and he didn't use eBay parts, just Canley Classics, Rimmers or Moss. Set your dial indicator on the top side of that push rod. The Triumph SC (small car) engines were never derived fromtractors. Follow the same process with the rod bearings as we did with the crankshaft and plastigauge each journal one at a time. All rights reserved. Manganese bronze guides expand with heat at a different rate than your cylinder head and require more clearance than cast iron guides. For a road engine there are a few simple things. 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. This is very important, because if you are not on TDC, all your readings will be wrong. A better solution is to use this as an excuse to use larger intake valves and enjoy improved performance. The leaning and surging had vanished. Other Areas of your Engine During break-in, check for leaks. Anyone know anything about the downdraft Weber carb and aluminum intake kit being offered by englishparts.com? The American exhaust system from the downpipe back will need to be replaced, however, as it wont mate to the European-spec downpipe. We carry a wide-ranging catalog of used Triumph engines for all applications including gas and diesel engines. Install the main bearings in the block with just a thin coat of non-synthetic 30WT motor oil, then install the crankshaft and coat the exposed journal with oil. 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. The music is In The Hall Of The Mountain King from Edvard Griegs Peer Gynt Suite Its rated horsepower was 104 hp in its final year of production, which was 1973. Need oversized lifter / tappet bores? Full Engine Rebuild Kit - 1500 - RL1001RBK This full engine rebuild kit includes the minimum of parts required when rebuilding an engine (less crank & cam); and assumes that your cylinder block, head, crankshaft & camshaft are all serviceable. Right off the bat, this larger engine delivered more torque than its predecessor. As a rule of thumb, its best to replace the rod bolts. I recommend replacing valves and valve springs. (585) 889-2786 Install a lubed lifter on #1 cylinder intake and then install a push rod into #1 intake lifter. All pricing, component availability, and terms of business are subject to change without notice. I always use bearings supplied by Jigsaw Racing, and with the above, they are long lasting, even inhigh revving engines. A larger motor was needed. Is your favorite classic car properly insured? Flywheel This is done to prevent a piston ring from getting caught and breaking during installation. You have to have a good idea of your expectations and an understanding of the steps required to get what you want. The big issue with Spit motors was not wear onTW, it was preventing them from dropping. If you want to uprate the big end bolts but don't feel like splashing out on ARP, you can also use Cosworth (YB?) Mathew Members 4.2k Posted March 30, 2021 Use the ring compressor around the piston at the point where the rings are located on the piston to compress the ring as it would be when in the cylinder. 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. Took the car out for a ride and have a small backfire after shifting. Please contact us for further details concerning . In England, Triumph Spitfire 1500s were sold with dual SU carbs. 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. 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. Most machine shops have a special tool that can cut all three angles at the same time. For most of our engines .0015-.002 is ideal for rod and main bearing clearances. I discussed addinglock tabs with the engineer when I did my Herald engine, but he warned against it. Cutting the valve seats: The most common is a three angle seat for better performance and sealing. Another way to look at it is to work out how much the piston weighs in use. You will need some headwork, and a skim o achieve a higher compression ratio (depends on the cam). The problem with the thrust bearing is serious, and every Spitfire (or GT-6, or TR-6) owner should know how to check crank end play. Anyway even with the taller gears the engine isn't so high strung that it lugs at all. 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. Digital Rev Limiter Pertronix . (To replace my old engine, which had suffered catastrophic failure). Once you have confirmed oil pressure you are ready to fire the engine for the first time. 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. Then I realised itd be quite cool to make it an animation. Install the cam thrust plate, timing gears, chain and tensioner (if applicable) following the workshop manual guidelines. and have never used new bolts for any bearing caps. I suggest you guys go read the same thread over on the MGExperience board. It includes the crankshaft, bearings, pistons; it excludes the sump, oil pump, camshaft, cylinder head. It's a surrogate for the actual stress calculation that works out the acceleration of the piston, whichis a LOT more difficult! 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. Add to Wish List. (Not for racing, just to bring them into the 21st Century and to get my little Midget screaming down the road). | Never miss an article, [Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the March 2013 issue of Classic Motorsports. How do we feel about con rod lock tabs? In recent years we have become especially well known for ourperformance Triumph TR6 engines, which put out incredible power while improving durability and eliminating faults with the original design. Now that you have acceptable readings on the main journal make sure you clean the plastigauge off each crankshaft journal and bearing shell. They can handle the disassembly, cleaning, checking for cracks, machining and assembly for you. You dont want anything to be bent or stuck, as this will affect your cars operation. Install the camshaft, front engine plate and cam thrust plate A 439 inch small block that put out 739HP on pump gas. 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. For most, dropping off the cylinder head complete to a machine shop is the best idea. The weber downdraft is basically the same carburetor that was used on early German Capris and Ford Pintos (1970s). You can get a reaction between different paints causing wrinkling. 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. Shifts well, stops well. Mean piston speed (MPS) is a simple calculation using the revs and thestroke. MPS(m/s) MPS(m/s) More torque, as we know, helps produce betteraccelerationnumbers. 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. .0015 to .002 is acceptable. I prefer tri-metal bearings; they are what the factory originally supplied for many cars. NICELY RESTORED CAR WITH REBUILT ENGINE. Ray, that is a good point, the wet sleeve motors like the Triumph TR3/$ engines are not a engine I work with. Ray Ciccarelli, Hello 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. Do you need custom pistons for this? The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. Which is a big part of a rebuild, A parts washer makes this job a lot easier, but if you dont have one you can make a temporary parts washer out a 5-gallon bucket and waterbased degreasers. Remove no more than .010 so that the head gasket will seal properly. Get notified when we add a new Triumph Spitfire Manual. At TRF, we know every part of the Spitfire 1500 engine intimately, and rebuild them to exacting standards A nifty-looking, dual-inlet air cleaner wrapped in a black crackle finish was part of the package. Crankshaft grinding is a very skilled part of the machine shop phase. xmFnpTdjkUcUnQtjY4A6zvd5f4fG3r3ftcbDZwzrnG90J4oOQ3fXP5leOHPeW4da. Seals should come in your gasket set but double check. But improper clearance can result in a seized exhaust valve. Triumph TR engines. Make sure you use assembly lube on every main cap and your thrust washers as well. No problem. Over the past 8 years I ahve been upgrading my 1500. Our initial zero-to-60 testing was just as depressing. The crankshaft needs to be measured for wear and sizing. I did the SU conversion source from Quantum Mechanics along with a 5 speed transmission also sourced from Quantum. Always seemed like a sacrilege putting a Spitfire engine into a Midget. But do no explore the rev range too often (maybe get a rev limiter!). Hap Waldrop. In our case, Quantum Mechanics sold us a brand-new downpipe to match the European exhaust manifold. It is a completely different car than it was when I bought it. ], Story by Tim SuddardPhotography asCredited. 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. I raced both 3 and 5 main bearing MG engines and the 3 mains were dealing with slightly less drag and seemed a bit stronger and quicker revving, but bearing life when run to high rpm was better on the 5 main engines - they didn't get around to making 5 main versions until 1965 and Triumph never did go with 5 mains for their 4 cylinder sports car engines. 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!) 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. Install your newly rebuilt engine in your car. Add to Cart. Protecting it by reducing the stress. 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. Has anyone done anything to deck the block to remove the recesses between the cylinders and run a diff head gasket, i.e. Coat with oil, install and torque the #1 main cap to manual specs. 13 33,950 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 6383 MANUAL RHD Refcode: 07AD6F7A-7C71-6CF9-9CAF-66E10EE97FDA Pristine Triumph Spitfire 1500 with just 3,999 miles on the clock! 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. What you are looking for is the point the dial indictor needle quits moving as the piston comes to the top of the block. My best friend has a Fiat with a DCV on it that responded VERY well to it. 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. 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. Ideally, youd also get carburetors that arent worn out. Deck H $3,341.18 New ---- Used Dart SBF SHP Iron Block 4.125 Bore 9.500 DH - 31375235 $2,999.00 New ---- Used At least the MG stayed 'all British'. It takes a trained eye to do this procedure. Exhaust valves Wishbone Classics is a specialist in rebuilding standard and performance British sports car engines. $4315. Ray, July 19, 2015 @ 6:14 am For instance,the 2014 Renault F1 engine has a stroke of only 53mm but is limited to 15,000rpm! The shop will most likely resurface the cylinder head to insure flatness, and provide for a good sealing surface for the head gasket. But there were some problems. Custom options available from electronic fuel injection. anglefire is my forum name across all forums I use. Apologies, confusion re std. There are some things I liked about the spit but not enough to keep it around. I have only ever torqued up to the factory spec, and never had any issues. Grinding off unnecessary mass from conrods, should be followed by polishing and shot peening, which does increase the strength. Mainly as we now run unleaded fuel, not old 4 star! Austin Healey, MG or Triumph we can build it better than original and to any performance level. Magnafluxing typically involves applying a fluid, or powder to the crankshaft, then viewing it under a black light. 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. AVAILABLE IN STANDARD OR ALL REGULAR OVERSIZES [ E-MAIL OR TEL. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 16958 N/A RHD Refcode: 333759 Complete strip down, body spray with new parts and components and rebuilt 12 years ago, engine re. July 19, 2014 @ 4:35 am This may take several minutes. Dont let any steps get overlooked. Read More 1978 Triumph Spitfire with a Mid-Engine Turbo 1.8 L Inline-Four. 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) 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. All rights reserved. It is now running with high compression pistons, UK-spec cam, UK-spec 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, and HS4 carbs. As for the MG Midget, I preferred the 1275. Get Started However bad previous repairs, rust, and a desire for more power, resulted in 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. 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. 6000 15.20 17.50 Remember they have to go in the exact spot they came out of it. 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. For about $200, we had a local muffler shop fabricate a new system. As always, check your local emissions laws. I had a re-used bolt shear, causing catastrophic damage, my first rebuild. 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 Get your hands on the complete Triumph factory workshop software. Cylinder head Some enthusiasts opt for a WeberDGVdown-draft or single side-draft 40DCOEsetup. 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. Engines & Engine Component Rebuilding Services. Pay close attention to your workshop manual for tips like this. WHAT YOU CAN CLEAN YOURSELF Hap, Great article but I must disagree with method for finding TDC. Performance & security by Cloudflare. If using a performance aftermarket cam, it may be different than what is listed in the manual. Feb 2016: We are currently only rebuilding Triumph TR3B (four synchro) through TR6 transmissions and A and J type . I tried the Weber DGV for a while but the SU's are more responsive plus I get better gas mileage ( the 5 speed helps). To truly rebuild SU carbs, you must send them to an expert; replacing those throttle shaft bushings requires specialized equipment. The 1300 Spitfire and MG motors shared quite a lot; iron block, 3 main bearing crankshaft, similar bore & stroke, similar cylinder heads, similar carbs, similar power. 10 watching. 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! Remember, these parts may be nearing their 40th birthday, so go with a reputable dealer. Valve springs, Rocker arms assembly document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 Moss Motors, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The machine shop should magnaflux your crankshaft to rule out any cracks. I remember reading a brief article in Road & Track back in the 70s that with the two SU setup, there's a problem that at higher RPM the mechanical fuel pump doesn't deliver enough gas, causing fuel starvation. These engines were known to be delicate, especially if over-revved. These are both good solutions, but we went with an even easier fix on our1973Spitfire. 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'. (203) 463-8299 You can use new lifters with a used cam but never used lifters with a new cam. By Tim Suddard The cost for this setup is only about $400 to $500, depending on the source and condition of the parts. Now that you have found TDC, move the dial indictors outside bezel to reflect zero at the needle point. Altering the factory cam timing can be done in one of two wayseither by using offset camshaft keys or with an adjustable camshaft gear.