Is there a pipe line of what the SOC tool fund plans to re-manufacture?

[sujitroy]

I seem to see many folks looking for hardtop and softtop handles especially now winter sets in.

Sujit

[Goldstar]

Not something on our radar Sujit as the 2nd hand supply seems good. We are looking at some more panel projects and some more shiny items. As soon as we have some concrete news we will share it with members.

Paul

[sujitroy]

Thx.

[Motorsport Micky]

These shiny parts are all very well but are there no consideration of remanufactured heads ?

The lack of softtop handles etc will not take cars off the road (there are serviceable used items available) these major items of engines will not be funded by a normal parts supplier because of the large cost outlay, and the lack of good heads has been a contributary decision NOT to repair engines and cars in the past and will only get worse.
The TR Register has funded (well their New Spares Fund which has taken voluntary funds from TR Members (me amongst them, as little as £5) and then costed and had manufactured a run of 4 cylinder TR heads in cast iron and Alloy) these heads are available through Moss who had a loan from the NSF to fund the research and tool them up and then paid the NSF back as orders came in and were completed. The costs for the heads can be viewed on the Moss site and I seem to remember it's about £2k for cast and £2500 for alloy. It's taken a while for the monies to be returned to the NSF (I think about 4 years and was in the area of £30k) and the head supply can now be ordered from Moss now as a standard item. The donation to the NSF fund originally gave a small discount to members buying parts from Moss but I've never asked for one on the basis the NSF was a great idea and it was the correct thing to do, I see it now the discount has been dropped probably because enough members decided the same thing.
The current NSF part remanufacture is for 4 cylinder crankshafts which have been researched for tooling costs and a supply chain ( commissioned and made in India and imported to the UK for final machining). There are a couple of pilot crankshafts which have been made and fitted to trusted individuals cars (I think they bought them) one of which has just spun over 30,000 miles and is so far totally reliable.
This early example of "crowdfunding" of the NSF was started in the 1970s and is responsible for the relatively large numbers of TRs of all examples still on the roads and fulfils the TR Register stated objective of "to preserve" the marque TR".
I realise there may be a considerable difference in numbers of members but could we not consider a voluntary cash fund being set up in a similar fashion ? I'm not sure how the SOCTFL parts system works but would it be able to take on a similar role for suchlike items (yes I remember we need 2 heads per car). I'm sure an enquiry into the methodology to the TR Register and NSF (now separate entities) would give an inside view into how and can it be done, perhaps a discussion here might be a starting point ?
Everything I've recounted here is from my perspective of a non NSF committee member so please forgive if I've simplified any difficult process or omitted any "gotcha" items which long hours spent by the NSF had to navigate around.

Micky

[KOY 23]

Commissionng heads would be a good SOCTFL project

[alan_thomas]

Not sure what the problems were but the ‘Millenium Head’ project produced heads but as far as I know a production run was never made.
Whats the current state of this project? I believe it was being driven by the guys at Abinger Hammer garage?
Alan

[DJT]

Commissionng heads would be a good SOCTFL project

I wonder why they haven't thought about it before.........?

[Motorsport Micky]

I wonder why they haven't thought about it before.........?

Forgive my ignorance...does that mean they have and I've just blundered into a "touchy "area ? Pm me if it's easier and I'll shut up.

Micky

[DJT]

Forgive my ignorance...does that mean they have and I've just blundered into a "touchy "area ? Pm me if it's easier and I'll shut up.

Micky

Sorry Micky. This project has been on and off for over 20 years. In fact the original project referred to Millennium Heads, as they were going to be introduced around 2000. There used to be quite a bit of info on the SOC website, but this now seems to have been removed, probably because it was old news. The project was a joint venture between SOCTFL and Abinger Hammer Motors. Where are we with it now? Haven't a clue, but I understand there are a few new heads out there on the road.

[Goldstar]

Forgive my ignorance...does that mean they have and I've just blundered into a "touchy "area ? Pm me if it's easier and I'll shut up.

Micky

Of touchy in the slightest Micky-your description is pretty much exactly how SOCTFL works. It’s late ow so I’ll try and I’ve a longer answer about heads once we have whipped the Bokke tomorrow

[garyf]

I thought that Stag heads have been made and are being tested.....

[mjheathcote]

The millennium heads, can remember them being for sale but quite expensive however.
Was it a case of one production run and they didn't commission a second due to poor sales? Or was there a manufacturing issue?

[dasadrew]

Having in mind the requests on the "Wanted" section, but admitting that an want ad for used wiper blade rubbers hasn't actually yet materialised, how many Stag owners would be queueing up to buy a pair of heads at, say, £4000 per pair?

Drew

[Motorsport Micky]

Having in mind the requests on the "Wanted" section, but admitting that an want ad for used wiper blade rubbers hasn't actually yet materialised, how many Stag owners would be queueing up to buy a pair of heads at, say, £4000 per pair?

Drew

I would think that's about a going rate (view my post above ref Alloy TR heads which for 2 come out about the same cost).
Are we saying we wouldn't lay out that money for new heads if it was to keep the car on the road ? If the rest of the engine is good why not ? We constantly hear whining on forum about " it's about time Stags went up in value" yet apparently we may not pay that sort of money out for an essential engine part. Strikes me too many people want the car for an investment rather than driving it.

Micky

[DJT]

I agree with what you say Micky, but there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of heads at present. Tony White has recently posted that he has a stock of NOS heads (he doesn’t say how many, Mk1 or 2, etc), and the Stag specialists seem to be able to rebuild engines to order. Would I spend £4-5k on a pair of new heads? Luckily I don’t have to make that decision as mine were ok 5 years ago and I have a spare pair ready to go if needed.