Engine Centre Ltd, Willenhall

[britab1967]

Hi All

Does anyone have any experience of using this company?
They trade on ebay as selling refurbished engines and are a fair bit cheeper than others...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 688wt_1116

... but are they any good? Have they done what they say they have? etc.

We've dismantled Sky's engine and it is in very poor shape, needing new crank (or re-ground), pistons, rocker shaft etc and are tempted at the price rather than rebuilding what we have.

Any thoughts?

[MarkyB]

Note the feedback "seller added vat after auction, beware all buyers" from a couple of people.
Seems OK apart from that.

[M25VAN]

Ask if VAT is included in the price.
Found this on ebay help for VAT....."As eBay is primarily a consumer marketplace, from February 20th 2008, users will no longer be permitted to add VAT to the final item price after the item has been won."

[bmcecosse]

Forget the 'unleaded' head - it's not necessary - and later on they say 'new exhaust valves' which would surely be part of the 'unleaded' head anyway. Maybe that's all they do.... You can get a reground crank with shells etc from Bull Motif at a good price, a set of pistons - and a local co to do the reboring.... You should be able to do the job for a LOT less than they quote - and look at the satisfaction doing it yourself! They are also confused about engine sizes '998' (sic) although perhaps they DO a 998 version - may be worth asking about. With vat - their price is not significantly less than anyone else to be worth taking a chance.......

[Matt Tomkins]

i've fitted 2 of his engines for friends, and have been very impressed. he does add vat after purchase, and there's a surcharge to add for the old unit too, but he 'is not good with the internet' and it's his kids who have set up the ebay ad. He's a really genuine bloke (mad old sikh, and lovely), but not a business man :p

[KatiePotatie]

As we are all aware, BMC has unlimited spare time, a huge workshop, seemingly unending piles of cash, and knows everything there is to know about everything, and then some.

However, if, like most other people, you don't have a massive workshop full of grinders, borers, polishers and cookie makers, there isn't a bad thing to say about this place.

Sure, he adds VAT, but what is wrong with that? The Morris Minor Centre adds VAT to their displayed prices, as do Bull Motif and ESM. Maybe the unleaded head is (to quote BMC) 'not necessary', but does it actually hurt to have one? What's ACTUALLY wrong with it? And yes, they have posted on the advert something that is included in the unleaded head, but I'm not overly sure why that means that you shouldn't trust him (as insinuated by BMC).

The engine is perfect, it runs like a dream, he even had it set up on the floor and showed us it running (very steady, just sat on the floor, I may add). He also gave us a call the following day to say if we needed any help to give him a call. The engine is guaranteed, and I know that now, after 6 months, I would be able to get in touch with him with any problems at all.

The guy is not a shyster, he has been doing this for years, he has a workshop no doubt comparable to that of BMC's, and all the bits and pieces you could ever need. He even threw in a timing gun for me.

So, unless you want to go ahead and build your own, I would highly recommend this place. Or maybe BMC will do the work for you?

(The engine, for the quality, was the cheapest I found, and he does refund the surcharge when you drop off the old engine - exactly like any other place)

[ASL642]

Well it's nice to know that we have another source of engines, and some feedback We had an engine die on us recently and found that none of the usual suppliers had any old engines in stock to recon. We had to remove our old engine and take it to them then wait 2 weeks for the work to be done.

[chrisd87]

Nothing "wrong" with adding VAT, but he really needs to say so if selling outside the trade. For an item of that price, it's not insignificant - it adds £115 to the overall amount.

Good to hear he does a good job though.

[britab1967]

Thanks for all of the replies, particularly KatiePotatie & Matt Tomkins; your personal knowledge of the guy is most reassuring.

Yes it's a shame about the added VAT but far cheaper than anywhere else from what I've found.

[M25VAN]

This is good news that there are +ve reviews of this guy but you should be aware that VAT is to be added before you commit to buy. Have you considered Bull Motif? Not much dearer but an 18 month warranty. I haven't seen any feeback on their engines though...

[bmcecosse]

Personal recommendation is always good. I have/had absolutely nothing to say against this supplier - I merely pointed out that it is perfectly feasible to do the job yourself for much less money, and why waste money on an 'unleaded' head that is really not necessary. But if folks are willing to spend that amount of money on an engine - this does seem to be a good place to buy it. PROVIDED you understand that the quoted price does not include the dreaded VAT (against ebay's rules) . Have to wonder why he charges vat though - he must be running a sizeable business to have enough turnover to be vat registered.....so I suspect he must be a 'businessman'. Oh and I have v little equipment and pathetic workshop space. An engine rebuild using outside contractors to do the machining doesn't need any great amount of space. I used to do it on the kitchen table - although that's not permitted these days......

[Matt Tomkins]

Have to wonder why he charges vat though - he must be running a sizeable business to have enough turnover to be vat registered.....so I suspect he must be a 'businessman'.

he's one bloke in a shed!

He rebuilds all sorts of engines to order, including a v12 aston martin lump he had there when katiepotatie and i picked up her engine.

He has all of the knowledge and expertise alot of us could dream of, and a workshop full of all the tools requires to do the job propperly. he was showing us how each of the tools are set up and work, and why machining each component is needed.

I showed an interest in what he was talking about and he was keen to teach and pass on his skills. He says that his kids aren't in the slightest bit interested and that he's afraid that without him being able to pass on skills they will die with him. Once my moggie's back on the road, i might go and spend a week there learning from him.

When both Katie and Cat took their old blocks back to him, he re-tuned and times them after a nice long run, and really takes pride in his work.
highly recommended, genuine bloke

[Tamsin]

Anyone in business can register for VAT, means you can claim VAT back on certain expenses

Of course, above a certain threshold you must...

[Dominic]

He sounds a thoroughly decent bloke, I almost wish I needed another engine!

[sixdogsisback]

Forget the 'unleaded' head - it's not necessary - and later on they say 'new exhaust valves' which would surely be part of the 'unleaded' head anyway. Maybe that's all they do.... You can get a reground crank with shells etc from Bull Motif at a good price, a set of pistons - and a local co to do the reboring.... You should be able to do the job for a LOT less than they quote - and look at the satisfaction doing it yourself! They are also confused about engine sizes '998' (sic) although perhaps they DO a 998 version - may be worth asking about. With vat - their price is not significantly less than anyone else to be worth taking a chance.......

I came across this posting whilst looking at the offer on E Bay. I know it's an old post, but still relevant. It's a bit naughty of him not to include VAT in the price. Do you think the exchange crankshafts offered by Bull Motif are a reasonable price? Also do you know if they are CNC ground? I've lost touch with how much it costs to have a crankshaft ground these days and who does them. Once the engine is out of the car, it would only take an hour or so to change the crankshaft, fit a new oil pump and timing chain. You still have to remove the old engine if you are buying a rebuilt engine and I only need the bottom end.

Regards Clive.