an exact copy of mine. The engine/gearbox blow-up happend to the new car (ie not mine) . So it is actually my neighbour who is racing on Sunday, not myself. I have taken on the role of mechanic/pit crew for him, ie I do most of the work, he drives the car and pays the bills! I didn't explain this in the base note 'cos it would have got rather complicated. Neil