Morris Minor Owners Club

Does anyone know of a machine shop in the North Dorset / East Somerset area i.e. within a 40 mile radius of Wincanton?

Cheers
George

As in 'selling machines' or as in 'machining something'?
What sort of thing are you after? Something we could make ourselves?

Hi Rob,
I'm after somewhere that can work on cylinder heads in the area. I've actually just realised that Janspeed is in Salisbury, not too far from me, but still wonder if anyone has any experience of a machine shop in this area...

Slark are in Amesbury close to Salisbury . have been there for a rolling road session. haven't used them for any machining work though

Thanks Mogwai, I'll check them out. Waiting for a quote from Janspeed atm, but will check out Slark too. Cheers

Try Hamlins in Bridgwater, very old established firm

Dont they sell Toys?

Cheers Millerman. My Dad lives 15 miles from bridgewater, so will give them a call...

If you go to any of the 'tuning' Companies- they will want to do you a complete head -job, and charge several hundred for the pleasure. Small local place is ideal - but if all you are doing is sinking the exhaust valves by 40 thou - it took us ~ 10 minutes to do all 4 using a pillar drill. Just need a 45 degree countersink - that could be the problem of course - if they don't have one! The advantage is - the c/sink self centres - so no 'set-up' time involved, head just loose on the table. Just make the touch - set stop to 40 thou - and slowly cut down to the stop. Small piece of wet/dry was put between cutter and head - to prevent judder. Made lovely clean/smooth seats!

If you go to any of the 'tuning' Companies- they will want to do you a complete head -job, and charge several hundred for the pleasure.

That's a very unfair statement as nearly all the tuning companies will do a standard unleaded converson if that's all you want, and I also suspect that not many posters have a piller drill etc in their garages at home or even access to one.

Hardly 'unfair'! I don't have a pillar drill either - but a small local machine Co WILL have one - that's the point! Maybe even the local garage - although the countersink may be the 'sticking' point. It's all that's needed to sink those exhausts - I don't think this is an unleaded conversion.
Could maybe try Morspeed ?

In practice of course - IF there has been a little bit of valve recession already - there may be no need for any machining! Have you taken any measurements George?

This is indeed regarding sinking exhaust valves.
I have no pillar drill unfortunately and tbh would rather have it done professionally (on the basis that it was just that being done and not a full head recon).

Hopefully no machining will be necessary, as you say Roy, but I'd like to know of a local machine shop for future reference and if necessary for my head.

I have taken some measurements with a steel rule (I know this is not accurate enough!) and I think the distance from firing face to valve is a minimum of 7.5mm, going up to 8.0mm... having read the thread by Declan_Burns about these measurements I'm hoping these will be ok, but obviously need to measure more accurately first.

I'm going to get the head onto the block and with some blutack on the valves in the 'danger areas' and turn it over by hand and check that way also.

You know something, it's conversations like these which make me despair of my decision to buy back into Morris Minors, because I - with no exaggeration - have absolutely no idea what either of you are talking about. I wouldn't even know where to start in explaining quite how bemused, confused, and even intimidated the previous exchanges make me feel, since the conversation assumes a level of background knowledge I do not have, have never had, and in fact am completely incapable of acquiring.



Carry on, though, you two... your conversation is also quite impressive in its own way.

Great stuff Ondergard that's one of the plus point's of the board you don't have to understand just enjoying is enough.

Well I am with you in many ways Ondergard, whilst my comments might sound intelligent I am beholden to the advice from the amazingly knowledgeable contributors of this message board and various reference manuals... I'm learning, but that is the keyword 'learning' - I would not presume to call myself in any way articulate in the specifics of mechanics!

Theres Harris Motorsport, a mini specialist at Cranborne in Dorset:
http://www.bjautobits.co.uk/
very good reputation but also charge for it.

Or aparentley theres a mini engine specialist in Henstridge industrial estate, small unit but good quality work i understand, but unfortunatley thats all i know of them.

Thanks Robins

If it's not too late to add a suggestion... Steve at Piston Broke in Bristol (Googling will find him) is a nice chap and once did good things to a motorbike cylinder block I was sorting out. It may be worth phoning him...

...on the side topic, not that I'm suggesting there's any connection, but it did remind me of something that RJ Mitchell (he of the Spitfire) once said-

"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls."

Like - Miss Shilling's orifice ?

Jolly useful if you like to take humpback bridges at speed, of course.