Machine shops

[philbirch]

In search of a machine shop that can confidently work on twin cam engines, I’m based in Liverpool so the north west area, I’ve searched our archives but nothing obvious so I searched the internet and YouTube and I found what appears to be one, though based in the south west they are called BARUM Engines they have their YouTube channel and seem really genuine, they specialise in Cosworths and older type engines, they understand twin cams, Lee one of the owners presents the channel and explains various machining techniques while presenting

Phil

[alanr]

It is a real leap of faith I think trusting someone you don't know with machine work on your precious Lotus twincam cylinder head or with any other twincam engine machine work. There are a lot of people in the UK machiine shop world who don't even know what a classic Lotus twincam engine is!
in the end I trusted my twincam cylinder head to Knight Engine Services Northampton who were recommended by someone on here and I was very happy with the work they carried out, new valve seats/guides/light skim etc. All at a what I considered to be a very reasonable price.
David Knight I found easy to deal with and extremely knowledgeable on the Lotus twincam and I will certainly be using them next time I need any engine machine work doing.
https://www.knightengineservices.co.uk/

Alan

[elanfan1]

Ask PNM engineering who they use.

[Andy8421]

I am told that these guys are used by the front-runners in historic Elan racing:

https://www.craigbeckracing.co.uk/

I have not used them myself, but they came highly recommended. I have no idea of their pricing or willingness to work on non-competition engines but they may be able to point you in the right direction.

[Donels]

Coventry Boring and Metalling are a great machine shop. I have had A series, Ford Kent and Twin Cam work done there. They’re very helpful.

[rgh0]

I watch the Barum engines YouTube channel which I find interesting . They rebuilt a competition twin cam recently that has spun a bearing and i was not very impressed as they really did not understand the subtleties of what they were doing or the real root cause of the bearing failure.

As a machine shop they look OK but I would not use them to actually reassemble a twink based on what i have seen at least

cheers
Rohan

[Steve Brooks]

Hello chaps, like Rohan I started watching Barum on utube and found it interesting.But the more I watched the more I got worried, if you have to travel have a look on utube at Grace engine developments down at Newbury.Regards Steve

[elans3]

JW Engines at Tamworth re-built the TC in my SE Elan for the first time at 109000 miles in late 2019 for the previous owner. I bought the car back in 2020 with 40 miles on it after the rebuild. It's now done 2500 miles, nicely run-in, and like a sewing machine. James Wiles worked for John Smirthwaite (JS Motorsport) , so has a wide knowledge of Lotus Twincam engines over a long period, many of those being for race & rally applications.
No affiliation, but heartily recommended.

[promotor]

I watch the Barum engines YouTube channel which I find interesting . They rebuilt a competition twin cam recently that has spun a bearing and i was not very impressed as they really did not understand the subtleties of what they were doing or the real root cause of the bearing failure.

As a machine shop they look OK but I would not use them to actually reassemble a twink based on what i have seen at least

cheers
Rohan

Agree with that - one thing of note was the D-shaped headbolt washers that he thought weren't original and didn't actually know where they should go and what the reason for them is!

To the OP - use someone that works on Lotus Twincams regularly, or doesn't know much else than Lotus Twincam engines. Someone who cares about correct fit and tolerance is the most important of all, not just someone who can put bolts in holes.

[Billelan]

I can recommend AMAC Engineering in Northallerton. Old school engine shop run by father and son team. Fitted new seats and guides to my head with parts sourced from QED.
https://www.amacengineering.co.uk/

[ill_will]

Hi Phil,

Lots of options/recommendations here already - one additional one not a million miles from you, Paul Exon who I think might be ex QED, rebuilt a head for me a while back with new guides seats valves followers and I was pretty happy with the work and a fair price. He's somewhere near Loughborough iirc.

Good luck getting it done. Lots of knowledgeable people on here if you have any questions.

Cheers

Will

[englishmaninwales]

https://raceengine.co.uk/

[Europa88]

Bill Bannister of UNIT 1A, Hecla Works, Mounsey Rd, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6LS

Does all Richard Winter's engines in Europa's and did a great job on mine over 30 years ago and still running strong.

[Andy8421]

A request to refresh the recommendations on this list please.

I am looking for a machine shop with Twinc experience that can rebore my block and regrind my crank. Ideally in Southern England, but distance is less important than quality. The remnants of the UK car industry seem to be in the Midlands, so if a road trip is required, then so be it.

Following recommendations above (and elsewhere on the web) Coventry Boring and Metalling seemed to be a good choice, but they seem to have disappeared - apparently bought out by the Fiennes Group, and rebadged Fiennes Engineering. Unfortunately their website doesn't work, and it would appear that parts of the Fiennes group have just gone into administration. I will ring around and see if they are still in business.

So, any recent recommendations for a machine shop that can do quality bottom end machining would be very helpful.

Thank you in advance...

[Europa88]

I have just had some work done by a chap called James at Grace Engineering in Newbury. He is ex Oselli and worked at Exxon race engines with Paul Exxon who has built some superb twin cams. James is very amenable and and knows his machining. He has just bought the line boring equipment from Fiennes as they have now gone bust.