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We are delighted to see HWM and our specialist engine builder, Bruce Bermingham, featured in an article within the AMOC magazine exploring the transformation of a customer’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Following a major engine failure, Bruce worked closely with the owner, Alex, to develop a bespoke 4.5-litre engine inspired by Aston Martin’s GTE racing programme. Producing 475 bhp, the upgraded engine delivers increased torque, sharper throttle response and a more engaging driving experience.
The project demonstrates how HWM’s engineering expertise can give a modern classic Aston Martin an exciting new lease of life. Read full article written by Stephen Archer below:
"Do we have to accept that cars get old and diminish over time – or can a car have a second life, even a completely new life? The David Brown Astons with 4.2 litre engine upgrades is a good example of how a car requiring refreshment ends up being an even better driving car than when new. The same applies to the 7 Litre upgrades to the V8 Astons from 1969 to 1989.
So why shouldn't the same principle apply to more modern Aston Martins, even though as 21st century Astons they are by nature very sophisticated and refined?
The VH platform vantage that was built between 2005 and 2017 is rightly seen as one of Aston Martin's finest cars in its history and was very successful with over 22,000 built. But now these cars can be over 20 years old, many owners enjoy these cars to the full and though they are very strong, mechanical wear is no stranger to even the finest engineered car. Some owners of 4.3 Litre Vantages are seeing the engines burning more oil and subsequent piston failures.
For the owner of a 4.3 or 4.7 litre Vantage that needs significant engine work, what is the solution? One option is a new engine but this would be significant cost, particularly in relation to the car’s value. Another option is to have the engine rebuilt and any internal defects repaired. But there is a third, appealing, and one might say much more sensible option, which is not just to rebuild the engine but built to a specification and giving performance that Aston Martin did not offer when the car was new.
This brings us to the car featured here, about which there are two stories. One is of Alex, who owned this Vantage which needed an engine repair after a major failure. The other story is of her developing the whole car into a usable but higher-performance Vantage with the competence of an N24 or GT4 but the comfort of a Rapide.
Alex is an ex. Royal Navy ship architect with a passion for engineering, which she has followed throughout her career. She has had increasingly high performance cars over the years and is a serious driver; she races Porsches when she is not thinking about how to improve her Aston. Her enthusiasm has rubbed off on her son, who attends events and fettles the cars. Alex’s misfortune to suffer a serious engine failure with her Vantage led her to a conversation with engine builder Bruce Bermingham at HWM after which she decided that this was the opportunity to improve the car by developing it from a 4.7 litre to a 4.5 litre engine. Yes you read that right, it is smaller but as we will see, vastly superior. For her it was a journey of discovery and ultimately immense satisfaction. She stayed close to the project throughout, and being very curious by nature, the journey was a pleasure of itself, one that Bruce also enjoyed along the way.
It might have been easier to have simply had the engine rebuilt, but Alex, with her engineering background, saw it as a great opportunity to do something special with the car and to see what could be achieved to improve on an already excellent Aston Martin. It helped that the VH platform Vantage had already had significant development in its past in the form of the N24 and the GT4 racing variants. But the engines fitted to those racing Vantages we're in truth not very far from standard. They were very carefully built with consumables that could take more stress but the engines have a lot more potential as was seen in the GTE cars that won their class at Le Mans in 2017. Bruce Bermingham describes Alex’s engine as “a homage to the GTE race car” Significantly, the engine in those cars was also 4.5 litres, not 4.7.
What is the secret sauce in the engine? Firstly, Bruce himself, who built the original racing engines for the N24 for Aston Martin, knows the engines as well as anyone. What did he do to Alex’s engine? “It has a 4.3 crank which is very strong and has a shorter stroke than the 4.7. The shorter stroke reduces reciprocal mass and therefore improves the scope for power increase. We used the 4.7 cylinder bore size, but the shorter stroke necessitated special pistons to best fit the combustion chambers. The rods are to 4.3 litre dimensions but made to race spec. “
Bottom end bearings have been an issue on some 4. 7 engines, causing oil pressure loss and rod failure. Bruce paid particular attention to making these very durable with improved shells. The rods are held on by steel HP bolts. Bruce suggested that though the 4.7 engine has more torque and power, it has a slightly ‘lazy’ pick up which many people have commented upon.The short stroke 4.3 on the other hand is a bit more eager.
The 4.5 engine is also eager, and thanks to excellent pistons, porting work, and “an improved exhaust with a special four into one collector that goes into a cat whichgoes down the standard link pipe, and GT4 separating those boxes at the back.” Along with new ECU mapping, this makes the engine very different and exciting.
The standard 4.3, made 380 BHP and the standard 4.7 420 BHP.But Alex’s engine gives 475 BHP and a lot more torque. The throttle pedal ‘fly by wire’ on the standard cars can be a weakness, and Bruce has changed the set-up on this car, also helping throttle response, which is pretty much instantaneous. When Bruce describes the work it all makes sense but when he describes the matching of the changes to the inlet, exhaust and ECU it is clear to see that a lot of clever thinking has gone into this engine.
Not content with just the engine upgrades, Alex turned her attention to the chassis. If the engine was going to be so good, then “what does the chassis need to make it suitable for the engine,” as she put it. She turned to David Appleby, who has vast experience of running and developing the GT4 racing Astons."
