Engine Replacement Advice Please

I understand Zed, I've assume that for these 'mass producers' it's somewhat of a numbers game. The trust thing I get, too. Lots of guys like you (conscientious) have the same view. Hence my go to guy won't touch a recon engine to fit.
I haven't managed to get a quote for an engine build plus fitting under 3k from anyone who will commit to doing it and reasonably soon! Assume that's the old adage that if they're any good, they're busy.....

 

If you want hyper cheap - EliteVW in London will supply and fit but their engines are a big gamble. Against that if it goes wrong they'll simply give you another one and fit it too. They are the prime example of half the engines coming back. You pay your money...
I sort of like them - The boss drove a replacement up in the back of his beamer when I had a problem, but that's the thing - you will almost certainly have a problem - ask @dean_butler - his replacement, replacement, replacement engine totalled itself in a few hundred miles and he went Vege. I fitted that one and it was the most machined piece of engineering I've ever seen. Time will tell but it's doing a whole lot better than the Elite ones did so far!

 

As machined within an inch (micro mm!) of its life?!

 

Lots of clearly very old parts + a 180mm flywheel machined into a 200mm one. Don't get me wrong, it ran well, a nice, tight, well engineered engine as far as I could tell, but if it did have problems in a few years time it could be the case that the whole lot won't "go again" one last time because it just has. Sometimes Vege engines are lots of new parts - you just never know!
I've seen heads from remanufactured 1600 engines where the valve seats have been ground so often the valves are seated into the heads 1 mm or more - not regressing, you can see where the head got ground as well! Can't be the best way to go.
In short, the ONLY way you'll ever know what you really have is to build it yourself. That's exactly where I ended up and I really, really didn't want to. Even the ONE job I farmed out - dynamic balancing, was cocked up to the degree that I thought I'd have to call the big yellow taxi. Removing the "balanced" parts cured it. My experiences make me somewhat cynical, so do listen to others as well, maybe I just have bad luck!

 

Sooooo ..... take it haven`t rung Mr Parry then ??

As an aside @Baysearcher made a valid point about some warranties not being worth a hoot , get it right and you shouldn`t need a warranty .....
I had Mr Parry rebuild my boggo 1600 - runs like a good `un and would recommend him , but waiting around for a few weeks seems to be part of the deal i`m afraid . That said it`s worth waiting a few weeks extra to get the right result ...

Just my tuppence worth ...

 

But what you maybe don't realise is that I met Rob very soon after he set up again to cruise through a few careful rebuilds per year for fun and you got in quick! Now he's realised that there is a bigger demand than he thought for his careful services, he's tooling up like a small factory, he has a LOT of business and the queue is growing while he builds engines and tools up/makes tools to be more effecient and trains his no.2. 'appen he'll catch up at some point.

 

@Lasty take your point mate, had a chat with zed in private and the big downside for us is what he says here ^^^
I may well ring the man but I then still need to get someone to fit it.....

 

The Vege one is doing brilliantly. If you get Zed to fit it then basically your sorted. Best engine and best fitter = perfection.

 

Well, after much deliberation, hand wringing, discussion with suppliers, with some folks privately, (thanks @zed), posting on here (thanks for all of your advice) we've gone with the VW engine co for a recon lump and fitting.
I know what lots of you said about a custom build, both Simon at absolute VW and yer man Zed said this was the the real proper way to go, however we just couldn't afford it/the timescales were too long or simply unknown and we don't want to lose a summer.
Hope to back on the road by the first weekend in July.
I will report back

 

Will be cool to hear how you get on. Good luck and hope it all works out.

 

How did you get on?

 

I got mine from the vw engine company last year and no issues so far. I was in the same position as you with the same issues etc. timescale and cost were important. The timescale thing went a bit awry, they took longer sorting out my turnkey unit than I expected but it is fine. I didn't get them to fit it as I'm nowhere near London but it sounds like a good deal for those that can take it there. As with all things, time will tell

 

Ive sent mine to Rob Parry as recommended on here. He is rebuilding my type one 1641cc and gearbox and uprating the heads to compliment the weber carbs. Rob also arranged the courier for me I just strapped them to a pallet.

 

Was delivered on Thursday, they are starting this week, due back w/c 13th.
Will let you know how we get on.

 

Can't see anything

 

I can't see my engine doin owt either lol

Bloody iPad/photo Bucket!

I'll try from PC tomorrow, sorry.

Anyway, the pic is entitled 'engine brok'

 

That happened.....

 

Gutted for you

You know how to get hold of me if we can help?

 

Is that the replacement engine