Special Machine shop detail listing  Page 1 0f 3

As far as I can remember we have not printed a list of our shop facilities and machining details before.

For many people around the country getting some jobs done on their British sports car engine becomes a major chore in trying to find a machine shop familiar or with experience of these jobs.

APT is not a full service machine shop, but we do try and offer many services that are of help to our customers.

There are 3 main areas that what we offer falls into:

**All cylinder head work - we have made a major effort and investment in equipment and acquired expertise in this department.

**Modifying SU carburetors, while retaining drivability and adjustability functions. (See the section in "Tuning BL’s ‘A’ Series Engine").

**Fully prepped cranks, includes wedging, replacing brass plugs with screw in, Plasma Nitriding, grinding, balancing, crack testing etc.

To see a larger picture of the thumbnails in this column, click the image.
Then use your browsers "Back" button to return to this page.

NOTE: If your browser can read "alternate text", hold your cursor over each thumbnail for additional info.
You could also read it by turning graphics off in your browser.

DA_dyno.jpg (18839 bytes) APT engine dyno test cell

Head, Carb. & Manifold Work

Z003   ELONGATE PUSH ROD HOLES IN 'A' OR 'B' SERIES HEADS 
REQUIRED WHEN USING TUBULAR PUSH RODS AND TO ASSIST OIL FLOW BACK TO THE PAN.qty 8 $72.00

Z004   PERFORMANCE. MODIFY ANY SU CARB.  
THIS IMPROVES AIRFLOW THROUGH THE CARBURETOR, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY DOES NOT REDUCE THE CALIBRATION AND METERING QUALITIES OF THIS EXCELLENT CARB. AGAIN, OUR 'A' SERIES TUNING BIBLE HAS PLENTY OF DETAILS, INCLUDING DRAWINGS FOR THOSE WANTING TO DO THE WORK THEMSELVES $168.00

Z006  INSTALL 1ST SEAT INSERT FOR 'NO LEAD' EXHAUST SEATS
INSERTS ARE NORMALLY ONLY INSTALLED FOR THE EXHAUST WHICH IS THE WORST OFFENDER FOR SEAT RECESSION.$10.00

Z007 INSTALL ADDITIONAL SEAT INSERTS
(
SOME RACE HEADS ie. F OR H PROD. MAY REQUIRE SEATS TO BE INSTALLED FOR THE INLETS ALSO. $9.00

Z008 MACHINE HEAD WITH NO FACTORY GUIDES
TO INSTALL 8 GUIDES $74.00

Z009 REPLACE 8 PRESS IN GUIDES
(INCLUDES SIZING OF GUIDES AFTER INSTALLATION BUT NOT COST OF GUIDES $45.00

Z011 HONE VALVE GUIDES TO SIZE IF ALREADY INSTALLED. $3.50 ea.

Z012 DRILL ADDITIONAL STUD HOLES IN 'A' SERIES HEAD
TO CONVERT FROM 9 TO 11 STUD (CAN ONLY BE DONE TO 1275 HEADS). $29.00

Z013 ADDITIONAL FACING
(UP TO 0.150") $40.00

Z015 RECUT VALVE SEAT TO 3 ANGLE
(NORMALLY CONSISTS OF A 30, 45, 70 DEGREE CUTS ALL DONE AT ONE TIME ON A VERY ACCURATE SERDI 100 MACHINE) $8.50
(see picture shown at right)

Z016 CUT OVER SIZE 3 ANGLE VALVE SEAT
(THIS IS WHEN INSTALLING LARGER VALVES) SOME GRINDING IN THE BOWL IS NORMALLY REQUIRED WHEN LARGER VALVES ARE FITTED. (SEE #Z017) $10.50

Z017 POCKET PORT BOWL BELOW THE VALVE SEAT.
(
SEE #Z016 ABOVE). PER BOWL $16.00

Z018 CUT CHAMBER WALL OUT TO GASKET LINE
(
KNOWN AS "SWEEPING THE CHAMBER") 4 CYLINDER HEAD $32.00

Z019  DOWEL AND PORT MATCH AN 'A' OR 'B' SERIES HEAD
(
WE PUT IN 2x 1/8th DOWELS AND THEN MAKE SURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE GASKET, AND THE HEAD ALL MATCH PERFECTLY. $99.00

Z020  DOWEL AND PORT MATCH 4 RUNNER MANIFOLD
(1500 TRIUMPH FOR EXAMPLE) $124.00

Z027   MACHINE BRONZE VALVE GUIDE FOR TEFLON SEAL
(
VERY OFTEN DONE TO 'B' SERIES INTAKE GUIDES. WE NORMALLY ONLY USE SEALS ON THE INTAKE.) $3.45

HIF_mod2.jpg (25994 bytes) The general methods we use for increasing flow and performance on SU carburetors is covered in detail in David Vizards book "Tuning BL's A Series Engine". Boring out the bridge and making them "Smooth bores" is , in our opinion, not the best way to go, although it has been popular for many years.

 

11-stud.jpg (17644 bytes) All 1275 heads can be drilled for the 11 stud conversion like the original Mini Cooper S. In our shop we use a doweled jig plate with hardened drill bushes. If doing this job yourself the head gasket can be used as a template.

 

1500_hd.jpg (11159 bytes) Most heads that we work on here at APT use a replaceable type guide. Some heads like most Ford 4 cylinder and many V8 do not use guides from the factory, so to use manganese bronze guides in these additional maching is required. This can all be done in the Serdi 100 seat and guide machine with special tooling.

 

Serdi.JPG (19379 bytes) The Serdi 100 makes all maching operations on cylinder heads easier to do than by any other method. By using a floating head, it floats on air, the special carbide pilot aligns the head exactly with the valve seat. Any design of valve seat shape can be produced by using carbide cutters ground to the shape and angles required. Each seat is then cut exactly the same with such accuracy that it is not required to lap the valves with grinding paste.

 

Sweep_chamber.JPG (18715 bytes) By using this machine which has a pilot that centers on the guide the chamber walls can be cut back in the vicinity of the valve. We call this sweeping the chamber. It is an operation that is  almost impossible to do by hand with any accuracy, and unless done with care using free hand techniques the head can easily be scrapped in this operation.

 

Mod_Man.JPG (8047 bytes) APT can match carbs to manifold, and manifold to head, and keep alignment by using hardened steel dowels. Manifold flow can be improved by reshaping of the port to a more optimum shape.

 

Next      Home