www.cylinderheadshop.co.uk - has anyone used these people?

[Will]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this company - they look pretty experienced and their work sounds impressive:

The Cylinder Head Shop

Anyone else got any recommendations for an engineering shop for a really good head overhaul?

I can lap valves in and fit stem seals etc, but I am specifically after somewhere exceptionally good to re-profile the valves and valve seats, fit new valve guides and a good cleanup for a DOHC Cosworth 16-valve head

Will

 

[spock500]

I used these guys, good service and knowledgeable about MB's;

Quality Cylinder Heads Ltd. Cornwall - Home Page

They were short of multi-valve heads (OM605/6) at the time so I gave them a second hand one along with my own instead of being charged.

 

[Will]

Cheers David - I spoke to them earlier and they sound like a very reasonable outfit - I'll bear them in mind

I also called Len @ cylinderheadshop who seems very experienced - not cheap but then I guess quality work seldom is.

I'm also considering Serdi UK - anyone have any experience on them?

SERDI (UK) - About Us

They also sound very professional, are obviously well equipped, and not excessively expensive either

Any other suggestions/advice most welcome

Will

 

[BlackC55]

I have a great guy near me. I have used hime for 7 years with not one issue.

 

[BlackC55]

Locations & Maps - Boarhunt Group Ltd Portsmouth branch. As for Mike. (he has a 202!)

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
These people near me have an excellent reputation,
Precision Engineering in Hampshire : Saunders Motor Works Ltd

 

[Will]

Cheers guys,

Have spoken to a couple of places now who seem quite good, also had an email back from Crewe who seem ok - as an MB-specialist engine place does anyone have much experience of them either?

I'll update later on with more info/prices soon

Will

 

[BlackC55]

Crewe are 100% good.

 

[spock500]

Might it be an idea to try a Cosworth shop just in case they need specialist attention?

For advice and OEM parts try these guys UltraParts

Most of the parts I used in my engine rebuild were OEM from Germany

 

[Will]

Thanks for the recommendations guys but it looks as though I'm sorted now

Wow. I visted Serdi in Uxbridge today and I am absolutely blown away by their professionalism, equipment and knowledge. Rarely am I so impressed - if Carlsberg did head work...

Serdi UK

Had the head vacuum tested through all of the ports. Inlet valves were holding fairly good vacuum but the exhaust valves were very poor - which is precisely what I expected, bearing in mind that the guides were worn and hence the valve seats had lost their concentricity and weren't seating properly.

Had a brief demo of the Serdi equipment with the guys. The level of accuracy and adjustment is incredible - the table and heads are cushioned on air and centre themselves exactly through the valve guides so that each seat is cut perfectly. No lapping is done whatsoever and the results are spot on. As used by major OEM and tuning companies such as Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Porsche and in F1 etc. World class technology being utilised by the people who clearly know how to use it best

The head should be getting a good clean up - soda blasted, all of the ports refinished and casting marks etc removed, all sixteen valve guides replaced, all the seats re-cut and the valves matched. They seemed really enthusiastic and helpful - I'm now very excited and looking forward to getting the head back and everything re-assembled

Fingers crossed it comes out as good as I hope, I think it's got it's best chance of being perfect with these guys :bannana:

Will

 

[wemorgan]

Seems like you're having an A1 job done on the 190. Congratulations. You and Jay are as alike as two peas in a pod. Is this preventative maintenance or did you notice an issue after driving the car for a while?

 

[Will]

Hi Will,

Preventative maintenance to a point, but it's one of those issues that many people just wouldn't have noticed.

I drove this car back in April/May of this year and although it drives well and runs okay, it didn't have as much midrange/low down grunt that I know that it could/should have. Bearing in mind that I've owned four 16v 190Es, rebuilt one and driven several others over the years, including Evos etc I knew that it had more to offer, whereas most people would assume that it was just fine

Having since bought the car and given it a few weeks 'shakedown' I can honestly say that if you haven't had others you'd struggle to have found fault with it. Started ok hot and cold, idled well and pulled cleanly to the rev limiter, but I knew it was lacking in torque and crispness, plus the idle - although steady - wasn't as smooth as it should/could be. Wasn't using any oil or water, didn't smoke etc, emissions were okay.

I checked all of the valve clearances, both cold and fully warmed up, and checked the compression - which led me to suspect that considering the age/mileage of the car, a top-end overhaul would be of benefit.

I stripped it all down the other day and as I suspected, some wear in the valve guides. Could probably have got away with having just the 8 exhaust valve guides replaced and lapping the valves in myself, but considering the cost of the consumables, gaskets, my time etc it seemed like a good idea to get a pro job done on the head and have everything done A1.

This is after all a specialist head for a specialist engine, and to do it justice I feel that the expertise of a precision engineer will be well worthwhile

To me it seems pointless to have a 'Cosworth' 190E that isn't running as well as it should. The standard of the work at Serdi should probably have the head in better condition than it was when new, such is the precison of their workmanship.

Can you tell that I'm excited and looking forward to getting it all back together?

Will

 

[wemorgan]

Thanks for the write-up. When I tire of my current car I can well see a 190 16v being on the cards.

Daft question I know, but on a run is 30-35mpg achievable? (That's my current threshold for owning a car)

It'll be interesting to follow your ownership experience through the winter months too.

 

[Will]

Thanks for the write-up. When I tire of my current car I can well see a 190 16v being on the cards.

Daft question I know, but on a run is 30-35mpg achievable? (That's my current threshold for owning a car)

It'll be interesting to follow your ownership experience through the winter months too.

Yep, one of the benefits of a decent-flowing head is good economy. The 2.5-16, although not magic by modern standards is still making about 200bhp from a N/A 4-cylinder 2.5 engine. Hence good efficiency - I was getting 30+ mpg out of my 2.5-16 Auto even at fairly high crusing speeds.

Will

 

[Will]

 

[Will]

 

[spock500]

Snap OM605/6 piston advice - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum


...well sort of

 

[Will]

Got the head back from Serdi today

Sixteen new valve guides, all of the valve seats re-cut, all of the valves cleaned, re-finished and re-profiled, new stem seals fitted, all valve clearances set back to specification.

I am very impressed with the Serdi equipment for machining the valve seats - the best there is

Head has been soda blasted and refaced, all of the ports cleaned, pressure tested and vacuum tested through the ports.

Impressed with the turnaround and quality of workmanship. Price was very reasonable considering the amount of work, but obviously being a 16-valve head it does add up!

New head gasket set, timing chain, head bolts, cam cover gaskets etc on order from MB - hopefully start putting it all back together over the weekend

I'm excited already :bannana:

Some pics:

 

[ched999uk]

Looks a good job. One thing I would say is that I refurbished a VW 16Valve head including industrial cleaning and washing. It was fine until 4K miles later I tried to remove a spark plug. One was stuck in a big way. Removing it over a week with plus gas etc and a little turn each way still damaged the thread. Not too much but it did a small amount of damage to the thread. I am guessing that the lack of any lubricant at all on the threads and the head being completely degreased caused the spark plugs to 'stick' to the head.

I would say make sure you apply a small amount of copper grease to the plugs before you put them in. I know that modern thinking is that plug threads shouldn't be lubricated as that effects the torque value but I would never risk a non lubricated plug in a degreased thread.

Hope it all goes back well. The exhaust valve seats looked very poor.

 

[Will]

Thanks for the tip - as you say a completely dry thread with probably a completely dry thread on a new plug could cause trouble. I plan to run it for a day or two with the original plugs, then compression check the engine whilst replacing the plugs for new ones at the same time

The exhaust valve seats were very poor beforehand due to the worn guides - amazingly the engine was running fairly well considering the amount they were leaking

Will