August 25, 2016 @ 9:30 am Replace them. Have them measured by your machinist. http://auskellian.com/paul/links_files/performance_enhancements.htm. At some point in the nearish future, I will be stripping and rebuilding my Spitfire's engine. Crankshaft bearings for the connecting rods and main bearings. Water pump The music is In The Hall Of The Mountain King from Edvard Griegs Peer Gynt Suite Carefully remove the main cap and use the graph on the paper slip the plastigauge comes with to determine the clearance. A Speedi-Sleeve can be used to renew the surface. Theory is great, but how much does this swap really help performance? Drivetrain This is really useful and clearly written. FUEL PETROL PUMP (**See Engine No**) (1970- 74) 20.50. Payen gaskets where possible, use the best crank bearings you can find (vandervell but you will have to be VERY lucky) and you WILL need a thermostatic oil cooler, and millers CSS20/60 oil a good idea. Which classic roadster offers the best top-down experience? Need oversized lifter / tappet bores? A trip to the machine shop requires a plan. Remove no more than .010 so that the head gasket will seal properly. Cut a small piece of plastigauge and place on the #1 journal. If your engine has press fit piston pins, like MG 1275, or the later MGBs, this is not something you can do yourself; it requires special tools. | You have to have a good idea of your expectations and an understanding of the steps required to get what you want. My spit was a 79, and when I compare it to the other tech available at the time it just looks sad. From the the tight budget, to the all-out approach, I've done it all, and can help you with your project Install lifters, pushrods and cylinder head. And, once you have the engine block on the engine stand, youre ready to dive in. Install the oil pump, remember it is important to disassemble the oil pump, clean the inside whether new or used, lube them, and check the clearances on them per the manual specs. Sort By Price www.mossmotoring.com/disassembling-british-engine, Planning for Rebuilding the Engine on the Spitfire | Triumph Spitfire Mk3 Restoration Project: Bruce's Triumph Therapy, http://mossmotorsltd.wpengine.com/restoring-british-engine/. Is your favorite classic car properly insured? Installing new piston pins and pistons require a rod heater, where the rod is heated to about 1200 degrees and then the piston and pin is installed on that rod quickly before it cools. Your connecting rod will almost always warrant big end resizing, and considered a must if you replace the connecting rod bolts. The Triumph SC (small car) engines were never derived fromtractors. No problem. Pinning them with a couple of 4-40 flathead brass machine screws is a simple effective solution. Lighter pistons and lighter conrods, by reducing their mass. Body & Chassis Brakes Clutch, Gearbox & Axle Cooling System Electrical Engine Exhaust Exterior Fuel System & Induction General Accessories Heating & Ventilation Interior Degree wheel 6000 15.20 17.50 However bad previous repairs, rust, and a desire for more power, resulted in 4-SPEED, DISC WHEELS. Ray, July 19, 2015 @ 6:14 am Some information and prices may be differenttoday. I'll be making sure that my new one is as good as it can get to the "best" end of the specs. The MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite High Performance Manual - Daniel Stapleton 2008 Covers all aspects of modifying the MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite for high performance. Move the crankshaft the normal operating rotation (clockwise when facing the front of the engine) until you see the needle reach maximum camshaft lift. Many parts are available for this engine from aftermarket suppliers. Single DCOEs on the 8 port heads suffer from uneven fuel distribution between the inside two cylinders and the outside two owing to the unequal runner lengths of the available intake manifolds. We can rebuild or repair your engine to factory specifications, and in most cases to much better than factory specifications. Bearings shouldn't touch surfaces! Includes engine/driveline, suspension, brakes, I own a suitable license for this piece of music, supplied by Chris Worth Productions. If you are using a copper gasket then use a copper gasket spray coating. If you can catch a fingernail on the surface of the flywheel where the clutch disc rides, you will need to resurface your flywheel. Position it toward #1 piston and then bring the piston toward the top of the block. theres no dirt inclusions ,or scuffing , look very good to me Fuel pump work good (tested). if you look under the rocker shaft face if its stamped TKC1155 its could alreadybe an unleaded head there's some disparity over these numbers depends on. Apply 30W motor oil to the cylinder walls and the piston skirts. I don't have a clue what else is in there yet but I intend to pull it down and find out before I run it hard. TRIUMPH SPITFIRE MkI,II,III,IV & 1500 (1959-80) FUEL PUMP REPAIR KIT. A new set isnt expensive. Intake valves dont require hardened seats since they are not subjected to intense heat. Purpose manufactured components designed to replace faulty original designs - for increased reliability and durability. Frequently bought together. After a few heat cycles, you will need to retorque the cylinder head and re-adjust the valve lash. I thought for 30-40 I'd just change the bolts - more for piece of mind rather than anything else - not going ARP as the engine will be pretty much standard. It takes a trained eye to do this procedure. Question is, should ILoctite the bolts and if so which spec should I use. Triumph Spitfire 1500 LHD Completely body off restored Triumph Spitfire 1500 LHD. The rubber insulator can crack and wear out over time. Spitfire/GT6 TS Imported Automotive, 108 South Jefferson St., Pandora, Ohio, 45877, USA Tel 800.543.6648 (USA & Canada only) 419.384.3022 (Tech / General Information) Rebuilding A Triumph Spitfire Engine Reading time: about 1 minute | Written by Ben Branch | August 25th 2013 11 Months, 3000 pictures and a lot of coffee. Read More 1978 Triumph Spitfire with a Mid-Engine Turbo 1.8 L Inline-Four. Add to Cart. Follow the same process with the rod bearings as we did with the crankshaft and plastigauge each journal one at a time. It will be your main point of reference. Really?). I have a lot of experience in building engines, I even put together a current class record holding engine at Bonneville. All in all, even though there are more desirable sports cars out there the 1500 Midget has been a fun car to have owned for the past 18 years. What makes a Wishbone Classics engine better? " Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Engines & Engine Component Rebuilding Services. They don't appear on any of the Canley GT6 diagrams, but they were certainly there the first time I took the sump off in 1979, or there abouts. I also experienced the thrust washer failure which ruined the crank so my advice is to keep your foot off the clutch as much as possible. item 1 MG MIDGET (late model) TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MOTOR ENGINE REBUILD SERVICE, item 2 MG MIDGET TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 FP ENGINE BLOCK. That is not true but often repeated. Bottom end Triumph Spitfire 1969-1980 Owners Workshop Manual: Glovebox Edition (Practical Classics & Car Restorer) $2000. Handy Tip: If using an adjustable cam gear, torque the cam retaining nut to manual specs before making your adjustments. and have never used new bolts for any bearing caps. You will need a piston ring compressor. I used new bolts and tabs, but this was 1980s so bolts would be from the good bucket. My engine is very user friendly around town and on the highway. The only reason you would install valve seats on the intake side is if a cylinder head has had many valve jobs in its life. Grinding off unnecessary mass from conrods, should be followed by polishing and shot peening, which does increase the strength. And real-world performance? You get extra points for completing this task if the engine in question is British or Italian of course, along with a tidy little bonus point if the engine is pre-1980. Right off the bat, this larger engine delivered more torque than its predecessor. It was beautifully designed by the legendary Italian car designer Giovanni Michelotti, and it also surprisingly sold in greater numbers than any of its rivals between 1962 to 1980. It's the 1500cc variant, however, its had some cylinder head work and a fast road camshaft. Install the oil pan and gasket. Make sure to clean and lubricate your throttle linkage, too. But the Spitfire could be easily stroked to 1493 ccto regain some performance. Clearances and thoughts Its a good idea to replace the rocker shaft. Cylinder Head Check the wiper section of the rocker arm where it makes contact with the valve stem. The key here is getting the entire setup, including the linkages. At TRF, we know every part of the Spitfire 1500 engine intimately, and rebuild them to exacting standards With the degree wheel and pointer installed, put the magnetic base on the top of the engine block surface or deck. There was an article in Classic Motorsport comparing different SUs to different Webers on the same MGB B-series engine. Install the crankshaft and bearing Mount the rear engine plate, flywheel and clutch. Dont let any steps get overlooked. He has a 2 liter OHC compared with the spit's little push rod 1500. This number could vary, as long as it is the same exact point before, and after maximum lift. Sign in to ask questions, share photos, and access all website features. I would like to strengthen the bottom end - if that is actually possible? Before the swapand with the original single-carb unit properly tunedour Spitfire produced 49 horsepower and 66 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear wheels, as measured on a chassis dyno. Add to Wish List. Ray, that is a good point, the wet sleeve motors like the Triumph TR3/$ engines are not a engine I work with. quantumechanics.com, Swain Tech Coatings Inc. Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. This engine is almost a direct bolt-in. The 1500 long stroke is not the best for reliability and can suffer serious big end and con rod failures ifnused in a hurried life It does age quite quickly, upping the power wont help much in reliability Clives the best on this Pete clive Members 5.5k Posted October 1, 2017 For a road engine there are a few simple things. Good information. You will want to ask around for the shop that has the best reputation for crankshaft work. Quantum Mechanics offers these as used sets with manifold pulled from old Spits in England. Measured engine output had improved nicely: We posted 65 horsepower and 78 lb.-ft. of torque during our next visit to the dyno. Never assume a new oil pump should not be taken apart and checked. Install the piston and connecting rods There is nothing inherently wrong with a properly designed 3 main bearing engine. From your local part store you will need to purchase the green plastigauge with a measurement range for .001-.003. Because these parts are designed by Triumph to fit the cars, the swap is a snap and the results are nothing shortofremarkable. Maybe Moss Motoring can find a engine builder that specializes in these engines to do article on them, I know I would read it with great interest. Add to Wish List. The strut towers have also been chrome plated and fitted. It is extremely important that the filet radius (the edges of the journal where it joins back into the crankshaft body) is restored when the crank is reground. The goal is to spin the engine in the normal rotation to maximum cam lift (now zero on the dial indicator) and stop at same given point before and after max lift has been achieved. (To replace my old engine, which had suffered catastrophic failure). Strengthening the bottom end isn't an option, unless you go for a steel billet crank and conrods. Our carbs did need to be freshened, though, and we did that ourselves. Keep your manual close at hand for the assembly stage. This reduces flow to the mains. View cart for details. A larger motor was needed. Add to Cart. This is a Fiberfab Jamaican II, it was built in 1983 using a Fiberfab tubular steel chassis and a sleek, lightweightfiberglass body. Minimum engine rebuild service price is $10,000 USD for a fully rebuilt dyno tested engine package (fully assembled engine, carbs, ignition, exhaust manifold, etc) All engines being rebuilt are torque plate honed for superior cylinder bore geometry and improved piston ring seal The OEM guides are cast iron. It's easy! If theres any drawback, its the legal ramifications. Is a lighter flywheel right for your classic? The results were that the downdraft Weber gave essentially the same performance as HS4s. Remember, these parts may be nearing their 40th birthday, so go with a reputable dealer. Timing assembly always replace the chain, timing gear and timing chain tensioner. In England, Triumph Spitfire 1500s were sold with dualSUcarbs. The 123 ignition(distributor) is a modification that employs spark balancing, like used in formula race cars. Re the pinking. For about $200, we had a local muffler shop fabricate a new system. Hardened exhaust seat inserts are a must for the hotter burning unleaded fuels used today. item 4 New Valve Cover Gasket for Triumph Spitfire and MG Midget 1500 Cork, item 5 New Cylinder Head Gasket for Triumph Spitfire 1500 and MG Midget 1500 w/ Tab, item 6 NEW TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MG MIDGET 1500 WATER PUMP, item 7 Triumph TR6, GT6, Spitfire, MG Midget 1500 fuel pump to engine gasket 138791, item 8 Triumph Spitfire - TR250 - TR6 & GT6 & MG Midget 1500 - Rear Main Crank Seal, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 9 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 5 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 4 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 2 product ratings. Totally computer controlled, and programable, this specialized equipment eliminates inaccuraties and errors that can be introduced with manual equipment. Like so many other emissions-era carburetors, ours caused the car to surge and run leanespecially at highway speeds. MG MIDGET (late model) TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MOTOR ENGINE REBUILD SERVICE Refurbished $2,695.00 timwhomi5 (2,345) 99.6% or Best Offer Freight 39 watchers Sponsored New Complete Engine Seal and Gasket Set Triumph Spitfire 1500 MG Midget 1500 (For: Triumph Spitfire) Brand New $59.94 sportscarpartsltd (55,071) 99.7% Buy It Now Free 3 day shipping Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Engine Blocks. The three-main-bearing design did not lend itself well to hard use. But no proof or paperwork so Im assuming it wasnt. Is there a howitzer story there? , Silodrome was founded in 2010 as a website dedicated to Gasoline Culture and all it entails - We write about modern cars, classic cars, motorcycles, racing, gear, gadgets, clothing, boats, planes, airships and the occasional submarine.Read more Silodrome 2023. all rights reserved. For instance,the 2014 Renault F1 engine has a stroke of only 53mm but is limited to 15,000rpm! $118.99. TheseSUcarburetors may be older technology, but they have served many owners very well through the decades. After this simple swap, our Spitfire was transformed. AVAILABLE IN STANDARD OR ALL REGULAR OVERSIZES [ E-MAIL OR TEL. Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance must be checked. Timing is set by ear - to be honest one reason for the rebuild/replacement is that the timing is all over the place when I use a timing light - which is either due to a crap dizzy or the pulley moving (Which is not as tight as I'd like - but the bolt is very much tight! There are some things I liked about the spit but not enough to keep it around. About the Author: As an engine tuner and builder for more than 30 years, Hap Waldrop is the go-to guy on British car forums. The '78 spit I just bought has this and a 4 tube header on it. It has transformed the Midget into a nice little cruiser. Triumph Spitfire, 1962-1981 (Haynes Manuals) $2995. Regrinding the original cast iron exhaust seat is a short term answer, as valve seal will be lost in a short period of time. Rocker Assembly It's currently (As far as I know) standard - though is from a Dolly 1500! We're able to bore Triumphblocks to accept cam bearings, we've even produced specialized tooling to shorten the duration of this procedure - which saves you money, because we can do it quicker. Has anyone done anything to deck the block to remove the recesses between the cylinders and run a diff head gasket, i.e. http://triumphspitfire.com/enginenumbers.html, Ok, given that I'm going to drop the sump to replace the oil pump, I have decided to also change all the bolts on the bearing caps - gives me the opportunity to inspect the journals and shells and re-oil prior to start-up (its been on an engine stand for about 3 or 4 years). Triumph - Spitfire - Sales Brochure - (2015) (German) Brochure 4 Pages. Bare A-type OD base rebuild pricing is $1650. If your engine has a harmonic balancer, it will have a rubber insulator between the inner and outer rings. Dealer 3,695 Triumph Spitfire 1500 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500cc in yellow, has been dry stored. I think Ford later made a knock-off of the carb that was used on 4 cylinder mustangs and later US made Mercury Capris (1980s). By I always use bearings supplied by Jigsaw Racing, and with the above, they are long lasting, even inhigh revving engines. Record your reading. Anyway even with the taller gears the engine isn't so high strung that it lugs at all. Need someone to fit steel main caps to your block and line bore for the proper fit? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e7dcb8a2dc2cd Pat Garity. Theres nothing quite like the process of pulling apart, fixing and rebuilding a vintage engine. Fill the engine with all fluids. His advice on road cars and racers is often the last word. Get Started A balancer can be rebuilt or you can purchase a new one and in some cases a high performance harmonic balancer is available. 21.49. Once you have finished the plastigauge procedure, and cleaned it all up, make sure to use assembly lube on your rod bearings and install your rod caps. Engine Block That is as good as you are likely to get it, though DD can of course alter advance curves to suit your engine spec, or go for a mapped ignition! Restoration of my Triumph. Adjustable cam gears will have about 20 degrees of variable adjustment to work with assuring you can get the cam timing exactly where you need. Lots of fun to drive.. Make sure you use assembly lube on every main cap and your thrust washers as well. Took the car out for a ride and have a small backfire after shifting. The bolts holding the adjustment on the cam gear are small (-28), and if you torqued your cam retaining nut later, which has a much higher torque spec, you could overpower the smaller bolts and change your cam timing. Click & Collect. Flywheel Hap owns and operates Acme Speed Shop out of Greenville, SC, where his specialty is rebuilding MG engines ranging from stock to full out race prepared. Keep advancing the timing until you do, then retard just enough so you don't get any pinking. Useful article on the oil pump too. I wont cover every little detail that a manual will tell you about engine assembly. THE FINAL LAP 100bhp should be achievable fairly easily. A bead blast cabinet is ideal for this job; however a wire brush on a drill, or bench grinder with a wire brush will get the job done. Listen out for rattling and blue. As JohnD mentioned, you can optimise the pump to minimise clearances between the body and rotor, see:http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/OilPump.htm. Powered by Gasoline and Caffeine. How do we feel about con rod lock tabs? I would like to fit a sports exhaust at the same time too. A piece of angle iron drilled and tapped with a small bolt installed across the bore is easy to make. But Ive stuck with it for reasons long since forgotten! Add those two numbers together and divide by twothat is your cam timing. This is done to prevent a piston ring from getting caught and breaking during installation. I've read that a Newmans mildroad cam is a good option, and payan gaskets are the best, but what bearings and rings?