I hope this far into the game you already have a good manual. Quantum Mechanics, Ltd. Thank you very much! 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. 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. Use new gaskets and properly clean all mating surfaces. 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. PDF SPITFIRE 1500 ENGINE - zeni.net Dont let any steps get overlooked. For most, dropping off the cylinder head complete to a machine shop is the best idea. Quickview. When you check the shells, if it hasbeen built with cheap bi-metalones (you can tell by colour and the markings on the rear) then replace them with lead/copper. 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. It's currently (As far as I know) standard - though is from a Dolly 1500! At TRF, we know every part of the Spitfire 1500 engine intimately, and rebuild them to exacting standards 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. I have rebuilt a dozen or so engines (probably double!) The engine needing the least work to retrofit is the Triumph GT6, or the Triumph TR6. Triumph Spitfire 1500 LHD Completely body off restored Triumph Spitfire 1500 LHD. I was always much more partial to the 1296cc Spitfire engine than the 1500. I own a suitable license for this piece of music, supplied by Chris Worth Productions. , The solution is an electric fuel pump in the trunk, and bypass the mechanical pump. Triumph Spitfire Market - CLASSIC.COM Be extra careful installing the camshaft into the blockespecially with a block that has cam bearing as most nicks and scratches happen during installation. Clearances and thoughts 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. A complete rebuild includes the following: EVALUATION As an engine is torn down, each part is checked for excessive wear, damage and failure. Tim mentions the Weber DGV as a suitable alternative carb. Install lifters, pushrods and cylinder head. WHAT A MACHINE SHOP SHOULD DO 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. Have them measured by your machinist. Over the past 8 years I ahve been upgrading my 1500. Rotate the engine by hand; I like to do this from the rear of the engine as to not disturb the degree wheels setting. 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! Sign in to ask questions, share photos, and access all website features. The 1500 is a stroked 1300 and like all stroker engines, they make torque down low, but do not like higher RPMS. item 3 Triumph Spitfire 1500, MG Midget 1500 Rebuilt 4-Speed Transmission, Original, !! 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. Perhaps our biggest issue was simply the original setups drivability. Austin Healey, MG or Triumph we can build it better than original and to any performance level. As JohnD mentioned, you can optimise the pump to minimise clearances between the body and rotor, see:http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/OilPump.htm. If you find excessive wear your machine shop can reface them. 2L & Spits Mk1-4 1500 Once you have confirmed oil pressure you are ready to fire the engine for the first time. Seals should come in your gasket set but double check. Oil pressure regulator parts They are inexpensive, so replace them. | Alfa Spider vs. MGB vs. TR6 vs. Miata. TRIUMPH SPITFIRE MkI,II,III,IV & 1500 (1959-80) FUEL PUMP REPAIR KIT. In addition there are no springs or weights to fool with. Blueprint clearance is mostly done by more advanced engine builders, but your machinist can measure and machine everything to spec. Mainly as we now run unleaded fuel, not old 4 star! | Triumph Spitfire Classic Cars for Sale - Classics on Autotrader and you mention getting new sleeves and piston sets. Do both methods and you will see the dial indicator method can lead you astray by a couple degrees. The snaps were so that I remembered how everything went, so I could put it back together again. from a 1300? AnglefireSeptember 30, 2017 in Engine. The mean piston speed will be 26.5m/sec. 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. Differential Mount Set Poly Front Spitfire GT6 . It might be suitable for some situations but the Spitfire (MG Midget) configuration is not one of them. I tell my customers to go where the racers go. For a reliable road-going engine, careful building, in clean conditions will get you one tha is long-lasting! But Ive stuck with it for reasons long since forgotten! Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Engine Blocks, Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like. It is a completely different car than it was when I bought it. Whilst I don't have a bottomless budget, I would rather spend a few quid more now and not regret it later! New rocker arms are not expensive and in many cases less than the cost of having your originals rebushed and refaced. Crank bearings are supplied standard size and pistons are supplied +0.020" oversize. Engine Block 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. Restoration of my Triumph. Triumph - Engine Swap Depot A nifty-looking, dual-inlet air cleaner wrapped in a black crackle finish was part of the package. Planning for Rebuilding the Engine on the Spitfire | Triumph Spitfire Mk3 Restoration Project: Bruce's Triumph Therapy, [] http://mossmotorsltd.wpengine.com/restoring-british-engine/ [], January 13, 2018 @ 5:01 pm They will measure the new pistons to bore the cylinder. Bottom end I might just get it balanced and reground if needed and look at different pistons and rods but also look at budgets. We can rebuild or repair your engine to factory specifications, and in most cases to much better than factory specifications. I was not aware of the header from the UK. ft/9.5 kgm) at 2500 rpm respectively. 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. 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. Triumph TR engines. Weight is mass times acceleration, andI've done this for a TR6, the worst possible case. 1971 Triumph GT6 with a LS4 V8. Inferior steel in the crankshaft, narrow bearings and thrust washer inadequacy posed issues for the 1500 and on top of that the single carb is a negative, as your test showed A competitor in my race group used to refer to his 1500 as "Mr Floppy" (referencing the crank, which precluded using high rpm). They look 10X better in the engine bay on a 1300 or a 1500 than a ZS or Weber and have been around forever. I have only ever torqued up to the factory spec, and never had any issues. 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. But the Spitfire could be easily stroked to 1493 ccto regain some performance. , theres no dirt inclusions ,or scuffing , look very good to me This is a Fiberfab Jamaican II, it was built in 1983 using a Fiberfab tubular steel chassis and a sleek, lightweightfiberglass body. Get Started Install your newly rebuilt engine in your car. Apologies, confusion re std. What makes a Wishbone Classics engine better? This is a six-cylinder engine, displacing 2 liters. So I always set timing by ear, drive the car and try to get it to pink. I'm guessing not particularly. The weber downdraft is basically the same carburetor that was used on early German Capris and Ford Pintos (1970s). Buy Triumph Spitfire Fuel Pumps and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! Triumph Current car: 1980 Triumph Spitfire Past cars: 1975 Triumph Spitfire, 1973 Austin Mini, 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. Lighter pistons and lighter conrods, by reducing their mass. Valve seals Search (123\Tune+) For perfect timing. Altering the factory cam timing can be done in one of two wayseither by using offset camshaft keys or with an adjustable camshaft gear. If your engine has a harmonic balancer, it will have a rubber insulator between the inner and outer rings. I replaced the original exhaust header with a Pacesetter which increased the pipe diameter to about 2"but have learned there are better ones available. Listen out for rattling and blue. Come on fellas, Mike can't be the only one to reply??? Get notified when we add a new Triumph Spitfire Manual. Useful article on the oil pump too. 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. The big end of the connecting rods that clamp around the crankshaft need to be checked for sizing. Instead, Ill tell you about steps the manual may not cover, and about the engine assembly sequence that can be helpful to you. A short engine is the middle section of the engine assembly, namely the cylinder block. The first step is buying the right parts. All in, you could easily complete this job for about $700 if you do the work yourself. Crank bearings are supplied standard size and pistons are supplied +0.020" oversize. You dont want anything to be bent or stuck, as this will affect your cars operation. Engine Rebuild Kit Mg Midget 1500 - Sportscar Supplies Online Classic I use .003 clearance on my manganese bronze guides. 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. 6500 16.47 18.96 It takes a trained eye to do this procedure. ], Story by Tim SuddardPhotography asCredited. This is due to the manifolds available for that adaptation. The project is really starting to come together now, with the engine soon to go back in. But Kas Kastner, the US race engineer who led Triumphs competition effort there, fond that flow to the mains could be optimised by external lines, instead of the internal oil gallery, in the "Kastner Octopus". Almost 100,000 of these engines were used in the 1973-80 Spitfires, and nearly as many were used inMGMidgets sold from 1975andlater. Motor runs excellent, no issues with state inspection and everything works as it is supposed to. Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Engine Blocks. I would like to strengthen the bottom end - if that is actually possible? Early Spitfire and Heraldengines had lock tabs (https://www.canleyclassics.com/triumph-spitfire-mki/ii-crankshaft-and-camshaft). Move the crankshaft the normal operating rotation (clockwise when facing the front of the engine) until you see the needle reach maximum camshaft lift. After your 20-minute break-in, do your final tuning. 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. A Speedi-Sleeve can be used to renew the surface. Next, install the cylinder head. Hap Waldrop. 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. Pointer this can be as simple as a piece of wire bolted to the front side of the block. Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. Fill the engine with all fluids. The Triumph Sports Six Club Bare J-type OD base rebuild pricing is $1399. Triumph Spitfire: Buying guide and review (1962-1980) Wishbone Classics is a specialist in rebuilding standard and performance British sports car engines. What Engines Will Fit a Triumph Spitfire? | It Still Runs I think that they are 3.67 to 1. 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. Took the car out for a ride and have a small backfire after shifting. 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) I suggest you guys go read the same thread over on the MGExperience board. The engine rebuild kits can be anything from stock, to mild, to wild street performance, to a even a full out race engine. Install the crankshaft and bearing DO NOT be tempted by an external oil line to the cylinder head. Triumph Spitfire Engine Rebuild #8 - Distributor Fitting - YouTube NICELY RESTORED CAR WITH REBUILT ENGINE. Without question this is a job for a professional. Zero out the indicator and double check to make sure you are correct. This may seem like a lot of clearance to your machinist who is not used to working with our engines. 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. Triumph Spitfire Performance Upgrade Parts | Rimmer Bros Piston set these will come with rings and pins supplied. You may have seen them at county fairs the vertical velodromes were originally built from old grain silos, leading to the name "silo-drome.". Quickview. The engine number is FM91xxxHE - which I know is Spitfire and High compression - E for engine? 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). Dont let this step scare you. I've read that a Newmans mildroad cam is a good option, and payan gaskets are the best, but what bearings and rings? 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. 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. 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. Frequently bought together. Get the distributor modified to match the cam (the Distributor Doctor) and find somebody to set the carbs up on a rolling road. Engine gasket sets I prefer Payen brand gasket sets when I can get them. Oil pump whether you replace with new or reuse your current oil pump you will need to disassemble it and check the clearances. It includes the crankshaft, bearings, pistons; it excludes the sump, oil pump, camshaft, cylinder head. Manganese bronze guides expand with heat at a different rate than your cylinder head and require more clearance than cast iron guides. I built a 1500 engine for my '72 Spit back in the day. The leaning and surging had vanished. In England, Triumph Spitfire 1500s were sold with dual SU carbs. Our carbs did need to be freshened, though, and we did that ourselves. He has a 2 liter OHC compared with the spit's little push rod 1500. Follow the same process with the rod bearings as we did with the crankshaft and plastigauge each journal one at a time. Hardened exhaust seat inserts are a must for the hotter burning unleaded fuels used today. ASSEMBLY To read Haps previous article on engine disassembly and inspection, visit www.mossmotoring.com/disassembling-british-engine, October 16, 2013 @ 2:20 pm 100bhp should be achievable fairly easily. Cutting the valve seats: The most common is a three angle seat for better performance and sealing. A window into racing in the 1960s | Sebring Special MGBs: How an MG TC gave way to a worldwide British car enterprise. 4.20 postage . This firm finds these parts overseas and imports them for American enthusiasts. Rocker arm bushings, if needed, Gaskets and the final touches After boring, your block will be honed to get the proper finish on the cylinder wall. Please comment on anything from main studs to cams to roller rockers to engine machining procedures, to compression ratios, to carbs, etc..Please post any good links on this topic as well. Custom options available from electronic fuel injection. I really like the improved proformance. Transmission & Overdrive Rebuild Services | Wishbone Classics Rebuilding A Triumph Spitfire Engine - Silodrome I'd start with some head work a header and dual SUs. No problem. Our reconditioned full engines have one of the highest rebuild specifications available on the market. The std stamped on the shells should mean std size. British Engine Rebuilder 217-232-7303 Specializing in MG/Triumph 1500 Engines " I will not let you run one of my rebuilt engines in your car if I would not run it in mine. While often lamented, Triumphs 1500cc, four-cylinder engine is still owned and loved by thousands of enthusiasts. Be sure to use engine oil with 1200 ppm of ZDDP to insure long engine life. 1500 engine performance mods : Spitfire & GT6 Forum : The Triumph 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 All pricing, component availability, and terms of business are subject to change without notice. But yes, I do enjoy it and try and go out in it as much as possible - I bought it to drive and not be a show car. Some enthusiasts opt for a WeberDGVdown-draft or single side-draft 40DCOEsetup. Performance & security by Cloudflare. If your crankshaft is out of spec and has to be reground, there are several under-sizes of crankshaft bearings available. I used to do it your way but a lecture by Dimitri Elgin pointed out that using a dial indicator can lead to errors. Make sure to clean and lubricate your throttle linkage, too. 10 watching. Opening out the oilways in the block, cross drilling and ovalising the orifices are all possible, as is optimising the oil pump. Bolting on the new carburetors is easy, and since this is a factory setup, the throttle cable will perfectly join the existing system. triumph spitfire 1500 engine for sale | eBay So, if not Vandervell, what other makes are recommended? 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. 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. 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 all the above are expensive and competition related. If you build a 1500 properly and respect it then this much maligned engine can be as dependable as any other Spitfire engine. Now that you have found TDC, move the dial indictors outside bezel to reflect zero at the needle point. As always, once we test fitted the manifold, we sent it to Swain Tech Coatings to be coated. You have to have a good idea of your expectations and an understanding of the steps required to get what you want. Sometimes honing is necessary to get the proper fit. Add to Wish List. The Spitfires exhaust system is epically simple, and any competent shop can build you a nice system. 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 Is a lighter flywheel right for your classic? I can then, at my leisure,rebuild the one in my car now and either sell it on or do another swap. This measured sprint took us an alarming 14.7 seconds to completenot very sporting for a sports car. 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. 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. I would like to fit a sports exhaust at the same time too. After this simple swap, our Spitfire was transformed. Has anyone done anything to deck the block to remove the recesses between the cylinders and run a diff head gasket, i.e. A larger motor was needed. Check the straightness of the top of the blocks deck where the cylinder head attaches. 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. Rocker Assembly Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance must be checked. 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/. But do no explore the rev range too often (maybe get a rev limiter!). My GT has them and Rimmers show them on TR2 -4a, but not GTs or Spitfires. The idea is to remove all the accumulated junk, especially from critical areas like the float bowl and jets. 6000 15.20 17.50 Because these parts are designed by Triumph to fit the cars, the swap is a snap and the results are nothing shortofremarkable. Thank you! Really?). 4>2>1 manifolds easy to source, and the canley single sports box would be my choice. Degreeing a camshaft Anyway even with the taller gears the engine isn't so high strung that it lugs at all. Its rated horsepower was 104 hp in its final year of production, which was 1973. 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! Im only really in the planning stages as when I do pull the engine, Id like to do things like make sure the head is lead free - Im told it was done by the guy who rebuilt it before the last guy who I bought it from.