LCGB Forums

"As a kit over the phone these are a utter and complete nightmare to deal with! This has to be the worst kit on the market for lack of standardisation in machining, with developments done by a blind man who doesn't have a clue about 2 stroke engines! Add to the fact different pistons were used and inlet manifolds and reed blocks."

really? Does this still apply or are the latest ones trouble free?

I had bother with one, built by a reputable dealer and never ran right so had it back and said it was fine so took it to Rayspeed were I should have gone in first place and they found problem was the thread for plug wasn't cut completely through so the plug didn't sit down even though it was tight causing an air leak. Of course original super engine dealer wasn't interested.

I've heard through "a well known local tuner" that Imola pistons are not very good, just saying..

I wouldnt say the pistons are rubbish at all, but they are just simple overpriced meteor pistons for sure.

Don't get one Donnie.

why?

So, if Donnie has terminated his GT venture and the Imola is not being recommended, what is the small block solution here?

what about a gori 200 kit for the smallblock, can be tuned to your requirements, my mate has the 175 version tuned to give 12bhp but is a great touring set up, has a 30 mil carb and expansion, rides realy nice, and the quality of the kit is very high, wouldnt be everyones cup of tea but worth thinking about.

Chadley wrote:So, if Donnie has terminated his GT venture and the Imola is not being recommended, what is the small block solution here?

Im failing to see any particular negative reasons on the imola to be honest, its been about for years, pistons are expensive for what they are (for both imola and mugello) but they're not crap.

Im still on the imola trail

What about an RB20? Tried and tested been around for years.

I've got an imola kit only came to like it after Mr B of Doncaster had a fiddle with it.

Having had two of the latest imola’s I’ve had highs and lows with this kit, mostly lows but getting the two kits at trade price made me stick with them. Both kits had transfer port timings all over the place and only further tuning done by MB and replacing the nicicill plating with ceramic plating which have survived 3 sezuires.
Just my tuppence worth

Donnie wrote:why?

I didn't spot the quotation marks. I assumed that was you.

lol

I tried an Imola with a BGM clubman and it just wouldnt work properly, though it was an earlier version that had some oddball timings

Now run an RT195 and cant fault it...works for me

im well happy with my imola ! ceramic plated ,rd 350 piston 30mil deli bgm clubby all done by harry barlow

Scooterdude wrote:What about an RB20? Tried and tested been around for years.

Apparently only 1 engine failure [due to weak jetting] in 2 seasons in the BSSO RB20 Production Class, that's amazing.

Downside is that you need a 58 x 116 crank and the exhaust stub is at a different angle so needs an RB specific exhaust.