clubstylus

madmaninshed wrote:Rick can't remember if they are clear or tinted - hopefully he will confirm. My 2.3 duratec engine arrived yesterday. Forged pistons and rods are half the price in the States. Anyone know if you have to pay VAT or duty on arrival to the UK please?

Hi, if you can get the seller to say it's a gift and put a value of fifty dollars on the package you'll get away with it, otherwise i'm afraid its VAT time.


Phil

madmaninshed wrote:Rick can't remember if they are clear or tinted - hopefully he will confirm. My 2.3 duratec engine arrived yesterday. Forged pistons and rods are half the price in the States. Anyone know if you have to pay VAT or duty on arrival to the UK please?

You do have to pay but I think the allowance was increased at a recent budget but if you can get the parts sent as gift or warranty I think you can get them through free I bought my Gauges from the States they were $269 and when UPS delivered them I had to pay £40 import and vat but for a full set of electric gauges and senders still good value

George

thanks - still much cheaper

I used to build computers for a living. All the time I would get people coming to me and say, I have got all most all the bits it just needs this and that. I used to put 25% on all the drives and boards. This would cover a fault.
In the end I got P*$$*d off with folks asking, and told then to go away.
The moral of the story is. Don't be stuck with a pile of engine bits on your hands to save a few pound, because if I was a engine builder I know what I would say. If you are going to build the engine yourself, quids in.
Now I dont work for myself any more because its sucks!

If you are building the engine yourself, post a nut and bolt progress report on site.

Good luck, Dave

Tango Man wrote:I used to build computers for a living. All the time I would get people coming to me and say, I have got all most all the bits it just needs this and that. I used to put 25% on all the drives and boards. This would cover a fault.
In the end I got P*$$*d off with folks asking, and told then to go away.
The moral of the story is. Don't be stuck with a pile of engine bits on your hands to save a few pound, because if I was a engine builder I know what I would say. If you are going to build the engine yourself, quids in.
Now I dont work for myself any more because its sucks!

If you are building the engine yourself, post a nut and bolt progress report on site.

Good luck, Dave

You more or less just took the words from my mouth . No builder who understands the work required specifically for a 2.3 duratec to be tuned will use your supplied parts. You need to know what's required if you're going to build it yourself too. You can't expect a guy who makes his living from engine developement and building to tell you either. I.E. Dunnell only supplies Duratec complete engines but is happy to supply Zetec kits . Too many chances of poor results if kits are sold and the builder would still get the bad PR . I'll be buying a complete developed unit when the time comes because I've already had this discussion with those that know

Rob.

I am going to build the whole thing myself. I tried contacting all the companies who said " from £4700" but when you added all the extras it was more like £8000 and I simply don't have that sort of money. Scholar were brilliant and so were Robspeed, but when you can get all the bits from USA at half the price....I am sorry, but I am building a kit car on a budget, and I make no excuse for that. If I wasn't I'd buy a bloxdy Porche or a Ferrari. I join these forums to have fun, offer help and seek help. Over and out

If a group buy is happening you can put me down for one.

That's great...are we nearly there yet
Looks like 3 pretty definate and one possible....just need one or two more

madmaninshed wrote:I am going to build the whole thing myself. I tried contacting all the companies who said " from £4700" but when you added all the extras it was more like £8000 and I simply don't have that sort of money. Scholar were brilliant and so were Robspeed, but when you can get all the bits from USA at half the price....I am sorry, but I am building a kit car on a budget, and I make no excuse for that. If I wasn't I'd buy a bloxdy Porche or a Ferrari. I join these forums to have fun, offer help and seek help. Over and out

I thought I was offering some advice,(dont get stuck with parts on your hands)! and I also wished you luck if you were building it yourself.
I have a bit more advice if you want to take it.
Tim put me onto Dunnell, I had a long chat with him Paul. He sells the Zetec in kit form, but not the Duratec. Or do I have to spell that out any more.

Dave.

Depending on what is on the description of the goods you may get away with paying nothing but count on paying import duty and VAT. I'm not sure of the duty rate.

madmaninshed wrote:I am going to build the whole thing myself. I tried contacting all the companies who said " from £4700" but when you added all the extras it was more like £8000 and I simply don't have that sort of money. Scholar were brilliant and so were Robspeed, but when you can get all the bits from USA at half the price....I am sorry, but I am building a kit car on a budget, and I make no excuse for that. If I wasn't I'd buy a bloxdy Porche or a Ferrari. I join these forums to have fun, offer help and seek help. Over and out

Paul , help and advice was precisely my intention as I would hate to see you with a problem engine and saying on here '' no bugger told me I should have done --------- whatever '' . I also researched a long time ago the route of building my own 2.3 Duratec . Having discovered that a 250 to 280 bhp 2.3 needed things done that were behond my own skills , I put my plans on the shelf till funds allowed an engine from Dunnell literally running including clutch / engine management / bellhousing at £7800 for 258bhp and 190ft/lbs.
I'm not a stranger to building engines but still took this view . Not knowing you well enough to know what you're capable of , I simply wanted to tell you what I'd been advised. Please don't be 'mad' at help cos that's what it was.

Rob.

Sorry Dave and Rob. I took your posts the wrong way. I thought that " good luck " was being sarcastic, and that you were just having a real go at me.

I tried to buy a new Stylus V8...the car I really want....but can't get one...and understand the reasoning behind it. (almost!)

Persuaded that a 2.3 duratec is the answer, I went out to buy a new complete, fully built engine. I spoke to Tim, who recommended Dunnall. They were most helpful, but after over a month, prices have still not arrived. I tried Rob Racing engines, Scholar and one other company, but although initial prices were promising, by the time all the necessary perts were added, I was looking at around £8k including VAT. It was also very difficult to determine exactly how complete the result would be. Every question asked resulted in other bits needed.I am only after about 230 + bhp.

The Scholar track day engine looked superb, but it was a 2.0 and not a 2.3. I contacted Tim again, but got no reply.

In the end, having tried very hard to find the right solution, I put a low bid on a new unused 2.3 Ranger engine on e-bay and got it. It needs a lot of bits, but it is a start. The plan is to fit higher comp pistons myself (with help from two good friends who assure me they have the knowledge) and maybe forged rods while doing it. Eagle rods and Supertech pistons from the US are well recommended and low cost but I am concerned about the thin piston rings and quite high compression ratio. For 230, it seems that the bottom end doesn't need touching for this relatively low power output. Throttle bodies, mild cams, possibly some head work, a decent exhaust plus ECU and map, and hopefully the result will be ok. If not and at worst it blows, it should only cost a new tuner spec engine and a rethink. Standard 2.0 pistons and cams may even do.

I would not expect any engine builder to use supplied parts.

O.K. Paul , that's got that clear but take care with it . All the best , Rob.

Have we any more takers for the bulk buy on windscreens as my new company vehicle is due in a fortnight now, as I planned to get one at the change over of my new vehicle as our company is not far from Ricky's place.

Cheers George

Hi George,
I'm definately up for one and can pay and arrange to collect later.
Bikenuts is up for one, Alec Martin is up for one, so if I've got it right, that is four.

Presumably(Ady8037) Adrian may be interested which would make five. We really need six, but perhaps five will do? Any more takers please and we can arrange the deal.

I'm collecting my part built RT on Saturday from Herts with a friend, and took the day off yesterday to lay a concrete base for the workshop. It won't be ready in time, but have found temporary storage for the V8.