Hi all.

I have a Dutton Blackbird. Engine is currently broken due to a "twisted crank" according to a mechanic who should know what he's on about but i'm not qualified to say otherwise.

I see 2 options -

1: somehow fix it or..
2: buy a different engine and swap it over.

I'm favouring the second option as it will ensure the problem is fixed, whatever it is.

Second problem: - There appear to be lots of blackbird engines available but i don't know which are the right ones and which are the wrong ones.

I'm hoping to find someone with the appropriate knowledge and skill who can look at my car, source the new engine and fit it for me. They are welcome to take the old engine away if they think they can get it working, or if they can fix it, i'll happily pay them to do so as long as its not more than the cost of a new engine!

I live in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Can anyone recommend a suitable individual who could undertake this job?

Thanks in advance

Welcome to the mad house
If you do a serch in here you will find info about the B/Bird engines been not very good in cars unless there dry sumped
It yours ?
Jacko
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=160802

[Edited on 29/3/12 by jacko]

Retropower or AB Performance , both are very friendly and experienced with BECs

Give Andy Bates at www.abperformance.co.uk a call. He recently gave me a heap of good advice. I am sure you will find him very helpful.

hello and welcome as above Andy is spot on he would be able to help no problem

There's only really two types of Bird engine, carb'd or injected, and they're not really interchangeable as the inlets are at a widely different angle.

As for twisting the crank, that sounds a bit unlikely, but they can run the number 3 big end, as mine did. Once I fitted a new engine and baffle plate mine never missed a beat although I never got on a track with it.

Fitting a new engine should be fairly simple. Just label and unplug all the connections on your current engine, lift it out and drop the new one back in. Then do everything back up again, fill with oil and spin it over until the oil light goes out and away you go. when I changed mine it took a day to do, but I also tidied a lot of the wiring up at the same time, and it was raining too.

The current poorly engine is probably scrap as the crank can't really be re-ground. But it can be broken for parts and may well get you a fair bit of the cost of a new(er) engine. The heads, gear sets, generators, clutches and outer casings tend to worth the most.

Don't forget Malc from Yorkshire Engines as a potential supplier of a replacement engine/advice