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I have a 1959 Bugeye (frogeye) that is orig. with 948 cc and non-synco trans. std. drum brakes. Just finished the "Moss" interior, Mini-lite wheels and fresh YELLOW paint. Not fast, just a nice ride in the sun. Bill French Hilton Head, SC PS. Still looking for early sprite sales brochures. frenchww@... 5337... MORE
Bob There have been a few designs of 8 port A series heads. Special Tuning did a cast iron 8 port head in the 60's (which also ran fuel injection) for the works Minis. The only 8 port head I have any experience is the Arden head which was designed by Jim Whitehouse for use on 850 Minis running in the (then) special saloon series in the late 60's. they produced over 100bhp and did over 13,000rpm back then... It is a cross flow head with the carbs on the 'ignition' side of the engine. The cam is rephased... MORE
Mike, Trying to get mine back to near original, the engines a 1098 instead of a 948 but have had the intention of getting it back to the 1960 she once was. You know, the engine smokes, the brakes dont brake, the carbs wont stay tuned the shifter wont stay in first gear and the wiring didnt work. ORGINALITY AINT IT GRAND. In truth, after 2 years 6 months and 1 day(but I'm not counting) she should be nearing completion and should be back on the road in the next 2 weeks Bob 60 AN5 TAMPA, FL MTGBRKR1@... 5335... MORE
Hey Reg, Welcome back dewd. Kinda sounds like you have a car similar to my last one (65 Midget) ie. The brakes don't brake, the carburetors don't carb, the wipers don't wipe, the ignition don't ignite, and the pistons don't work either.....LOL Wish you were here in NY....I'd be glad to share my shop with you in exchange for assistance on my 79 refit. Good luck Dave in NY "Stevens, David" 5332... MORE
Hi Everyone, I haven=92t been on here for a while, and boy I sure do miss the banter. Anyway, I am trying to restore a =9268 midget, but lack the major resources to do so. I would like to strip her down as she has some body work that needs done, and she really needs a media blast. Now my problem is that I live on the Campus of The University of California, Irvine, and they frown on minor car repairs, and would absolutely freak if I were to pull the engine, or start stripping her down. I really... MORE
As I understand it retaining heat - or rather spreading the heat through the head too efficiently so that the inlet ports run as hot as the combustion chambers... Presumably it would cool down quicker as well... Good head for a hillclimb/sprint car maybe? J "James Bilsland" 5319... MORE
To get a race engine built here in Australia will cost b/n about A$6000 and A$13,000 depending on who you use and what you want. The biggest, fastest engines (from the most expensive builder) with billet crank, carillo rods, steel caps, converted thick flange A+ block, etc etc are right up there in $$. If you are happy with a wedged/cross-drilled EN16T crank, Cooper S rods, Spridget or A+ block, etc, and are happy with 15-20% less HP, then you can do it for the bottom end of the range (~$6000). Depends on what you can afford to spend...... MORE
The worst mechanical job I can think of on a Midget is replacing and re-bleeding the clutch slave cylinder (on an A series car)... Also any job involving a MIG welder and grinder.... J james@... 5301... MORE
An interesting bit of info that I picked up at the weekend.. Nick Swift (Swiftune) had a 1380 engine on his dyno last week with an aluminium 5 port head (available from Mini Mania etc...). On his flow bench the head (which had been modified by Swiftune) flowed as well as his best race heads (and they are very good - most front running Miglias use Swiftune heads). On the Dyno the engine produced very good power on full throttle - but only momentarily - then the power died off badly. After much checking and repeating of the phenomenon... MORE
Hugh, It's possible the missing gasket is the cause. The logic is that the pump, aluminum, was torqued up cold to a steel or cast iron, I can't remember, mating surface. As the engine warms up the parts expand at different rates causing a leak. That's my theory anyway. Good luck. Martyn meastwood1@... "Martyn Eastwood" 5309... MORE
Bob As an estimate (and remember I do most of my own work including heads) I would estimate my engine cost me about =A31,500. An engine of approximately equivalent spec from Peter May Engineering is around =A33,000. from David Gathercole or M.E.D. probably nearer =A34,000 James "James Bilsland" 5297... MORE
Hi guys (& girls!) Just my 2c worth. Although I haven't been on PB's road, James claims seem about right. My 1380 was built just short of full Mini Miglia challenge series spec and gives 116bhp on the R Road I use. So if James has gone for a 'full house' build he would be in the 140bhp range.................nice (who needs a 'K') Cheers Mike M. North London mike643mnp@... 5293... MORE
Hi Stuart. #1 lead is the one closest to the FRONT of the engine ;-)... alternatively, you may have an early crank pulley/damper with your late-model timing chain cover. (Earlier midgets had the cam-chain cover timing marks underneath the car. God only knows why- perhaps the Abingdon engine tuning team were all very short.) Check your rocker clearances (or 'lash') on all valves. You may find the clearances on 1&4 have closed up. Compression is related to cam timing, but not at all to ignition timing. Spitty misfires can also be a rocker clearance, especially if they get worse... MORE
Stuart You need to set No 1 piston at TDC and then mark your pulley (probably easier to make up a pointer to point at your 'top' mark than to worry about the marks underneath). The most accurate way to set the TDC is to remove the head and put a dial gauge on No 1 piston. A much easier (although less accurate) way is to use a probe through No 1 spark plug hole to work out when the piston is at the top of its travel. Once you have the piston at TDC then you can mark... MORE
Jon If the 'new boy' comment is aimed in my direction I should point out that the power I quote comes from a recognised and highly reputable rolling road in the UK. Peter Baldwin tunes probably 50% of the front running A series race cars in this country. Last year Peter won the Mini Miglia challenge series which is THE front running series for A series powered cars in the world. Rolling road figures do vary depending on the road and the weather conditions but I assure you that my engine produced over 140bhp on Peter's rolling road. I... MORE
Grant, I think I must have a late crank pulley and an early timing chain cover, because my timing marks are underneath. Is there any way to mark the correct timing marks on my cover without taking my engine out again? You say that compression is related to cam timing, but if my cam timing was out, my engine wouldn't run would it? ...which doesn't explain the compression differences (120psi on 1 and 4 and 160 on 2 and 3) - I'm pretty sure my rocker clearances are ok...? "Stuart Toller" 5282... MORE
I have removed the engine and started to check it out. I first pulled the oil filter and line from the side of the engine and everything was clear. After removing the back plate, I began to check the oil pump and found it to be within limits, but noticed that I didn't have the gasket installed between the pump and block. This gasket was missing from the gasket sets I purchased and during assembly just missed it. The question is, could this one gasket have caused the oil prssure to be high when cold, but low once warmed... MORE
Hi Mike, I think we talked heads a while back. I talked to David Anton today at APT and asked about his heads. Last year he built me a 1380 with his head. He says my head will flow 126 CFM at 25 in. This puts it slightly above the Longman but I think for the street you would never notice. The new boy doesn't know much about HP does he? NOS might give you 140 for a short time. (G) I'll say one thing after you have driven a big motor you sure can't be satisfied with a... MORE
I'm still having problems with my 1275 so any help on the following points would be appreciated: Firstly timing: When I attach my strobe to No.1 ignition lead, the timing looks like it's 180 deg out. (The timing mark on the pulley is at the top, about 180 opposite the timing marks on the bottom of the timing chain cover) The car runs, so I assume that the timing can't actually be 180 deg out (or can it?) Secondly compression: I'm getting less compression on cylinders 1 and 4 than on 2 and 3, I'm getting about 8.5 (psi??)... MORE
Both 948 and 1098 engines have a 4-bolt flywheel fixing, without dowels. The 948 used a 6.25" clutch whereas the 1098 was 7.5" Dave dave_oneill138@... 5257... MORE
We're moving soon (Bigger house smaller garage but room to build a huuuge one) and so I'm sorting out the garage to be packed. I have a collection of flywheels and one of them is a bit of a mystery. It appears to be A-series but only has four holes for connecting to the crankshaft and no provision for dowels. It also has no lightening i.e. the engine side is completely flat. Any thoughts as to what it might be, Minor, A35? If so could it me used for Spridget with the correct machining? I also have a Moss... MORE
How about an XJ13 replica for the jag bits or alternatively put the engine in a Ginetta G21. "Jeremy Cogman" 5244... MORE
Thanks for the help. New guage on order. Can I simply disconnect the oil pressure line from the back of the old guage or do I need to drain something first? I have visions of loosening off the nut (once I can work out how to get to it) and oil spurting everywhere. There is also a second Smiths oil guage in a console which houses the radio. Don't know why this is there as both work, although giving slightly different readings. A short length of braided hose has simply has been taken off the back of the original... MORE
There are 1.5 forged rockers available in the UK for about UK=A3140-ish and they are complete with new pillars which re-align the rocker assembly. I could see that the Corolla rockers may upset the geometry of the rocker gear. Does the rocker pad line up with the valve stem? If so, is the pushrod now working at an angle? Dave dave_oneill138@... 5240... MORE
Phil & anyone I am curious what is the cost of a K series engine and the necessary bits and since people fit Ford gearboxes to Spridgets is it possible to fit a ford engine also (loads of those in UK scrap yards). Dave "David Dixon" 5233... MORE
