Speedwell Head Restoration - Step by Step

[mk1]

I recently bought another Speedwell Alloy head, this one is the lesser GT head with the small valves & horrid chambers. It has also suffered a bit over the years.

I thought it may be interesting to some people if I did a step by step guide to the refurbishment & improval of this head.

After initial stripping it was found that the rocker pillar threads were all more or less knackered to one extent or another. With badly inserted helicoils sticking out at all angles.



Somoene had "had a go" at number 1 pedestal. It had had a helicoil "fitted" but this was obviously still loose as the coil had been peened round to try 7 firm things up a bit.



Number 2 had been fitted correctly, but the coil had been overtightened for a second time cracking the pedastal foot.



Number 3 is the same but worse as the pedestal foot has broken off completely.



None of this damage is impossible to fix, & most can be done to a very successful extent by a competent home mechanic without too many specialist tools or equipment. I will set about this restoration in the near future & will show how this sort of damage can be sorted out.

M

[rich@minispares.com]

JB weld...............

job done............

[59fan]

Looking forward to seeing how this is done.

Ian

[holm]

This should be very interesting, I have a similar head, in need of resto, so will follow this

[InimiaD]

Should turn out to be an interesting thread.
Not knowing much about these heads myself, but the actual material looks to be quite "soft" considering what abuse the cylinder head takes or is the damage all down to ham fisted maintenance etc.?

[mk1]

The heads are actually of excellent quality, most if not all damage is down to gorillas swinging on stuff like its made of steel.

[AndyB72]

Great stuff Mark, will keep an eye on this thread!

[mini63]

The heads are actually of excellent quality, most if not all damage is down to gorillas swinging on stuff like its made of steel.

clearly the person trying to re-claim the threads had a spare ten minutes one day......

[pdaykin]

Is there an "on demand" button I can press for this

Desperate for an new instalment

[rich@minispares.com]

Is there an "on demand" button I can press for this

Desperate for an new instalment

me and mark have been on with some other stuff, sorry!

he is only allowed to work on the alloy head occasionally!

[mk1]

I am just waiting for a new tap & die to arrive then I'll do the next bit on the head.

As Rich says, we have been a bit busy this last week, but I will do some more soon.

On a separate Speedwell note, I'm collecting the shell for the Speedwell demonstrator tonight. All refurbished & painted ready for re assembly. Woo Hoo!

m

[850man]

If I was you I would weld all the holes up and start again. Anyone with a Tig and some alloy welding talent should be able to do it easy enough.

[Spider]

If I was you I would weld all the holes up and start again. Anyone with a Tig and some alloy welding talent should be able to do it easy enough.

That's how I'd do it, but equally quite happy to sit back and learn other ways.

[mk1]

850man,

Of course one of the ways to do it is to cut away all the damaged material TIG it up & re machine it, but it's not the only way to crack an egg. Its also pretty difficult to do if you don't have a TIG & a decent machine shop with a selection of professional machine tools in it, which is in point most of the people on here. As a matter of interest, TIG-ing & re machining is exactly what I will do to the totally broken pedestal.

If you know how you would do it & aren't interested in how I'm going to do it, don't bother reading the thread.

M

[Spider]

Mark, don't worry too much about 850man, he's a little out of sorts, suffering from tetanus from driving that car of his.

[mk1]

[850man]

I wasn't having a go at you Mark, I was just commenting on how I would do it. Having worked in a large engine reconditioning shop here in Australia for a few years and working in 2 Mini specific business's for 20+ years I have been lucky enough to have access to any engine machinery I require and 95% of time I get to do it the most efficient and best way available.

I am sure whatever method you repair your head with will be the best you can do with the tools and equipment available. I am interested in how you do it and I will give you positive feedback, and positive suggestions if I can.

Regards
David.

[mk1]

Cheers David.

M

[Spider]

I wasn't having a go at you Mark, I was just commenting on how I would do it. Having worked in a large engine reconditioning shop here in Australia for a few years and working in 2 Mini specific business's for 20+ years I have been lucky enough to have access to any engine machinery I require and 95% of time I get to do it the most efficient and best way available.

I am sure whatever method you repair your head with will be the best you can do with the tools and equipment available. I am interested in how you do it and I will give you positive feedback, and positive suggestions if I can.

Regards
David.

Ah that tetanus injection worked!

Bugger it!!

[850man]

Ah that tetanus injection worked!

Bugger it!!

Tetanus injection, coming from a Moke owner! Bah haha, mobile bath tub!
Poor bugga, your delusional, must be all the blowbuy your breathing from your smoky 1275 Moke motor.