Rolling Road session

[Yanto]

Since I bought my car in March, i've suspected that it runs a bit rich, when cold starting it would fire up just fine but idle was rough and about 400 rpm, slowly rising to 750 when hot, although still a tad rough.

 

I wanted to have a health check on the engine and to give me confidence that the rich running (if it was the case) was not causing bore wash, and try to sort the rough idling out.

 

On numerous recommendations and seeing results from other people I contacted NMS, when i described what i wanted they told me they would need the car for 3 days, and refused point blank to give me even a ballpark figure, nor starting price for the work, now call me old fashioned but I like to know what i'm about to spend and giving me an hourly rate that made me wince a bit didn't help, nevertheless i did book it in, but as things panned out i had to cancel due to work commitments.

 

In passing i was chatting at the RV point for the run to Stoneleigh and AP Racing Engines Ltd were mentioned, and only 25 miles from where I live, rather than the 55 to NMS.

 

I phoned them up and chatted to Andrew who sounded to know his stuff and quoted a price between £200-£250 which sounded ok for a mornings work.

 

Roll onto today, car booked in, I arrived early and waited for Andrew who turned up, he explained that he'd had customers just drop cars off at the weekend for him to look at without being booked in so his garage was chockablock.  As some were not willing to move under their power I helped Andrew shuffle them around and get mine in. Over a coffee he confirmed what i wanted and also I asked him to de-tune a bit to run on 95 ron fuel as getting super for me involves a drive that uses nearly 2 gallons, that situation is not tenable in the long run.

 

So to start off out with the plugs and a compression test, the results ranged between 175 and 195 psi spread across both banks of cylinders, they were ok.

 

Next was plugs back in, with a recommendation to change them as the external insulators where the caps fit were looking as if they were starting to break down, on start up Andrew commented that there was something amiss with the lumpy tick over, he proceeded to use a stethoscope to listen in the trumpets for mismatch in the TB's, tweaking the balance made a big difference to the running, it became much smoother and the tick over rose to about 900 rpm. The lambda readings were within expected values and remained so across all the consecutive and incremental power runs, so running rich was not a problem.

 

Then came to strapping down and real runs.  Andrew raised the speeds incrementally until there was a full power run up to 5500 rpm, where the power had levelled (hard cut off is 6500).

 

Over a few more runs the power outputs were consistent if not earth shattering, with a flat peak of 320-330 bhp and 350 lb ft of torque, there was a bit of tyre slip on the rollers even with the "sticky tyre spray stuff"  These figures although I suspect are high for a Westfield are not a lot per litre when you take into account the 5.l displacement, but bearing in mind it makes the engine relatively unstressed and all the power can't be used in the lower 3 gears I was content.

 

Next came retarding the ignition by about 5% over the upper 3/4 of the rev range, Andrew advised that there wasn't much point taking it over the full range as the advance wasn't much anyway, at this point i put the filters back on, the next series of runs up to the cut off gave 300 BHP and 330lb ft torque, which was to be expected as the filters are in dire need of a clean, but more important the power and torque were not "peaky" with about 250 bhp available from 3000 rpm.

 

Overall Andrew was pleased with the results and was grinning like a cheshire cat, he complimented the car and the way it delivered the power which was encouraging to say the least.

 

I went on a test drive, all was good, could I tell the drop in BHP? Well, no, not at all.

 

Taking it home afterwards, i really couldn't tell a difference in performance, but it was more tractable and sounded different, a bit more "barky" which isn't a bad thing as it is fairly quite.  I can still provoke wheel spin in 4th as well...... And it used less fuel coming home so maybe it's a bit more efficient, or maybe just the difference in head/tail wind today?

 

So I'm pleased with the service, with Andrew and the car, oh and the price, which was the bottom of the quote range.  Andrew led me through the process, explained everything he was doing, and answered my questions fully. 

 

As for AP Racing engines, well i would say it is a competently run set up, if you want shiny floors clean enough to eat your dinner off then go somewhere else, despite lack of clinical cleanliness (apart from engine build area) the technology is there.  Plus, there are lots of interesting engines in various states of refurbishment/strip down etc, and if you go don't think you will be languishing on the sofa reading a glossy mag, you will be expected to muck in and in doing so be part of the process not just a recipient of the delivered product.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[TAFKARM]

I'm glad you were pleased Ian  

[Yanto]

I'm glad you were pleased Ian  

 

Sure am happy, my kind of place!

[6carjon]

Hi Ian

Gald you are happy . My 5 litre delivered the same sort of power and all rollong roads are different so it's a good guide.

Most importantly you know it's set up right and whilst usability and idle speed doesn't win any pub arguments it makes you enjoy using it and not think of reasons to not go out.

Cheers jon

[YakATAC29]

Good write up Ian..really enjoyed reading all about it & will be booking in very soon.

Thanks

Benji

[Yanto]

A short video of the last run with retarded ignition for lower octane fuel and filters on.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJv7eaZ_hE8

 

Even get flames at the end 

[Kezman]

Good right up yanto. I'd been particularly waiting on your feed back as no1 you know I'm only down the road from you and no2 need to get issues with throttle position and Tps sorted to which I've already had an initial word with Andrew on. Just need to create a window when work allows to pay AP a visit (next 2-4 weeks). Glad you were pleased with his service, very encouraging.

[noggin]

Nice write up. I think I could do with a chat with these guys. I'm off to 'google' them now!

[Yanto]

Good right up yanto. I'd been particularly waiting on your feed back as no1 you know I'm only down the road from you and no2 need to get issues with throttle position and Tps sorted to which I've already had an initial word with Andrew on. Just need to create a window when work allows to pay AP a visit (next 2-4 weeks). Glad you were pleased with his service, very encouraging.

 

First check Andrew did when connected up to ECU was TPS check, mine was out a bit.

 

Ian

[YakATAC29]

Had very happy Afternoon out with A P Racing last Friday & the old silver top Is purring like a kitten

Nothing was a problem,even when u have the oldest ecu in the world!i was thinking the worse but Andrew Managed to start the old MBE up again after it locked us out.

Andrew has so much knowledge of engines & tuning & it was a pleasure sending the afternoon with him.

And i was very happy with the bill at the end.Value for money & will be going back for later upgrades.

Thanks again Ben .

[TAFKARM]

I've just spoken to Andrew - he's having some major internet issues so apologies that graphs haven't been sent out yet. 

[Yanto]

yes he told me he would email mine to me by tomorrow, i won't be holding my breath though.

[Stevec33]

Any of you guys got your graphs yet? Still waiting for mine.

[YakATAC29]

Still waiting Steve

[Yanto]

Got mine on 27th.