New member in Cannock Staffs

karl924

karl924

New member
Hello, My name is Karl

Ive been trying to buy an LC for about 10 years now, I finally had the nerve to take the plunge last month. The car looked perfect when I bought it how ever she snapped a cam after 2 weeks, it is now in a 1000 pieces being rebuilt, hopefully properly. The car is spread over 4 counties as I write this, I hope you lot are ready for some questions if/when i get stuck!!!

All the best Karl
 
It had bent a couple of valves but nothing to serious I was lucky really, I wasnt going fast which probably helped.

On taking the engine apart and looking in detail its a wonder it ran at all! its was in need of a full rebuild and some TLC from the bottom up. The bodywork etc. had been restored well but the engine had been neglected. Also on taking the engine out etc. Ive found plenty of other bits to do besides, nothing major though just cosmetic stuff (im very fussy)

Luckily my dad is in motorsport as a mechanic, he also owned a mark 2 LC for many years it was our family car so he knows his way round one. He advised me to go to a friend of his John smirthwaite for the engine work, he is a twin cam specialist near to us (js racing) you may of heard of him? He is going to rebuild it and also do a few sensible internal enhancements for me to make it a flyer.

Cant wait to put it all back together again. Thats if I can remember how, I have taken pictures of everything thats been going on with it to remind me. I will email the magazine editor when finished to see if I can get the story and some pics in there. It will be a beauty when its done.
 
Hi Karl john Smirthwaite in Atherstone is also rebuilding my engine, i live in sutton coldfield west Mids so not to far from you. I'm going on my hols tomorrow (monday) for a week, but when i come back i'm going over to john's to see my engine may be we could get in touch with each other.

John
 
Yes sound we must meet up (small world isnt it) I go on holiday the following monday, so I will give you a shout when I get back.
 
karl924 said:
Yes sound we must meet up (small world isnt it) I go on holiday the following monday, so I will give you a shout when I get back.
Click to expand...
Hi I live in USA but know John Smirthwaite, he has done two twin cam engines for me and many for my friends back in the UK and we have been very satisfied with his work. He has done the cylinderhead for my Mk1 I'm currently restoring and I can't wait to try his latest handywork. the finish and porting is superb, I only wish i could meet up with you blokes but its a bit far to travel for an afternoon
Cheers. 65 ginetta
 
We could meet half way? John must be good if he gets custom from that far away crikey. He did come highly recommended for twink cams, have you had the head done for road or race?
 
karl924 said:
We could meet half way? John must be good if he gets custom from that far away crikey. He did come highly recommended for twink cams, have you had the head done for road or race?
Click to expand...
John did a race engine for a Lotus 41 that we used for Hillclimbing which was super, the head he has just done was for a fast road Lotus Cortina Mk 1, I shipped my original head back to UK and he reworked it, new cams, big valves and gas flowed, he does a lovely job and although not cheap his work is excellent, quite a few of my friends in the UK have his engines and heads and I don't recall hearing any complaints, he's also a really nice bloke and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend his work. I should add that I'm not connected with him or his business in any way, just a very satisfied customer.
 
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