SERVICES - KIWI Indian Engine & Transmission Rebuilding
Many people may wonder why the cost variations from builder to builder
however we want to point out just some of the lengths we go to.
You will most likely find us the most expensive however you will also
find us to be the very best and the most knowledgeable. We aim to
give you an honest price up front as we don’t bait and switch. We
prefer to be honest up front about things. The things that can vary
are how damaged some of the main componentry can be once things
are pulled apart. I can assure you from past experience that while
your engine may run fine, once we get into it and inspect things
closer, there are always the usual things that are worn out, distorted
or cracked on an Indian regardless as to how it was running. Keep in
mind there’s been around 60 years of different hands trying to keep it
on the road. We go to extensive lengths to pay attention to even the
smallest of details so you know that you are getting the best job possible.
My background is specializing in engine rebuilding since about age 12 and
when I left school some years later I became an apprentice Automotive
Machinist (engine re-builder) working my way up to tradesman level (A grade).
The number one killer today of Indian engines is improper cleaning of the
internals or contamination during assembly. For this reason we spend a lot
of time just in the cleaning process. We have a dedicated $10,000.00
ultrasonic cleaner specifically addressing the cleaning issue plus we also
do several follow up hand washes afterwards just to be extra safe.
While some may dismiss this as being over anal, we have been in the fortunate
position to have done many failure analysis for clients and other re-builders
that have had engines prematurely fail at as low as 100 miles. In every single
case bar one, it has been due to improper cleaning.
The following list is just some of the steps we take and are by no means complete.
We actually do these things and just not offer lip service. We manufacture our own
engines from scratch and we have to warranty them and our reputation rides on our
products. The same effort and technology we put into our own Kiwi engines, we also
migrate this into our clients engines.
We strip everything from the cases right down to bare aluminum. This includes push
rod guides, cam bushings, cam follower pivot shafts/bushings, drive and pinion housings,
cylinder base studs and likewise in the transmission.
We inspect your engine and transmission to find out why it failed. Every engine fails
for a reason and we try and find that reason and correct the problem since there is
no point in rebuilding an engine if it has a defect in it and the re-builder overlooks the
defect and the same failure happens again. Maybe it failed because of dirt, bent
connecting rods, flywheel thrusting to one side, mismatched cases, poor quality
cylinder material, cylinders bored incorrectly (cock-eyed), poor quality parts, running lean,
wet sumping. Whatever it maybe, to us it is important to do our detective work so
there is no chance of overlooking anything and for to correct the problems.
All our processes can be substantiated by visiting our facility so as you can see it
1st hand the extensive lengths we go to. We have a dedicated engine room that is
kept spotlessly clean. All machining and dirty processes are done in a completely
different area of the shop and are contained in their own rooms so no cross
contamination exists. We have extensive specialty designed and dedicated tooling
and jigs in order to do the best job possible. Tooling and jigs are expensive however
this investment coupled with our vast knowledge and experience separate us out from
everybody else.
All engine specifications, clearances, end floats etc are documented on our specification sheet and kept on file.d
