Move the crankshaft the normal operating rotation (clockwise when facing the front of the engine) until you see the needle reach maximum camshaft lift. Move to zero and then around and stop at .005 past zero. As JohnD mentioned, you can optimise the pump to minimise clearances between the body and rotor, see:http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/OilPump.htm. I had a re-used bolt shear, causing catastrophic damage, my first rebuild. Install a lubed lifter on #1 cylinder intake and then install a push rod into #1 intake lifter. Seals should come in your gasket set but double check. Shifts well, stops well. Clearances and thoughts (Not for racing, just to bring them into the 21st Century and to get my little Midget screaming down the road). Replace them. I have rebuilt a dozen or so engines (probably double!) The MG motor was incapable of being enlarged, just getting itto 1275 had required engineering handsprings (offset conrods? 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. Adjustable cam gears will have about 20 degrees of variable adjustment to work with assuring you can get the cam timing exactly where you need. Minimum engine rebuild service price is $10,000 USD for a fully rebuilt dyno tested engine package (fully assembled engine, carbs, ignition, exhaust manifold, etc) All engines being rebuilt are torque plate honed for superior cylinder bore geometry and improved piston ring seal 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. For a road engine there are a few simple things. Remove no more than .010 so that the head gasket will seal properly. Get notified when we add a new Triumph Spitfire Manual. For example, most modern black composite material head gaskets require no coating or sealer. Engine Rebuild Kit Major Spitfire 73 to 80 - British Parts Northwest Inc You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. I really like the improved proformance. For the earlier 4 cylinder engines we always fit upgraded rear oil seals, an . 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. Another way to look at it is to work out how much the piston weighs in use. In this video,. Triumph Spitfire - Engine rebuild - YouTube We've endeavored to have our machine work carried out on the finest, most accurate equipment available. I've read that a Newmans mildroad cam is a good option, and payan gaskets are the best, but what bearings and rings? 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. Triumph Spitfire Market - CLASSIC.COM Keep advancing the timing until you do, then retard just enough so you don't get any pinking. I always use bearings supplied by Jigsaw Racing, and with the above, they are long lasting, even inhigh revving engines. It takes a trained eye to do this procedure. Given that MG and Triumph were both owned and built by BLMC, choosing the Spitfire motor for both was a no brainer. This is where most cracks occur, so the proper filet radius is important for the overall strength of the crankshaft. All engines are run and broken in prior to installation or shipping to the customer. 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. Triumph Spitfire Parts & Spares - Moss Europe Use rubber gloves, even water-based chemicals can be harsh on skin. | Never miss an article, [Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the March 2013 issue of Classic Motorsports. Almost 100,000 of these engines were used in the 1973-80 Spitfires, and nearly as many were used inMGMidgets sold from 1975andlater. 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/. I wouldn't bother changing the main bolts either, and I don't think loctite is a good idea. The chap who created this stop motion film is one of the few chosen ones who successfully completed a full engine rebuild without throwing in the towel and marching down to the pub, the engine in the film is a 1500 4 pot from a Triumph Spitfire one of those cars Ive always sworn Ill buy. 6500 16.47 18.96 Read the Forum Help (FAQ) or contact the webmaster. 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. WishboneClassics is able to perform certain machining operations on your engine that you cannot have done elsewhere. You need to plastigauge the bearing clearances. Bare A-type OD base rebuild pricing is $1650. Personally, I'd just check the originals for signs of stretch and reuse them. This guy does a good job of outliningthe issues with the 1500: http://triumphspitfire.rickbaines.com/weaknesses-of-triumphs-1500-engine/. Follow the advice of the head gasket manufacturer in regards to coating. 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. Take your time and give your starter a break if it takes a while. 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). Most machine shops have a special tool that can cut all three angles at the same time. Other Areas of your Engine 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. If your crankshaft is out of spec and has to be reground, there are several under-sizes of crankshaft bearings available. The intake will have receded. It's a surrogate for the actual stress calculation that works out the acceleration of the piston, whichis a LOT more difficult! Get the distributor modified to match the cam (the Distributor Doctor) and find somebody to set the carbs up on a rolling road. Right off the bat, this larger engine delivered more torque than its predecessor. 7000 17.73 20.42 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! Engines & Engine Component Rebuilding Services. 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 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. The thing to remember is that the engine is many different systems that all have to work together. Read More 1978 Triumph Spitfire with a Mid-Engine Turbo 1.8 L Inline-Four. Keep your manual close at hand for the assembly stage. You will need a piston ring compressor. , (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. Theres nothing quite like the process of pulling apart, fixing and rebuilding a vintage engine. This measured sprint took us an alarming 14.7 seconds to completenot very sporting for a sports car. The 1500 is a stroked 1300 and like all stroker engines, they make torque down low, but do not like higher RPMS. Come on fellas, Mike can't be the only one to reply??? It includes the crankshaft, bearings, pistons; it excludes the sump, oil pump, camshaft, cylinder head. What makes a Wishbone Classics engine better? NEW PARTS 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. 1973 Triumph Spitfire 1500 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle Connecting Rods Flywheel That is not true but often repeated. Something went wrong. AVAILABLE IN STANDARD OR ALL REGULAR OVERSIZES [ E-MAIL OR TEL. They will measure the new pistons to bore the cylinder. Crankshaft Rebuilding A Triumph Spitfire Engine - Silodrome The Triumph SC (small car) engines were never derived fromtractors. Oil pressure regulator parts They are inexpensive, so replace them. Vandervell do come up on eBay from time to time, but most are showing their age from long term storage. Triumph Spitfire 1969-1980 Owners Workshop Manual: Glovebox Edition (Practical Classics & Car Restorer) $2000. How have you set the timing?? TR6 and GT6 Engine. 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. | Posted in While often lamented, Triumphs 1500cc, four-cylinder engine is still owned and loved by thousands of enthusiasts. Next, install the cylinder head. Hap, Great article but I must disagree with method for finding TDC. Its rated horsepower was 104 hp in its final year of production, which was 1973. We can rebuild or repair your engine to factory specifications, and in most cases to much better than factory specifications. It's easy! I think that they are 3.67 to 1. Then I realised itd be quite cool to make it an animation. Now that you have acceptable readings on the main journal make sure you clean the plastigauge off each crankshaft journal and bearing shell. The following is a list of new parts I typically include in an engine rebuild. Includes engine/driveline, suspension, brakes, It's currently (As far as I know) standard - though is from a Dolly 1500! We also redid the air cleaner with the original black crackle finish. Record your reading. 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. TS Imported Automotive - British Car and Parts Sales Pandora, Ohio Motor runs excellent, no issues with state inspection and everything works as it is supposed to. Deck H $3,341.18 New ---- Used Dart SBF SHP Iron Block 4.125 Bore 9.500 DH - 31375235 $2,999.00 New ---- Used Ray Ciccarelli, Hello Install the cam thrust plate, timing gears, chain and tensioner (if applicable) following the workshop manual guidelines. The weber downdraft is basically the same carburetor that was used on early German Capris and Ford Pintos (1970s). Make sure to lube all points of contact. The Triumph Spitfire is a small British two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. Whilst I don't have a bottomless budget, I would rather spend a few quid more now and not regret it later! - I think there is some end float issues amongst others!). Please state if alternate sizes are required. Then rotate the crank til it stops, note the reading on your wheel then rotate it backwards. I'm also probably going to get another engine and after a bit of general inspection (The one I'm going to look at has already been largely rebuilt) and replacing the oil and water pumps - which haven't been done and then swap engines over - it also has a twin exhaust and a 4-2-1 header which is almost new. The Triumph SC (small car) engines were never derived fromtractors. Just because your cylinder bores or crankshaft journals look good, never assume they dont have any wear or issues. The OEM guides are cast iron. The mean piston speed will be 26.5m/sec. 10 watching. Now loosen the crank nut and rotate the degree wheel to reflect TDC on it. The std stamped on the shells should mean std size. Triumph Spitfire 1500: Repair Operation Manual - amazon.com (203) 463-8299 Cut a small piece of plastigauge and place on the #1 journal. The spitfre mk3 profile cam is very good, or even the TR5 profile. Paddocks) sell. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Contact Us, Rare American Sports Car: The Fiberfab Jamaican II V8, Full Documentary: The History Of Land Rover, For Sale: The Triumph Scrambler Stunt Motorcycle From James Bonds No Time To Die, Street-Legal Historic Race Car: A 1962 Semi-Lightweight E-Type, Unusual Project Car: A Brazilian Volkswagen SP2, For Sale: Ferrari F40 Wire Frame Sculpture. Test fitting the crankshaft and bearings Lube the rod bolt threads with motor oil or fastener assembly lube, like the one ARP makes, and torque your rod bolts to manual spec. Timing assembly always replace the chain, timing gear and timing chain tensioner. Cover the camshaft journals, lobes and gears liberally with assembly lube. Does the backfire come from timing, or carb? Protection by optimising the oil supply is another option. A bit too obvious for me that! 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. 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". Wishbone Classics is a specialist in rebuilding standard and performance British sports car engines. Tim mentions the Weber DGV as a suitable alternative carb. Re the pinking. PS just noticed - you DO call yourself "Anglefire"! Watch on There's nothing quite like the process of pulling apart, fixing and rebuilding a vintage engine. They are still relatively cheap, but are usually in need of new throttle shafts and waxstat to fixed jet modification. Cutting the valve seats: The most common is a three angle seat for better performance and sealing. 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. Fuel pump work good (tested). 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. 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. June 30, 2021 June 30, 2021; GT6; Fanatik Builds started their 1971 Triumph GT6 project as a simple restoration. I've googled and it seems to be questionable! If the surface isnt flat, have the deck resurfaced. It should come around the outer edge of your degree wheel, preferably on the top side. | Alfa Spider vs. MGB vs. TR6 vs. Miata. I don't want to build a racing engine, but would like to do some sensible upgrades to improve reliability and drivability. 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. Useful article on the oil pump too. Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance must be checked. 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. So I always set timing by ear, drive the car and try to get it to pink. A complete rebuild includes the following: EVALUATION As an engine is torn down, each part is checked for excessive wear, damage and failure. Our reconditioned full engines have one of the highest rebuild specifications available on the market. 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. Remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over until you see oil pressure at the gauge. The American exhaust system from the downpipe back will need to be replaced, however, as it wont mate to the European-spec downpipe. 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. Refer to your workshop manual for the proper spec but it will likely be .002-.005. Purchase a good quality assembly lube. If your engine has a harmonic balancer, it will have a rubber insulator between the inner and outer rings. Feb 2016: We are currently only rebuilding Triumph TR3B (four synchro) through TR6 transmissions and A and J type . Our zero-to-60 times dropped by more than 2 seconds. Do you need custom pistons for this? Having trouble posting or changing forum settings? Piston set these will come with rings and pins supplied. From your local part store you will need to purchase the green plastigauge with a measurement range for .001-.003. $118.99. triumph spitfire 1500 engine for sale | eBay If you are reusing your existing camshaft your lifters can be reused if they are in good condition. Check for oil pressure before cranking. 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? Spitfire 1500 not starting - Engine - The Triumph Sports Six Club Forum Once all of the pistons are in you can rotate the engine to the access the bottom side. By Tim Suddard Intake valves dont require hardened seats since they are not subjected to intense heat. You get extra points for completing this task if the engine in question is British or Italian of course, along with a tidy little bonus point if the engine is pre-1980. 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). The factory paired these preferred carburetors with a free-flowing, cast-iron exhaust manifold that emptied into twin pipes. 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. Get your hands on the complete Triumph factory workshop software. Make sure the engine does not overheat. Many parts are available for this engine from aftermarket suppliers. 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. WHAT YOU CAN CLEAN YOURSELF There was an article in Classic Motorsport comparing different SUs to different Webers on the same MGB B-series engine. MATCHING RED FACTORY HARDTOP. US Supplier of 123Ignitions, Pre-programmed\switched models, Programable USB PC models and "NEW" Wireless Bluetooth models for Apple or Android. As a rule of thumb, its best to replace the rod bolts. Listen out for rattling and blue. 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.