A bit too obvious for me that! Surfacing them smooth will result in more material being removed than needed. Once the engine starts you want to set the idle at approx. Newman a decent supplier so may have variations worth exploring. The engine needing the least work to retrofit is the Triumph GT6, or the Triumph TR6. Fill the engine with all fluids. 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. Similar upgrades but I milled .125" off the head, sourced a pair of SU's from a '67 Spit, and installeda header from Victoria British. Remove the crankshaft. A larger motor was needed. This firm finds these parts overseas and imports them for American enthusiasts. It's easy! By the time you factor in a driveline loss of 15 to 20 percent, our low horsepower reading looks pretty accuratemaybe even a bit impressive. Quickview. Triumph Spitfire 1500 LHD Completely body off restored Triumph Spitfire 1500 LHD. and you mention getting new sleeves and piston sets. 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. Rpm 5000 12.67 14.58 You will need a piston ring compressor. The intake will have receded. Protection by optimising the oil supply is another option. Street engines are warrantied for 12 months / 12,000 miles (contact us for complete details of the warranty). Because our carburetors didnt exhibit any throttle shaft wear, we didnt need to have them rebuilt. Set up the magnetic base and dial indicator on the front side of the cam, or cam gear, and moving the camshaft front to rear reading the movement on the indicator. This was criticallyimportant asBrazilian automotive, This is a wire frame sculpture of the Ferrari F40 inarguably one of the Italian automakers most important and historically significant supercars. 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. $20.74. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 Moss Motors, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Almost 100,000 of these engines were used in the 1973-80 Spitfires, and nearly as many were used inMGMidgets sold from 1975andlater. Triumph - Spitfire - Sales Brochure - (2015) (German) Brochure 4 Pages. 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. In my post above I was referring to "quality"! Also worth making sure the crank end float is correct (oversize thrust washers usually required, get them the right way round too). an improvement of nearly 25 percent. 21.49. TheseSUcarburetors may be older technology, but they have served many owners very well through the decades. TR3B-TR6 four speed gearbox with A-type OD base rebuild pricing $3250. Some information and prices may be differenttoday. It should come around the outer edge of your degree wheel, preferably on the top side. Replace them. Add to Wish List. I have 3 1500 Triumph engines in RB Midgets I'd like to rebuild and upgrade for greater performance and reliability, to take advantage of modern engine components, the years of tuning and development on this engine since the 70's, and the wealth of engine building experience that has amassed since the engines were introduced. 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. I know I was able to replace the thrust bearing in my TR-6 by dropping the pan and removing the rear main bearing cap, but can't remember if it the same on the Spitfire. We know as the piston idles around TDC the cranks motion doesnt produce much stroke so the positive stop method is more accurate and easy too. Oil pump Apologies, confusion re std. 4.20 postage . Sometimes old paint will strip off if soaked long enough. But no proof or paperwork so Im assuming it wasnt. Bare A-type OD base rebuild pricing is $1650. 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. Whether stock, performance or race, only the highest quality components and workmanship go into our engines. (TR6 engine block in the process of being CNCmachined, cylinders being bored). Triumph had a lock on using only half the thrust washers WishboneClassics is able to perform certain machining operations on your engine that you cannot have done elsewhere. Which classic roadster offers the best top-down experience? Dial indicator on a magnetic base. Rotate the engine by hand at the front crank bolt and adjust all your valves to the recommended lash for the camshaft you are using. Shop Work Discuss with the machine shop the piston size. Can't find a shop that offers a crankshaft nitriding service? Some connecting rods will be a press fit type, and not need servicing other than pressing the old piston off and the new pistons on. A complete rebuild includes the following: EVALUATION As an engine is torn down, each part is checked for excessive wear, damage and failure. TR6 and GT6 Engine. I've seen talk of 100HP from some out there, but I have to admit that the 3 main bearing crank arrangement scares me pretty badly. Purpose manufactured components designed to replace faulty original designs - for increased reliability and durability. No problem. Thanks for the article though it just reinforces my decision. These engines were known to be delicate, especially if over-revved. Motor runs excellent, no issues with state inspection and everything works as it is supposed to. As always, check your local emissions laws. A new set isnt expensive. Many British engines have cam bearings in the block. All engines are run and broken in prior to installation or shipping to the customer. Timing assembly always replace the chain, timing gear and timing chain tensioner. Degreeing a camshaft This is very important, because if you are not on TDC, all your readings will be wrong. Mainly as we now run unleaded fuel, not old 4 star! This item: Triumph Spitfire 1500: Repair Operation Manual. Like so many other emissions-era carburetors, ours caused the car to surge and run leanespecially at highway speeds. You need to plastigauge the bearing clearances. Its really more simple than people make it out to be. Keep advancing the timing until you do, then retard just enough so you don't get any pinking. The key here is getting the entire setup, including the linkages. Thanks Pete and Clive - as I say, I'm not after a racing engine or even upping the power particularly. To save money and meet the ever-stricterU.S.emissions standards, American-market versions of this 1500 were fed by just one carb, not the dualSUsetup found onearlierSpitfires. I'd start with some head work a header and dual SUs. AnglefireSeptember 30, 2017 in Engine. My engine is very user friendly around town and on the highway. Crankshaft wear: the 1493cc engine fitted to the Spitfire 1500 has problems of its own, as the crankshaft can wear badly, along with the pistons and rings. 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) Because this CNCengine center also bundles multiple machining operations into one piece of equipment, we no longer have to worry about different individual machines introducing any deviations in tolerances between machining steps. Deck H $3,341.18 New ---- Used Dart SBF SHP Iron Block 4.125 Bore 9.500 DH - 31375235 $2,999.00 New ---- Used Strengthening the bottom end isn't an option, unless you go for a steel billet crank and conrods. Started out as just a collection of snaps as I stripped down an engine bought off ebay. 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. Vandervell were the bearing of choice when a friend of mine built a 2ltr pinto for rallying as alternative bearings failed after about 3 events (Spectacularly the first time!) Have your timing light ready to set the timing. In addition there are no springs or weights to fool with. Inspect the rocker arm bushings and replace if needed. A short engine is the middle section of the engine assembly, namely the cylinder block. 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. June 30, 2021 June 30, 2021; GT6; Fanatik Builds started their 1971 Triumph GT6 project as a simple restoration. Personally, I'd just check the originals for signs of stretch and reuse them. If you are reusing your existing camshaft your lifters can be reused if they are in good condition. DO NOT be tempted by an external oil line to the cylinder head. Many parts are available for this engine from aftermarket suppliers. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Now that you have found TDC, move the dial indictors outside bezel to reflect zero at the needle point. Listen out for rattling and blue. Theory is great, but how much does this swap really help performance? I was not aware of the header from the UK. 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. Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance must be checked. All spark advance is handled electronically. Its a good idea to replace the rocker shaft. MG Midget Triumph Spitfire Rebuilt 1500 Engine About this product About this product Best Selling in Engine Blocks Speedmaster Pce286.1049 Aluminum Engine Block Ford 351w Windsor 9.500 In. NEW PARTS You will do this similarly to your crankshaft end float. I like to get parts down to bare metal, because painting over old paint is a mixed bag of nuts. As always, once we test fitted the manifold, we sent it to Swain Tech Coatings to be coated. Head has been gas flowed and the inlet ports "matched" apparently and it came complete with rebuilt carbs, alloy rocker cover and a twin pipe sports exhaust and4-2-1 header. I have only ever torqued up to the factory spec, and never had any issues. The spitfre mk3 profile cam is very good, or even the TR5 profile. To avoid offsetting the soon-to-be-realized power gains, make sure the new system is not too restrictive. 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. In this video,. Coat with oil, install and torque the #1 main cap to manual specs. 6000 15.20 17.50 | Alfa Spider vs. MGB vs. TR6 vs. Miata. Southern Rebore Services carried out the machining work. The CNCblock machining center is a major contributor to the high level of quality and performance on our engines. Line up the dots on the two timing gears when installing the chain. (Not for racing, just to bring them into the 21st Century and to get my little Midget screaming down the road). Harlow Private 4,500 TRIUMPH Spitfire Spitfire Spitfire/GT6 site suggests E for engine, to avoid confusion with commission number. Engine Rebuild Kit Major Spitfire 73 to 80 Part number MEK7380 Availability: In stock Triumph Spitfire 1973 to 1980 Email Question $726.52 $920.47 Share this product Engine Rebuild Kit Major Spitfire 73 to 80 Go back to product details Piston Set 1500 (Choose Size) Piston Set STD 1500 9-1 + $233.99 Piston Set 020 1500 9-1 + $193.99 Triumph removed the lock tabs quite early on in production and never reinstated them despite loads increasing considerably (e.g. I recommend replacing valves and valve springs. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e7dcb8a2dc2cd 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. The '78 spit I just bought has this and a 4 tube header on it. The piston should now slip into the bore. 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. Remove no more than .010 so that the head gasket will seal properly. 6500 16.47 18.96 "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. And oversized washers are available if there's wear on the crankshaft. Thrust bearing in the proper size. Its important that this be accounted for because too much clearance would cause a loss of oil pressure and too little clearance could cause damage to the bearings and crankshaft. 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. Regrinding the original cast iron exhaust seat is a short term answer, as valve seal will be lost in a short period of time. Search (123\Tune+) For perfect timing. Move to zero and then around and stop at .005 past zero. You will need some headwork, and a skim o achieve a higher compression ratio (depends on the cam). Now stop at .005 before the indicator reaches zero, or maximum lift, record your readings at the degree wheel. Feb 2016: We are currently only rebuilding Triumph TR3B (four synchro) through TR6 transmissions and A and J type . 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/. For about $200, we had a local muffler shop fabricate a new system. Intake valves Consider oversize for better flow Refer to your workshop manual for the proper spec but it will likely be .002-.005. Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. 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. While adding main bearings and redesigning thrust washers is not an easy feat, at least one of the engines problems can be addressed: without much headachebettercarburetion. Cover the camshaft journals, lobes and gears liberally with assembly lube. The std stamped on the shells should mean std size. I suggest you guys go read the same thread over on the MGExperience board. Buy the HD/LC or whatever they are called, a few a set more than, that shell looks pretty much like its hard ever run , ive seen much worst in brand new engines off production, Make sure your crankshaft is at BDC (bottom dead center) meaning the crankshaft journal is closest to bottom of the engine. He has a 2 liter OHC compared with the spit's little push rod 1500. Blueprinted engines are achieved when a builder dictates these sizes to get the exact clearance they need. 7000 17.73 20.42 They can be rebuilt/modified by anyone who knows SU's. Read More 1978 Triumph Spitfire with a Mid-Engine Turbo 1.8 L Inline-Four. I am looking for some specific engine modifications, specific cam recommendations, specific machining insight from the Spit crowd who have been tuning these engines longer and harder than we MG owners. FUEL PETROL PUMP (**See Engine No**) (1970- 74) 20.50. 4>2>1 manifolds easy to source, and the canley single sports box would be my choice. After this simple swap, our Spitfire was transformed. 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. 1979 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MK IV. $118.99. A window into racing in the 1960s | Sebring Special MGBs: How an MG TC gave way to a worldwide British car enterprise. Pointer this can be as simple as a piece of wire bolted to the front side of the block. 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. | Never miss an article, [Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the March 2013 issue of Classic Motorsports. But all the above are expensive and competition related. Crankshaft grinding is a very skilled part of the machine shop phase. Thanks Richard. Triumph Spitfire Restoration Parts and Accessories | Moss Motors 2023 Events New & Featured Moss Motors 75th Anniversary Coin 010-915 $6.00 Products You Might Like Air Filter Element Midget, Spitfire 1975-80 950-805 BACK ORDER - We are temporarily out of stock on this item. 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. And as my current engine seems to be doing about 28mpg, I'd hate to think what a low efficiency engine is like, i cant find any data readily availablethat explains the last suffix 'E'. They will measure the new pistons to bore the cylinder. Thanks Pete - as it happens I picked up a "new" engine today - has been largely rebuilt - needs a new oil pump as it wasn't changed, but does seem to be well done overall. How have you set the timing?? Sold my spit last year and it was one ofthe few cars I never regretted selling. Thank you! Some connecting rods have floating piston pins, the bushings will need to be checked for play and wear as well. You need the following to do the job: There is no need to hurry; time is your friend when degreasing. Your IP: I hope this far into the game you already have a good manual. Description Triumph Spitfire - Classic Car Fuel Injection Conversion Based on our Premium Vehicle Kit for 2 SU carburettor upto 125 BHP This kit contains all the parts needed for our Classic Fuel Injection system (you do not need to order anything else from our range ) Save around 200 when buying as complete kit I did the SU conversion source from Quantum Mechanics along with a 5 speed transmission also sourced from Quantum. Install the oil pan and gasket. Very nice condition 50 year old car. They could save you a big hassle later. Sign up for a new account in our community. I'm just curious where this little motor might go if tuned and built properly. As you'd expect Vesseys are the specialists in the repair and reconditioning of the Triumph 4 and 6 cylinder engines. You may have seen them at county fairs the vertical velodromes were originally built from old grain silos, leading to the name "silo-drome.". For about $400, we sourced a set of these carbs, the proper intake manifold, a factory European exhaust manifold and a downpipe from Quantum Mechanics. Cut a small piece of plastigauge and place on the #1 journal. The Kent fast road grind has a lot of lift but not a lot of duration which keeps the power band from being pushed too high. But there were some problems. Check the straightness of the top of the blocks deck where the cylinder head attaches. A better solution is to use this as an excuse to use larger intake valves and enjoy improved performance. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Make sure to lube all points of contact. Check the wiper section of the rocker arm where it makes contact with the valve stem. Carburetor Rebuild Kit, Weber DGV Downdraft . Remember, these cars were optimistically rated at about 70 horsepower at the crank. Theyve even won countlessSCCAchampionships. Lighter pistons and lighter conrods, by reducing their mass. I don't want to build a racing engine, but would like to do some sensible upgrades to improve reliability and drivability. I used new bolts and tabs, but this was 1980s so bolts would be from the good bucket. Now loosen the crank nut and rotate the degree wheel to reflect TDC on it. 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. Quickview. As for the MG Midget, I preferred the 1275. The factory paired these preferred carburetors with a free-flowing, cast-iron exhaust manifold that emptied into twin pipes. I have rebuilt a dozen or so engines (probably double!) The rule with engine building is clean, clean, and then clean some more. I would like to strengthen the bottom end - if that is actually possible? The best currently available bearings are King Tri-metal which most suppliers (e.g. THE FINAL LAP Triumphs and Jags back in 1972 (58k scanned image of an official price sheet) Building an engine test stand Assorted first hand tech rebuilds Rebuilding Seats Windshield chrome Trim Oil Cooler Installation New Pistons and rings Grinding Rings New Dashboard Front Spring lowering Stainless Steel Brake Lines Rear axle tricks Interior Trim 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! Quickview. Once you have confirmed oil pressure you are ready to fire the engine for the first time. Crank bearings are supplied standard size and pistons are supplied +0.020" oversize. As JohnD mentioned, you can optimise the pump to minimise clearances between the body and rotor, see:http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/OilPump.htm. Well we offer that as well. 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. theres no dirt inclusions ,or scuffing , look very good to me Body & Chassis Brakes Clutch, Gearbox & Axle Cooling System Electrical Engine Exhaust Exterior Fuel System & Induction General Accessories Heating & Ventilation Interior 9.99 Download now. - I think there is some end float issues amongst others!). As of March 2007, all of our engine block work is carried out to the extremes of perfection on a CNCengine machining center. Rocker arm bushings, if needed, Gaskets and the final touches 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 If you feel any resistance, make sure the ring compressor is tamped square against the block deck, and if you still feel resistance, you may want to look in the bottom of the block and make sure your connecting rod is not interfering with the crankshaft. And the engine was a huge part of that. But the US emissions regs sucked away both torque and power. I'll look for the head stamp and see what it says. Make sure all stud and bolt threads are oiled. 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. Engine was previously rebuild by Ivor Searle, looks brand new under the rocker cover.. Ps, fuel tank is disconnected, now pumping fuel out of a fresh can. Position it toward #1 piston and then bring the piston toward the top of the block. 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. Having trouble posting or changing forum settings? This is done to prevent a piston ring from getting caught and breaking during installation. This is really useful and clearly written. Our zero-to-60 times dropped by more than 2 seconds. Do this one main cap at time working from front to back being careful to not rotate the crankshaft. I have a lot of experience in building engines, I even put together a current class record holding engine at Bonneville. Add those two numbers together and divide by twothat is your cam timing. While often lamented, Triumphs 1500cc, four-cylinder engine is still owned and loved by thousands of enthusiasts. For most, dropping off the cylinder head complete to a machine shop is the best idea. A frind ran a Ginetta G4 with a 3 main Ford MAE - 3 main, 9500 rpm red line (albeit with a short stroke). Please contact us for further details concerning . This number could vary, as long as it is the same exact point before, and after maximum lift.