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MG MGF Technical - New crank shaft ;-(

I need a new crank as mine is busted apparently.... well its damaged and if the belt snaps i can say bye bye to my valves ect :_-(

What prices where ect the usual questions really.. im sorry if i seem a bit unhappy but i spose it happens to the best of us eh?
Nick Lewis

new crank?? what were your symptoms?
Will Munns

Something about the keyway being broken and a sheared bolt i dunno exactly what it is but my dads mechanic has advised i get a new one :-(
Nick Lewis

new cranks are not very expensive (£130 IIRC), add bearing shells (£??) , a new headgasket kit as the head has to come off to release the oil rail(£100) 12 strech bolts (6.50 x 12) and then fitting - ouch

How many miles has the engine done? it might work out cheaper to get a second hand low milage replacement from the MGF centre or equivilent.

IF you decide to go for this work then it might be worth getting "vibration free" to balance the new crank and DVA to port the head - at least that way you should be looking at more horses for your outlay.
Will Munns

When buying s/h always get a 'proper' receipt and ask for the engine number before parting with any money. Ask for the chassis number/reg the engine came from and the mileage as this usually offends the non genuine dealer.The last thing you want is 'plod' knocking wanting the engine back. This is after you advise DVLA that you have changed the engine number.
AF
Andy Fence

Swapping engines is not the answer im afraid!! what i will do is see how much it will cost to upgrade the whole bottom end, bearings liners rods pistons crank sump ect
If this little lot costs (with labour) anywhere near the cost of shoehorning the honda type r engine in, I think i will having a serious think about honda power tbh ;-)

My current engine runs:
280 deg cams
Multiple direct to head jenvey throttle bodies
heavily ported 1.8i head with solid lifters ect
Ported exhaust manifold
GEms ecu
Mgf cup exhaust by js

And a few other little bits
Nick Lewis

ah ha, yes I was assuming STD parts - an engine swap is not for you. Now is a good chance to get the bottom end done to the same standard as the top!
Will Munns

How much is the honda conversion? Any links or anything? Ive got the QED catalouge here, so im pricing up my bottom end.... whats the benifits of running a billet crank over a standard one?
Nick Lewis

Nick, I'm not really all that surprised that this engine requires a new crank given the non-existant rev-limiter at the time you bought it! LOL

Regarding replacement, I'd advise you go for a balanced standard crank (you were going for balancing anyway, so all you need do is source a new crank). The need for a billet crank really comes into its own when you are seeking very high rpm, with a very high specific output... But a 200bhp 7500rpm engine will probably last perfectly well on the standard item.

As Will says, £130 is not a great deal of money in the scheme of things...
Rob Bell

LOL yeah im not all that surprised myself ;-)

Where is the best place to look for a crank? I hope all this is sorted for the F's b'day bash this year!!!
Nick Lewis

Ivor Serle have them on the shelf and do free delivery to the whole of east anglia - but I guess there is a closer option for you!

Decide who you want to do the balancing work and see if you can source it from them, that way you save two sets of postage!
Will Munns

Good idea will! I will probably go to vibration free or QED! Just want to make sure i want to spend all this money on the k-series an not with the honda engine ;-)
Nick Lewis

Article on Mike Satur's insertion of Honda engine into Golden Wheels was in a mag this month. Was it totalMG? will check at lunch time. Article was very good, loads of details, problems encountered, costs etc. Many of us have seen the car and the conversion is very neat. I expect to get soundly beaten by the car in the Highlands at the beginning of May.
JohnP

" expect to get soundly beaten by the car in the Highlands at the beginning of May" Only if I am driving it John;-)) Gerry will have the auto brake engaged ..Rosemary;-))
mike

I'm looking forward to the cut & thrust and the friendly repartee already - Nethybridge can't come soon enough!
JohnP

I think that you might find that a honda conversion is going to be a lot more expensive (like 10x) as the base engine is 5k unless they have come down a lot recently
Will Munns

Got to agree with Will here: you've already got a sizeable amount of the basic cost outlay already invested & fitted to this engine of yours: the programmable ECU, the DTHs, cams etc, so for the princely sum of 800-1000 quid you could put this engine back together and be making a reliable 190+bhp.

While the Honda is bullet proof and possesses with this kind of power out of the box, to get the complete conversion and get significant change from 10k would be stretching it somewhat...
Rob Bell

luckily i have found ptp to be a lot cheaper than QED so i think i'll be going with the engine rebuild but then i'll be without a car for a few weeks :-(

My list is
New crank
Cylinder liners
Forged pistons
ROds
bearings
clutch

I think thats about it
Nick Lewis

The lotus guys are a on the whole not that impressed with PTP, weren't they responsible for the VHPD (the VHPD crank is apparently very bad and not balanced)
Will Munns

Keyway Broken - Sheared Bolt. Looks like you need a new mechanic as well as a new Crankshaft.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

i was going to go to QED for a billet crank (for higher revving) and get the rest from ptp.

As for mechanic change its something to do with the key way and a bolt (bolt may be unrelated) but i know it needs doing!!!
Nick Lewis

So long as the PTP gear is all properly balanced by a third party (our friends at Vibration Free, for example), there should not be a problem. But I've read the same threads as Will - but having said that, Erik seems very happy with his PTP engine?
Rob Bell

I hear there is a ptp engine and quaife 6speed g/box all with warranty going for something like 2/3 the list cost from Markolous in Greece, the car is having the engine removed in the UK and it comes with all the kit from exhaust to ECU. Got to be a bargain!Watch the classifieds for it.
mike

I want to stick with the origional engine if i can help it but cheers for the heads up mike ;-)

I will definatly be taking it to vibration free as they are near to my dads garage!!
Nick Lewis

"Posted 09 March 2005 at 20:07:28 UK time
Nick Lewis, S.Wales
I want to stick with the origional engine if i can help it but cheers for the heads up mike ;-)


Well maybe next time then;-))
mike

>>> I hear there is a ptp engine and quaife 6speed g/box all with warranty going for something like 2/3 the list cost from Markolous in Greece, the car is having the engine removed in the UK and it comes with all the kit from exhaust to ECU. <<<
Really ??? The guy did spent a fortune and a couple of months to have the car running. I guess he's moving on to something more powerfull and without the MG badge.

>>> but having said that, Erik seems very happy with his PTP engine? <<<
Oh yes I am :o) :o) :o)
However I experienced myself that the combination of PTP and Lotus enthusiasts isn't always clear. Posted a message on the Elise board about PTP and a fitting problem and got some angry replies.
Now I am a very happy PTP customer, although they should have warned me that the provided ECU doesn't control the engine bay fan.
Erik

>> However I experienced myself that the combination of PTP and Lotus enthusiasts isn't always clear. Posted a message on the Elise board about PTP and a fitting problem and got some angry replies. <<

I remember that thread Erik - couldn't quite understand it myself either - I guess that is one of the differences between the MG and Lotus communities?
Rob Bell

" I guess he's moving on to something more powerfull and without the MG badge."
Not exactly Erik.. same badge different engine manufacturer;-)
mike.

mike

I have spoken with Simon from PTP and they seem very keen on selling a new bottom end rather than the parts! Ive decided on buying a used standard bottom end and building it up to keep costs spread out! However with no rev limiter in place i have opted for a billet crank (from QED) so when i come to up the power, again ;o), i know that the bottom end is perfectly good for it!! The liners and pistons, rings, rods and bearings i will get from PTP as they seem less expensive compaired to QED.
Nick Lewis

Nice one Nick. How much for parts? Will be interesting to follow this project to completion! :o)
Rob Bell

Im trying to negotiate prices with ptp as i will be spending a fair amount with them! I would imagine the crank from QED will cost list price :-( but if you dont ask you dont get ;o)
Nick Lewis

This thread was discussed between 08/03/2005 and 14/03/2005

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