Oil pump Is your favorite classic car properly insured? Install the oil pan and gasket. Camshaft if needed/desired. Crank bearings are supplied standard size and pistons are supplied +0.020" oversize. Make sure your crankshaft is at BDC (bottom dead center) meaning the crankshaft journal is closest to bottom of the engine. Check the straightness of the top of the blocks deck where the cylinder head attaches. 1979 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MK IV. There is no need to hurry; time is your friend when degreasing. Pay close attention to your workshop manual for tips like this. The key here is getting the entire setup, including the linkages. Degreeing a camshaft This is really useful and clearly written. If the margin (the vertical part of the valve just below the seat sealing area) is ground away during refacing it could leave a sharp edge that can lead to a burnt exhaust valve later on. You can use new lifters with a used cam but never used lifters with a new cam. Both BC (B series engines) and Triumph (the Vanguard/TR wet liner engine) also used the engines in all sorts of different applications - main vans, boats and tractors, but they weren't designed for agricultural use in the first place. A bit too obvious for me that! This reduces flow to the mains. Line boring insures that all crank journals are in perfect alignment and properly sized. The American exhaust system from the downpipe back will need to be replaced, however, as it wont mate to the European-spec downpipe. You will do this similarly to your crankshaft end float. You will need some headwork, and a skim o achieve a higher compression ratio (depends on the cam). For about $200, we had a local muffler shop fabricate a new system. The 3 main floppy 1500 crank can live well at higher RPMS than a stock 1500, if rotating and recipricating assemblies are well ballanced and good ARP main studs are used. Lighter pistons and lighter conrods, by reducing their mass. Now stop at .005 before the indicator reaches zero, or maximum lift, record your readings at the degree wheel. You need the following to do the job: Water pump For example, most modern black composite material head gaskets require no coating or sealer. Get your hands on the complete Triumph factory workshop software. As a rule of thumb, its best to replace the rod bolts. (585) 889-2786 Detractors complained of durability anddrivabilityissues. 2023 Motorsport Marketing. PS just noticed - you DO call yourself "Anglefire"! This is where most cracks occur, so the proper filet radius is important for the overall strength of the crankshaft. (different torques given by ARpdepending on what lube you use on the threads, more torque needed if you use 30weight oil..), I agree you can re use our spec of bolt a number of times , what you cant reuse is more modern specs where the torque has been, Tightend to its yeild point these are dangerously likely to fail if re used, More moderns are often spec'd as up to a target torque followed by accurate angular rotation, In stages on production these results are devised from watching the toqure climb and rotation, The meters that measure this carefully stop as soon as the torque rise flattens and rotation is about to continue, Ive got one in the cupboard gathering dust never use it these days, Usefull on troublesome fitting to find the ultimate torque. Lots of fun to drive.. No problem. 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. If theres any drawback, its the legal ramifications. They can handle the disassembly, cleaning, checking for cracks, machining and assembly for you. Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Engine Blocks. And I'll be looking at the shells as I said and thrust washers - though it does look from the outside to have been done well (I don't want to knock the chap who did it!) 1971 Triumph GT6 with a LS4 V8. Newman a decent supplier so may have variations worth exploring. Triumph Spitfire Engine Rebuild #8 - Distributor Fitting - YouTube After a long hiatus in production, I'm back on my engine rebuild videos, though there aren't many left. Total price: $93.10. 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. Budget a day to do the work, plus the cost of modifying your exhaust system, the carb-freshening kits and the paint and cleaning supplies. Paddocks) sell. Weight is mass times acceleration, andI've done this for a TR6, the worst possible case. Make sure you keep the ring compressor firmly against the block deck. If building a performance engine, ARP bolts may be ofbenefit, but they use their own special lube with a lower than factory torque!! You'd hopethey'd have put them back for the sake of a few pence if they reduced engine failure rates That's interesting, I wonder why they are on my late GT6 mk3? Our zero-to-60 times dropped by more than 2 seconds. Freshening a carburetor is not as scary as it sounds, and companies like Quantum Mechanics supply the necessary kits. Feb 2016: We are currently only rebuilding Triumph TR3B (four synchro) through TR6 transmissions and A and J type . Shop Work Remember they have to go in the exact spot they came out of it. Another way to look at it is to work out how much the piston weighs in use. Clearances and thoughts I spoke to the distributor doctor today - after looking at the website - and have ordered a standard replacement dizzy for mine as a starting point because I replaced mine with one from ebay after getting issues (Which I suspect were really down to the carbs) and I am getting some issues with pinking and the like, that could be caused by a cheap chinese one - of course it could be something else, but I decided to start from a good place! This pristine car is fa. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. Perhaps our biggest issue was simply the original setups drivability. I was always much more partial to the 1296cc Spitfire engine than the 1500. Ray, that is a good point, the wet sleeve motors like the Triumph TR3/$ engines are not a engine I work with. Check the wiper section of the rocker arm where it makes contact with the valve stem. Add to Cart. I own a suitable license for this piece of music, supplied by Chris Worth Productions. To read Haps previous article on engine disassembly and inspection, visit www.mossmotoring.com/disassembling-british-engine, October 16, 2013 @ 2:20 pm The Webers are 1 step up from the stock ZS carb, but suffer from a lack of tuning experience and info on this side of the pond. I always use bearings supplied by Jigsaw Racing, and with the above, they are long lasting, even inhigh revving engines. He has a 2 liter OHC compared with the spit's little push rod 1500. Grinding off unnecessary mass from conrods, should be followed by polishing and shot peening, which does increase the strength. Add to Wish List. Its really more simple than people make it out to be. theres no dirt inclusions ,or scuffing , look very good to me The project is really starting to come together now, with the engine soon to go back in. Triumph Spitfire, 1962-1981 (Haynes Manuals) $2995. Refer to your workshop manual for the proper spec but it will likely be .002-.005. 21.49. 3 times until he put the Vandervells in and were find after 6 events. 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). The Triumph SC (small car) engines were never derived fromtractors. But the Spitfire could be easily stroked to 1493 ccto regain some performance. If you want to uprate the big end bolts but don't feel like splashing out on ARP, you can also use Cosworth (YB?) Thank you! Follow the same process with the rod bearings as we did with the crankshaft and plastigauge each journal one at a time. None of these points will do you any good though, in reality youll have either turned to alcoholism or been committed to a lunatic asylum long before the task is completed. The shop will most likely resurface the cylinder head to insure flatness, and provide for a good sealing surface for the head gasket. Cam bearings I prefer the full circle type The, The traditional Silodrome was a carnival sideshow attraction also called the Wall of Death." From your local part store you will need to purchase the green plastigauge with a measurement range for .001-.003. A nifty-looking, dual-inlet air cleaner wrapped in a black crackle finish was part of the package. Sidedraft carbs are the best alternative, especially twin Weber DCOEs. Do you need custom pistons for this? Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Larger and the vital internal parts should be cleaned by professionals in an industrial parts washer. Lube should be used any place one part makes contact with another that could cause frictionthe exception being the piston and cylinder walls. 5000 rpm may be a conservative limit even for a 1500, but it's easy to see that thelonger stroke engine approaches the 20mps limit far sooner than the earlier engines. Quickview. I can then, at my leisure,rebuild the one in my car now and either sell it on or do another swap. Once the engine starts you want to set the idle at approx. And its fine until it gets to temperature and then driven some more so is really hot - and given I found the other day that the overflow pipe was too short into the expansion bottle so was drawing air back in rather than water when the engine cools - so I suspect the engine was then getting a bit too hot at the top occasionally. Set your dial indicator on the top side of that push rod. There are some things I liked about the spit but not enough to keep it around. an improvement of nearly 25 percent. Triumph produced the fun and affordable Spitfire for 18 years, during which time over 314,000 were built. If you have just set it to the "book" spec there is every chance it will not be ideal. Let the engine run 20 minutes at 2,000 rpm to break in your cam and lifters. Connecting Rod Bolt Set HD Triumph Spitfire, Midget 1500 . Have them measured by your machinist. Rpm 5000 12.67 14.58 If you find excessive wear your machine shop can reface them. A new set isnt expensive. Powered by Gasoline and Caffeine. Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance must be checked. Quickview. I'd start with some head work a header and dual SUs. In some states, this kind of modification is a no-no. Seals should come in your gasket set but double check. You will need a piston ring compressor. Measured engine output had improved nicely: We posted 65 horsepower and 78 lb.-ft. of torque during our next visit to the dyno. Make sure the engine does not overheat. A heat shield is highly recommended for these as well. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. WHAT A MACHINE SHOP SHOULD DO I have a lot of experience in building engines, I even put together a current class record holding engine at Bonneville. If the gap is too big, have the cylinders bored and new oversize pistons fitted. This measured sprint took us an alarming 14.7 seconds to completenot very sporting for a sports car. Our carbs did need to be freshened, though, and we did that ourselves. Install all bolts on the exterior of the block, for example, threaded plugs, oil pressure regulator, distributor drive and base, water pump, timing cover, crank pulley, motor mount brackets and seals (always put grease on seal lips to avoid damage during installation). Install the piston and connecting rods AVAILABLE IN STANDARD OR ALL REGULAR OVERSIZES [ E-MAIL OR TEL. The Spitfires exhaust system is epically simple, and any competent shop can build you a nice system. If your crankshaft is being reground and your connecting rods resized, this is time to use the size spec range to get the proper rod bearing clearance. The engine number is FM91xxxHE - which I know is Spitfire and High compression - E for engine? They can be rebuilt/modified by anyone who knows SU's. But improper clearance can result in a seized exhaust valve. Handy Tip: Use a Sharpie to put markings on parts you have already torqued or checked clearance to know where you are in the process. 3 main engines were definitelymore common but Triumph had a lock on using only half the thrust washers other manufacturers (like MG) did in that period - a definite shortcoming. Once the crankshaft is installed, be sure to check your crankshaft end float as I first discussed in the disassembly article, and make sure it is in spec per the manual. 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. As always, once we test fitted the manifold, we sent it to Swain Tech Coatings to be coated. (TR6 engine block in the process of being CNCmachined, cylinders being bored). The weber downdraft is basically the same carburetor that was used on early German Capris and Ford Pintos (1970s). Some information and prices may be differenttoday. and you mention getting new sleeves and piston sets. Make sure each time you do this you rotate the engine counter-clockwise approximately .100 and then start back in the normal rotation of the enginethis will make sure there is no timing chain slack that could skew your readings. Intake valves dont require hardened seats since they are not subjected to intense heat. This number could vary, as long as it is the same exact point before, and after maximum lift. For instance,the 2014 Renault F1 engine has a stroke of only 53mm but is limited to 15,000rpm! It set the record on 60% nitromethane, naturally aspirated. It's easy! Then I realised itd be quite cool to make it an animation. Anyone know anything about the downdraft Weber carb and aluminum intake kit being offered by englishparts.com? Totally computer controlled, and programable, this specialized equipment eliminates inaccuraties and errors that can be introduced with manual equipment. If the surface isnt flat, have the deck resurfaced. This engine is almost a direct bolt-in. Is a lighter flywheel right for your classic? I don't want to build a racing engine, but would like to do some sensible upgrades to improve reliability and drivability. They will weigh the valve springs and use shims as needed to insure the correct valve spring height and seated pressure of the valves and springs. Right off the bat, this larger engine delivered more torque than its predecessor. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The car was largely based upon the chassis of the Triumph Herald saloon, but shortened and without the Herald's outrigger sections. MATCHING RED FACTORY HARDTOP. WHAT YOU CAN CLEAN YOURSELF Its a good idea to replace the rocker shaft. "Blueprinting" the crank, making absolutely sure that it is built to precise spec, with best quality parts, is what you have been discussing with Pete and Clive. Intake valves Consider oversize for better flow In England, Triumph Spitfire 1500s were sold with dual SU carbs. All engines are run and broken in prior to installation or shipping to the customer. Still slower than my prius, these are tractor engines from the 50s. Install the crankshaft and bearing I use a Moss high performance Pro Sport model on my MGB racecar and can attest to its high quality. A shop manual is a good idea, but we have a little cheat: Just disassemble one unit at a time, and use the other as a 3-D shop manual of sorts. MG, Rotate the engine by hand; I like to do this from the rear of the engine as to not disturb the degree wheels setting. 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. I prefer the fullcircle cam bearings and not the split type, and the machine shop has the special tools and knowledge to do it right. Has Weber carb. Ray Ciccarelli, Hello As of March 2007, all of our engine block work is carried out to the extremes of perfection on a CNCengine machining center. | Alfa Spider vs. MGB vs. TR6 vs. Miata. Position it toward #1 piston and then bring the piston toward the top of the block. Make sure the piston is marked front and that you are installing it in the proper direction. But there were some problems. Triumph Spitfire - Engine rebuild - YouTube Restoration of my Triumph Spitfire showing the newly rebuilt engine by Prather Racing - Kent Prather and myself. (203) 463-8299 The first step is buying the right parts. Does anyone have a good engine building recipe I could replicate for my 1500's? If you are using an adjustable cam gear then you can do all of this without removing the timing gears again unlike a offset key which can have +/- 1-2 degree tolerance range. The biggest problem with these engines, however, had to be the single, emissions-era Zenith StrombergCVcarburetor. Wishbone Classics is a specialist in rebuilding standard and performance British sports car engines. Apply 30W motor oil to the cylinder walls and the piston skirts. Those upgrades transformed my previously 1300 powered car, and it did well at club autocrosses. The goal is to find maximum camshaft lift on the indicator. Line boring is not needed in most street engine rebuilds. MACHINE SHOP WORK Each engine I take to the machine shop is: Magnafluxed for cracks in the block, head and crankshaft. They could save you a big hassle later. All in, you could easily complete this job for about $700 if you do the work yourself. Yes I know it was built from parts in the 50s and the design never changed. Protection by optimising the oil supply is another option. quantumechanics.com, Swain Tech Coatings Inc. 1980 1500 Spitfire, I just added new cap, rotor, wires, pertronix ignition and flamethrower coil. Line up the dots on the two timing gears when installing the chain. These engines were known to be delicate, especially if over-revved. Once you torque it to spec turn the crankshaft by hand, you should feel a nice fluid motion without any binding. 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. Its rated horsepower was 104 hp in its final year of production, which was 1973. How do we feel about con rod lock tabs? do make sure you stick to 97+ or better fuel, **95 ul was for side valves and mowers when these cars were born. In this video,. This may take several minutes. Digital Rev Limiter Pertronix . The downdraft sends the mixture down to a flat surface in the intake manifold where it splatters and pools rather than smoothly reaching the head. Most cylinder head parts are inexpensive. Handy Tip: If using an adjustable cam gear, torque the cam retaining nut to manual specs before making your adjustments. 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. This is very important, because if you are not on TDC, all your readings will be wrong. At the end of the day if it needs a rebuild every 40/50k its notthe end of the world as that is plenty of years use! Useful article on the oil pump too. Clutch kit. To truly rebuild SU carbs, you must send them to an expert; replacing those throttle shaft bushings requires specialized equipment. Cut a small piece of plastigauge and place on the #1 journal. This is done to prevent a piston ring from getting caught and breaking during installation. Valve guides The intake will have receded. Valve seals Coat with oil, install and torque the #1 main cap to manual specs. BLACK SOFT TOP. I use .003 clearance on my manganese bronze guides. We also redid the air cleaner with the original black crackle finish. REBUILT ENGINE UNITS The Roadster Factory offers its own factory rebuilt engines and cylinder heads (see p. 6), and we believe that these units are the best solution available to most enthusiasts who need an engine overhaul. Once MPS goes up to 20 metres/second, you can expect reduced reliability and early failure, unless the engine has been speciallydesigned and built and/or made from exotic materials. 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. Click & Collect. ALL THE PARTS YOU NEED FOR DIY BOTTOM END ENGINE REBUILD INCLUDING PISTON AND RING SET ,BEARINGS, OIL SEALS,OIL PUMP,CAM FOLLOWERS ,TIMIMG CHAIN AND TENSIONER, HEAD AND SUMP GASKET SET. Without question this is a job for a professional. All rights reserved. Personally, I'd just check the originals for signs of stretch and reuse them. Spitfire Performance Upgrade Parts Fast delivery worldwide Payment options including PayPal British car experts 01522 568000 1-855-746-2767 You may have seen them at county fairs the vertical velodromes were originally built from old grain silos, leading to the name "silo-drome.". Pat Garity. Shifts well, stops well. Re the pinking. If the gap is too big you are going to have to shim the camshaft or remove material from the back side of the cam gear. Proper clearance is required in many areas of your enginepiston to cylinder wall, crankshaft end float, camshaft end float, connecting rod side clearance, and then also things like spring valve lash. 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. On some crankshafts the area where the seals ride can wear over time and new seals alone may not insure you wont have leak. $20.74. Car. Both BMC (B series engines) and Triumph (the Vanguard/TR wet liner engine) also used the engines in all sorts of different applications - main vans, boats and tractors, but they weren't designed for agricultural use in the first place. swaintech.com, Driving the short-lived MGA Twin Cam is magical, Classic Roadster Showdown: Alfa Romeo Spider vs. the Triumph TR6, An MGC Coupe that recalls the glory days of motorsport. Every time we use this miraculous product, were impressed with how it knocks down exhaust temperature and holds up for years, looking like new for a long, long time. Once all of the pistons are in you can rotate the engine to the access the bottom side. Crankshaft replace your pilot bushing. I like to start with the center cap. The MG motor was incapable of being enlarged, just getting itto 1275 had required engineering handsprings (offset conrods? Purpose manufactured components designed to replace faulty original designs - for increased reliability and durability. It is now running with high compression pistons, UK-spec cam, UK-spec 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, and HS4 carbs. In addition there are no springs or weights to fool with. 57,315 M Kurt Tanner Motorcars (866) 461-3172 Santa Ana, CA 92705 (934 miles away) 40 1970 Triumph Spitfire 76,029 mi 1300cc $ 19,700 or $324/mo Once the piston gets to the point where the ring compressor is resting on the deck of the block use a dead blow hammer to tamp the top edges of the ring compressor to square it against the bore. I think these carbs were also stock on 70's era Fiat 124 sedans and roadsters, but I may be wrong. We've endeavored to have our machine work carried out on the finest, most accurate equipment available. THE FINAL LAP | Never miss an article, [Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the March 2013 issue of Classic Motorsports. Which classic roadster offers the best top-down experience? We carry a wide-ranging catalog of used Triumph engines for all applications including gas and diesel engines. The dual HS setup appears to be the best way to go, either the HS2 set-up from a Euro 1300 Spit or the HS4 set from a Euro 1500 Spit. Sign in to ask questions, share photos, and access all website features. What you are looking for is the point the dial indictor needle quits moving as the piston comes to the top of the block. How have you set the timing?? This information does not touch on replacing the Piston sleeves(Liners) and the figure 8 gaskets. If you're a British car owner that seeks perfection, you will not find another engine rebuilder that is able to produce as fine of finished unit. Your manual will tell you the clearance specs, and you need to use an assembly lube on all moving parts inside the oil pump. But this is for high revving engines, not road use. On the bench, apiston and gudgeon pin weighs 346gms, but this is under 1g, the acceleration due to Earth's gravity, In the 2.5L, at 6000rpm the piston reaches more than 2000g, andweighs nearly a tonne! Took the car out for a ride and have a small backfire after shifting. The idea is to remove all the accumulated junk, especially from critical areas like the float bowl and jets. | The carb is a two stage design, so it's essentially a one barrel with a secondary that comes on at full throttle. AnglefireSeptember 30, 2017 in Engine. Cylinder head Its okay if areas around the water jacket do not completely clean up. Check for oil pressure before cranking. ASSEMBLY I wouldn't bother changing the main bolts either, and I don't think loctite is a good idea. Need someone to fit steel main caps to your block and line bore for the proper fit? With the degree wheel and pointer installed, put the magnetic base on the top of the engine block surface or deck. It is a normal practice to oil the threads on all engine high torque bolts to help reach true torque. But do no explore the rev range too often (maybe get a rev limiter!). The spitfre mk3 profile cam is very good, or even the TR5 profile. Very nice condition 50 year old car. Engine gasket sets I prefer Payen brand gasket sets when I can get them. July 19, 2014 @ 4:35 am 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. The factory paired these preferred carburetors with a free-flowing, cast-iron exhaust manifold that emptied into twin pipes. I was not aware of the header from the UK. If you are using a copper gasket then use a copper gasket spray coating. Our reconditioned full engines have one of the highest rebuild specifications available on the market. My spit was a 79, and when I compare it to the other tech available at the time it just looks sad. At least the MG stayed 'all British'. But Ive stuck with it for reasons long since forgotten! I started a similar thread on the MGE and got quite a bit of good feedback, so I thought I'd see what you guys have to say. Ray, July 19, 2015 @ 6:14 am Piston set these will come with rings and pins supplied. If using a performance aftermarket cam, it may be different than what is listed in the manual. Dont let any steps get overlooked. However bad previous repairs, rust, and a desire for more power, resulted in Deck H $3,341.18 New ---- Used Dart SBF SHP Iron Block 4.125 Bore 9.500 DH - 31375235 $2,999.00 New ---- Used A 439 inch small block that put out 739HP on pump gas. The magnaflux chemicals help the machinist detect cracks. Street engines are warrantied for 12 months / 12,000 miles (contact us for complete details of the warranty). And oversized washers are available if there's wear on the crankshaft.