Is this Space Bug good value??

That engine is being sold by a forum member
man that is a pretty stiff import tax

When you post something on Fleabay in the US - the seller doesn't see what is broadcast internationally.

This is what we see in the UK



So basically, a reasonable priced engine at $85 attracts a premium of $45.27 for a UK buyer. (including handling charge).

Robert is quite correct that these do not often appear from a UK seller so I couldn't tell you if it was a reasonable price.

What you also have to bear in mind is that an engine like this one could be advertised from the UK for $130 ($105) with free postage in the UK. The seller would be better off and the buyer could get the engine next day!

Import duty is applied to the total of engine and postage!

The owner should send it to you as a gift, you transfer it to new owner!
all outside of eBay. Bingo everyone wins!

Second thought don't need you in there either

Pity, it's a great looking engine, too. I wish it was cheaper to get stuff sent to here from the US, I could really get carried away--but it's probably better for my wallet that it isn't!! I think now my first idea will get another airing, the beastie should look decent enough with a lot of cleaning and a few new bits, even with the few deep scratches on the tank. I can live with the SBJ cylinder till the right one turns up one day, even though it's way down on compression.
Those early TD engines are a thing of beauty, I reckon, & I love the quality of the castings, too, so fine and well finished compared to the British engines I've been used to. That seems to be a recurring theme-- according to my book, the 3.5 litre Buick V8 was a good deal lighter than the 3 litre Rover straight 6 it replaced in the P5 saloons and coupes.

Robbasdog, http://www.ebay.com/itm/282322632546?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 That 's my engine on the bay and if you're interested beeing a member here i will cut you a deal with a prop wrench and the paper work is here and FREE .. .   http://coxengines.ca/files/049%20Space%20Bug.pdf    Ian that is wierd that some came with the Accorn nut intake and thats what the diahgram shows and i have 4-5-6 of these engines and they are difft. ? give me a PM and we can talk outside the BAy !!

Hmmm...the Space Bug didn't hit the market until '52 or '53 (Christmas '52?) early prototypes were first used at the '52 Nats, Naval Air Station at Los Alamitos, CA. The first version of glowhead had too much compression and was reduced once production started, I believe that's what lead to the '53 Hop-up kit.

The 1953 Hop-up kit gives us a clue on the intake, I'd guess they thought the bell version flowed better, as it became standard within the following year.

The flange on the back of case was added sometime in '55, production of the Space Bug continued on into the late fifties.

Good info and cool pic, thanks!

Hiya Getback, glad you chipped in to the thread. Thanks for the offer, and it's a great looking engine, but I wasn't thinking of buying it, I just wondered where the price stood on the SB cheap-to-dear scale. We see them so rarely for sale in the UK I had nothing to compare it to, so I thought I'd ask the folks who would know. I get my jollys turning wrecks and scrappers into runners, & if they end up looking good enough for the shelf too, well that's just a welcome bonus, 'cos that's where they spend most of their time. I have two near-new engines ( only 'cos they were offered to me at the right price- like, dirt-cheap! ) and a few other really good rare ones I paid waaaaay too much for 'cos I just HAD to have them & didn't want to wait forever for grotty ones to turn up, but most of my engines are well-used rebuilds. Only 3 more on the bucket list to find, and they are rare, so when ( if? ) I find them condition will be pretty much irrelevant, I'll have to grab 'em! I used to run all my engines up occasionally in the back yard, but we had a care-home set up close by a while ago, so that put paid to that! Hard to believe some folks don't like the sound of a screaming engine, but there ya go, takes all sorts.

Thanks Mark , i remember seeing this along time ago but didn't save as now Robbasdog , thanks for feeling me in and i understand the shelf or not difference in engines . I need to set me up a board to run one i haven't so far// ran a few SBJs and really enjoyed it !!

Something I did not see mentioned is that when actually running them the fuel pickup is on the same side as the needle.

George