Collected my V2 555 from David and his crew down at API in warwick this morning, it went in with suspected (advised by another garage!) head gasket failure.
Well it wasnt the head gaskets, it was a detted piston and knackered rings!

David took the time to run through it all with me, spending the better part of an hour in doing so, including showing me the workshop and the offending bits of my subaru milk tray engine!

As the budget was, err, tight (arent they all) a second hand piston was offered along with a genuinely good price to rebuild the engine with race bearings etc, albeit nearly 3 times the amount i expected to spend when it was first diagnosed (wrongly) with H/G issues. This however has saved me potentially thousands of pounds i just dont have, as the big end bearings were in imminent danger of foofing the crank as well. I will post pics up of the offending piston and the shell bearings tomorrow.


Just from driving it gingerly home this morning, a distance of about 55 miles, it felt fantastic just to be behind the wheel again though god knows how im going to get through 1500 miles of running in, the first 1000 of which are below 4000rpm

So, the moral of this post is- go to someone that knows what they are doing- API! you will save money in the long run

Huge thank you to David and ALL his team.

Andy

 

Post some pics APi FTW

 

Your gonna make David blush again......

 

Yet another glowing report for API, i won't use anyone else due to many a reason but your experience is one of them.

 

out of interest how much in total did it cost a.p.i to do it??
p.m me if you dont want all to see if you like.

 

I can't wait for the day i get a rebuilt engine with forged pistons, crank shaft and all that sexy sounding high powered engine components Makes me smile thinking about it haha. Hopefully be able to get me a closed deck too.

But yeah awesome!

Thanks
Sam

 

Had my classic gearbox built by API and there service is 1st class.

 

Just as you expected

Thanks all for the vote of confidence.

David APi

 

Andy, dunno where the 1500 miles comes from. That engine will be fine with 500 miles of running in.

Seriously.

Good luck - Thanks for your custom, David

 

yep api get my vote. pay once and get it done right by an outfit that know what they are doing.

 

out of interest what were the symtoms?

 

Just wish you guys were closer..ever thought of expanding David? Although I must admit it would be hard for you to trust another team with your reputation.

 

Hi DJ
Symptoms were missing at between 2500/3200 Rpm followed by blue and white smoke from exhaust.

Luckily i switched the engine off as soon as i saw the smoke and prevented a total engine failure, the shell bearings were badly worn on one piston but hadn't damaged the crank luckily

All good now though thanks to API, (and a bucketful of cash).

 

Andy, dunno where the 1500 miles comes from. That engine will be fine with 500 miles of running in.

Seriously.

Hi David only just seen this post
- From the running in info sheet Nathan gave me when i collected it!! cant exceed 4000rpm and 0.5 bar boost for 1000miles then change oil and build up revs and boost gradually over next 500 miles at 1500 miles the engine is fully run in.

Please advise if this is indeed incorrect ?

Cheers
Andy

 

Better safe than sorry, but that instruction is for a fully rebuilt unit that needs the pistons and rings to bed in properly, which is not the case with your engine.

David