Reputable Restorers

#11

I spoke to them (MBM) last week and they were still open for business.

The website thing is right - hence the fact I posted here to ask some
questions. I just had a feeling when I phoned up that something wasn't
right. Ironically Somerford's site is awful - but they seem to come top
of the list for many people where it counts - quality of work, albeit
at a price and a long wait. The MED site is very nice - although a bit
light on real content.

....and thanks for the comments about MED, I will def. be using them for
engine / box after speaking to them on the phone and getting a good
feeling and also based on numerous comments here and on a few other
sites.

thanks to all of you who have posted.
Rgds
Chris

#12

Taffy wrote:

Quote:

Never be impressed by a flashy website alone, you need recommendations
from people who have had work done for a real guide on where to spend
your hard earned cash.

I've seen so many programmes on the TV where people have used
companies, because the website looked impressive and one was a
specialist car engine repairer called "Engines Direct" if my memory
serves me correct and yes nice website, but they totally xxxxed up
everyones engines, or just stripped them down and then did nothing
else!
Did they used to be called Heathrow Engine Centre ?

If so they were the biggest cowboys on the planet ! Years back in my
Grease Monkey days, we had a 'recon' 2.8 V6 Essex engine off them,(a tad
off topic here but I'm sure some people have fitted them to minis)it
looked really nice ! Unfortunately for us and the Capri owner they
neglected to nitride the crankshaft after giving it a regrind ! Less
than 5000 miles later the big ends and mains were completely shot. The
car came back in obviously so I stripped it down to see the horrors
within. A quick call to Heathrow Engine Centre and after telling the guy
on the phone "it looks like the crank wasn't hardened after the regrind"
the answer from him was "Who gave you permission to strip MY engine !"

"OK I'll put YOUR engine back together, then can I have MY money back"
resulted in threats from him of court action. He managed to shut up
after telling him I'd very much like him to take us to court as it would
save our garage a fortune in court costs :-)

Jim

#13

"Jim" <me (AT) here (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

Taffy wrote:
Never be impressed by a flashy website alone, you need recommendations
from people who have had work done for a real guide on where to spend
your hard earned cash.

I've seen so many programmes on the TV where people have used
companies, because the website looked impressive and one was a
specialist car engine repairer called "Engines Direct" if my memory
serves me correct and yes nice website, but they totally xxxxed up
everyones engines, or just stripped them down and then did nothing
else!
Did they used to be called Heathrow Engine Centre ?
If so they were the biggest cowboys on the planet ! Years back in my
Grease Monkey days, we had a 'recon' 2.8 V6 Essex engine off them,(a tad
off topic here but I'm sure some people have fitted them to minis)it
looked really nice ! Unfortunately for us and the Capri owner they
neglected to nitride the crankshaft after giving it a regrind ! Less
than 5000 miles later the big ends and mains were completely shot. The
car came back in obviously so I stripped it down to see the horrors
within. A quick call to Heathrow Engine Centre and after telling the guy
on the phone "it looks like the crank wasn't hardened after the regrind"
the answer from him was "Who gave you permission to strip MY engine !"

"OK I'll put YOUR engine back together, then can I have MY money back"
resulted in threats from him of court action. He managed to shut up
after telling him I'd very much like him to take us to court as it would
save our garage a fortune in court costs :-)

Jim
Hi, Also somewhat off topic, but illustrates a point.

Some years ago I applied for a job in a gearbox "specialist" compny here in
Southampton. I got the job and then discovered that all they did to the
customer's gearbox, was to strip it down and replace any worn parts with
used parts from the pile of old gearboxes they kept. Needless to say I did
not actually start the job.

keith

#14

xx wrote:

Quote:

Hi, Also somewhat off topic, but illustrates a point.
Some years ago I applied for a job in a gearbox "specialist" compny here in
Southampton. I got the job and then discovered that all they did to the
customer's gearbox, was to strip it down and replace any worn parts with
used parts from the pile of old gearboxes they kept. Needless to say I did
not actually start the job.

keith

Thats because you were under qualified. Go back to your toys.

#15

Don't know if they were called "Heathrow Engine Centre" before, but I
believe they had changed names previously, which is something these
dodgy companies do and then rip-off the unsuspecting public.

Taffy

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Reputable Restorers

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