65 replies to this topic

[Dev]

Find it interesting how people are so skeptical, if a respected engine builder says its a 16v engine (why would he use an 8v head when they are competing against KAD 16v'ers?) then why question him.

If I was paying that much for an engine I would expect a half decent rocker cover on it, dont forget its in a race series as well so Morspeed want they're logo prominently on the engine

With all due respect Jimmy, if the cover is an exact replica of an 8v one on a 16 v head then why? because the bolt holes for the cam covers dont line up as per sprox's post.

Yes i would want a decent cam cover on mine but you can have a logo put anywhere, why have a cast cover? That doesn't display a cast print on it of your logo if you are going to such expense

As this is a country of free speech we are entiltled to question Simon to provide the evidence. if he choses not to respond he only succeeds in looking like he has something to hide, no?

My main point was why pay simon 9.6k when SC can build something similar for less?

Just my opinion.

[The Matt]

Dev, couldn't agree with you more!

[Sprocket]

Now Now people.............................................

Every one and any one are entitled to their own opinion, as is Simon of Morspeed. Simons work is top rate (good heritage) and when people eventualy get the goods back from the machine shop are rarely dissapointed. No reason why its not the same for these engines.

As for some comments about being skeptical, that is a contradiction in terms. The person who said that people are being skeptical, is themseves skeptical of the fact

Lets leave this alone, its a nice engine and i've always been wanting to build a super reving 970 based, over square 16v engine ever since i first seen the artical in Car and Car Conversions magazine back in 1996 by Bruno Roulle. Its been that long!!!! however its a big Buck engine being the super rare 970S crank. One good thing is you could get away with a fairly standard transmission as the torque isnt mahoosive to break it in a flash so thats one expence less for the daily driver Can you imagine telling the guy you left for dead at the lights that its only a one litre engine

One thing I am a little concerned with is the thickness of the deck on the A+ block after having 3/8" lopped off it. Not much left to retain the back five head studs? There are ways round it which is why this engine is probibly so expensive?

I dont personaly like blood red engines. Id have painted it MOWOG green as it is a hotted up Cooper S. But then whats paint got to do with how the engine performs

[Dev]

I dont personaly like blood red engines. Id have painted it MOWOG green as it is a hotted up Cooper S. But then whats paint got to do with how the engine performs

Paint as you well know Sprox adds 10 bhp over the entire rev range. Much in the same way a sticker with "turbo" on it adds a T3.

Kids today.....

[PhoenixSimon]

Yatta yatta!  I mean when your working on the engine and its running (and no, I'm not talking about changing the piston rings with the engine running ). Say your tinkering with the carb, etc, you don't find it necessary to stick up a protective wall between you and the engine!!

Cant say you would tinker with the carb whilst the engine was doing 9000 rpm and bearing in mind its being tested, its not proven.
On the mini engine builder DVD when testing the engine its in a seperate room and they are behind a screen.

No way in the world I would be sat next to that at those sorts of revs!!!

My two p's worth
Simon

[Engine_tuner]

I really dont know why i bother!!

the customer who owns the engine has had 2 from me previous to that (1380cc though) and decided upon himself to have 3 cam covers made all with MSPD 16v cast into the top, the reason it has the fins is because he likes the look of the cover being a colour and the fins polished, (like the KAD cover) he has also now had them made in carbon fibre or are you going to tell me there just painted black???
Where is the proof its a 999cc? can you also see inside? it could be a 1480cc for all you know.

Thankyou for your positive response mini sprocket, didnt expect that but cheers. yes i was pleased/challenged to do a 970 16v instead of an easy 1380

PLEASE! an all steel engine running full straight cut and LSD sounds expensive at 9K??? most of you wouldnt know and never will know the hours that go into building a short stroke 16v!! as sprocket said the thin deck height is just the start of it all.
As for asking why people would pay 9K for an engine when they can get it cheaper, well.....thats like asking why a rolls royce is better than a skoda.

I stopped posting on TM because of the jelous want to be's on there, please dont head that way also.
i have no interest in people who doubt me, i have no reason to pay interest, after all ive now built almost 30 of these engines. still doubt me? call kentcams and they will tell you, they will also tell you i have a further 15 kits on order.... i invite anyone to come and see our order book. AND the dyno whilst you at it.
Or just read the latest Retro ford magazine were they have a 6 page feature on morspeed with plenty of pics of the 'imaginery' dyno.

[danwebster]

I wish i could have built my engine for 9k i know! I read this thread with some interest as i couldnt quite understand where the nagativity was coming from...i simply could not understand why somebody would purport to have built something that was in fact something completely different....

Still, I can understand why Simons patience has run out, for the very same reasons i'm sure that the chaps at kad have never been known to post on forums(although they do keep an eye on what goes on) until they opened their own which is a rather quiet place

[Alburglar]

Well this thread has gone off on a funny tangent hasn't it? Nice engine Simon.

[Engine_tuner]

It is frustrating Dan,
I only post on forums to give advice, to my knowledge ive never pushed a sale or directed anyone solely to my company.

Every time i talk to other tuning companys swiftune, longman, avonbar etc....they all say im insane posting on forums. im begining to see were there coming from now.
They say dealing with mini customers is tiresome, hence why swifty only builds race engines 5K upwards and longman now build peugeot engines.

So why is everyone trying to shoot other people down on forums? they just seem to be battle grounds now. TM has got awfull over the last 6 months, i felt so sorry for the newbie last week who introduced himself and asked on some advice (yes its been asked over and over) but he was told in short term 'go away and search'
We build a turbo engine at least once a week and i always tell them to join TM for good advice, dont think ill bother now.
I also see my arch enemy mini sprocket has had enough of it.

There will always be conflicting views and how things should and shouldnt be done,

Anyway, sorry for the rant, but thats how things seem to me? and what ever happened to forum pub meets?

[Guess-Works.com]

Thought I'd post, been keeping my eye on this mainly out of interest....

I can't comment on the engine, other than, wish I had the mahooney...

As for the other comments about the forum, it seems to go through phases, where members get tired of answering the same questions, but that means there is something which needs to be put in the FAQ's to cover the situation... Something which I'm trying to address... but writing concise FAQ's is a time consuming piece of work...

and...

The regional "Pub meets" do seem to have expired, but as the evenings get longer I'm sure something will pick up..

[biggav]

To be fair the search function is not very good unless you know exactly what you are looking for and where to look for it... in which case you wouldn't be asking....

Could we have an "ask a silly question" section specfically for newbies where more experienced members who sit at PC's all day when they are supposed to be in paid employment can post a link to the answer or answer it.. some people are very helpful and quick at finding old posts... once people get the hang of it they can fly on there own... and it was stop those of us having a bad day from being pestered.. i'll even volunteer myself to mod it to save anyone else the bother!!!!

I know i have been running hot a cold latley and had a short fuse... what can i say, you all know i've had my problems of late and i'm just coming off the prozac too so bear with me!! Today the sun is shining and i ran 3 miles before breakfast so things are looking up.

[Jammy]

Sorry to keep this rather off topic - I'm always reluctant to start new sections, always seems to make the forum more cluttered and harder to navigate around, however, I do like the idea of a newbie section.

Simon, I'm glad you chose to post after all the criticism. As you say, most professional engine builders don't bother with forums, so I certainly appreciate you coming online and taking your time to contribute to this forum.

I must admit, I've been part of the search police, but I've recently been trying to give some sort of an answer to the member's question before telling them to go find the search button!

Anyway, please keep us updated with latest crazy lab creations!

[Retro_10s]

I for one can only be appreciative of Simons posting on TMF and of his Technical Prowess.

The engine sounds, and looks great.. one day I WILL have a go in a 16v, hopefully my own, but this kind of thing takes time, and hard work. The jealous people that are so quick to jump on the 'Lets Rip a product to pieces without knowing anything about it' are simply frustrated that engines and car builds such as this take time and lots of hard graft, they want it now. And frankly it's not possible. So to see someone with a car/engine so more inspired and extreme must be fairly soul destroying... leads to frustration... leads to negativity.

Keep posting Simon!

[danwebster]

I forgot to mention, I bumped into Kent cams' rep whilst I was chatting to Dave Adams at min-its....he knew you well simon, having worked with you on the belt drive for the K head, he was also good friends with kad. Very interesting bloke to chat to, and proves what a small world it is!

[Dev]

the customer who owns the engine has had 2 from me previous to that (1380cc though) and decided upon himself to have 3 cam covers made all with MSPD 16v cast into the top, the reason it has the fins is because he likes the look of the cover being a colour and the fins polished, (like the KAD cover) he has also now had them made in carbon fibre or are you going to tell me there just painted black???
Where is the proof its a 999cc? can you also see inside? it could be a 1480cc for all you know.

PLEASE! an all steel engine running full straight cut and LSD sounds expensive at 9K??? most of you wouldnt know and never will know the hours that go into building a short stroke 16v!! as sprocket said the thin deck height is just the start of it all.
As for asking why people would pay 9K for an engine when they can get it cheaper, well.....thats like asking why a rolls royce is better than a skoda.

I stopped posting on TM because of the jelous want to be's on there, please dont head that way also.

Or just read the latest Retro ford magazine were they have a 6 page feature on morspeed with plenty of pics of the 'imaginery' dyno.

Simon, thanks for postin back to answer the questions, although my point wasn't about the fins it was where the bolts lined up but fairs fair and you answered the question.

I'm sorry if i got your back up asking questions but it did seem at the begining there was little evidence of what had been built as you say yourself how would we know what was inside the engine with out asking?

But a point is why pay less? well if the workman ship is as good you would wouldn't you?

Also i never said the dyno was imaginary but we will leave there eh?