Right off the bat, this larger engine delivered more torque than its predecessor. Classic Triumph Restoration | Triumph Restoration Shop | Spitfire So I always set timing by ear, drive the car and try to get it to pink. It is a completely different car than it was when I bought it. 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. Larger and the vital internal parts should be cleaned by professionals in an industrial parts washer. We also redid the air cleaner with the original black crackle finish. Hadone on the street will all the competition Cooper S parts. The std stamped on the shells should mean std size. Please state if alternate sizes are required. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. For a road engine there are a few simple things. I've read that a Newmans mildroad cam is a good option, and payan gaskets are the best, but what bearings and rings? WHAT YOU CAN CLEAN YOURSELF Now loosen the crank nut and rotate the degree wheel to reflect TDC on it. A fair amount of work, but nothing too technical, and it saves the engine. Your machine shop can easily do this for you. Otherwise, enjoy the car, collect the stuff you need and don't put yourself under pressure! Move to zero and then around and stop at .005 past zero. item 4 New Valve Cover Gasket for Triumph Spitfire and MG Midget 1500 Cork, item 5 New Cylinder Head Gasket for Triumph Spitfire 1500 and MG Midget 1500 w/ Tab, item 6 NEW TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MG MIDGET 1500 WATER PUMP, item 7 Triumph TR6, GT6, Spitfire, MG Midget 1500 fuel pump to engine gasket 138791, item 8 Triumph Spitfire - TR250 - TR6 & GT6 & MG Midget 1500 - Rear Main Crank Seal, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 9 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 5 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 4 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 2 product ratings. Current car: 1980 Triumph Spitfire Past cars: 1975 Triumph Spitfire, 1973 Austin Mini, Articles that Ben has written have been covered onCNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine,Road & Track Magazine,the official Pinterest blog, theofficialeBay Motorsblog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more. Crankshaft grinding is a very skilled part of the machine shop phase. Really?). I'll look for the head stamp and see what it says. For about $200, we had a local muffler shop fabricate a new system. Use a wooden, or plastic hammer handle, to tap the top of the piston down into the bore. The exhaust manifold goes on first, underneath the intake manifold. All rights reserved. This guy does a good job of outliningthe issues with the 1500: http://triumphspitfire.rickbaines.com/weaknesses-of-triumphs-1500-engine/. ENGINE REBUILD KIT FOR MG MIDGET 1500 [ THE TRIUMPH ENGINE ] 1975 - 1980 . I have rebuilt a dozen or so engines (probably double!) item 1 MG MIDGET (late model) TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 MOTOR ENGINE REBUILD SERVICE, item 2 MG MIDGET TRIUMPH SPITFIRE 1500 FP ENGINE BLOCK. If you are using a copper gasket then use a copper gasket spray coating. Fill the engine with all fluids. 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. Triumph - Spitfire - Sales Brochure - (2015) (German) Brochure 4 Pages. Then I realised itd be quite cool to make it an animation. 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. This may take several minutes. But improper clearance can result in a seized exhaust valve. If you are using an adjustable cam gear then you can do all of this without removing the timing gears again unlike a offset key which can have +/- 1-2 degree tolerance range. It should come around the outer edge of your degree wheel, preferably on the top side. Remember, these parts may be nearing their 40th birthday, so go with a reputable dealer. 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! $118.99. Add to Wish List. Some connecting rods have floating piston pins, the bushings will need to be checked for play and wear as well. 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 have just set it to the "book" spec there is every chance it will not be ideal. Handy Tip: Use a Sharpie to put markings on parts you have already torqued or checked clearance to know where you are in the process. I don't have a clue what else is in there yet but I intend to pull it down and find out before I run it hard. 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. Engines & Engine Component Rebuilding Services Once you torque it to spec turn the crankshaft by hand, you should feel a nice fluid motion without any binding. I'll be making sure that my new one is as good as it can get to the "best" end of the specs. I use .003 clearance on my manganese bronze guides. Thrust bearing in the proper size. Cover the camshaft journals, lobes and gears liberally with assembly lube. 5500 13.93 16.04 Spitfire/GT6 site suggests E for engine, to avoid confusion with commission number. Intake valves dont require hardened seats since they are not subjected to intense heat. The factory paired these preferred carburetors with a free-flowing, cast-iron exhaust manifold that emptied into twin pipes. DIY Engine Rebuild Kits - My website - Acme Speed Shop Rocker Assembly Southern Rebore Services carried out the machining work. Thank you! The results were that the downdraft Weber gave essentially the same performance as HS4s. It's currently (As far as I know) standard - though is from a Dolly 1500! The best currently available bearings are King Tri-metal which most suppliers (e.g. Install the valve cover. What Engines Will Fit a Triumph Spitfire? | It Still Runs My spit was a 79, and when I compare it to the other tech available at the time it just looks sad. Do both methods and you will see the dial indicator method can lead you astray by a couple degrees. A complete rebuild includes the following: EVALUATION As an engine is torn down, each part is checked for excessive wear, damage and failure. Triumph Spitfire - Engine rebuild - YouTube Restoration of my Triumph Spitfire showing the newly rebuilt engine by Prather Racing - Kent Prather and myself. Cut a small piece of plastigauge and place on the #1 journal. The process is mostly a function of carefully cleaning, disassembling and reassembling each carburetor while installing new gaskets. 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. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance must be checked. Thanks Pete and Clive - as I say, I'm not after a racing engine or even upping the power particularly. NICELY RESTORED CAR WITH REBUILT ENGINE. Strengthening the bottom end isn't an option, unless you go for a steel billet crank and conrods. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. Crank bearings are supplied standard size and pistons are supplied +0.020" oversize. 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. CARMINE RED WITH TAN TRIM, TAN TOP BOOT. Now that you have found TDC, move the dial indictors outside bezel to reflect zero at the needle point. All spark advance is handled electronically. The American exhaust system from the downpipe back will need to be replaced, however, as it wont mate to the European-spec downpipe. ALL THE PARTS YOU NEED FOR DIY BOTTOM END ENGINE REBUILD INCLUDING PISTON AND RING SET ,BEARINGS, OIL SEALS,OIL PUMP,CAM FOLLOWERS ,TIMIMG CHAIN AND TENSIONER, HEAD AND SUMP GASKET SET. 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. FM Spitfire 1500. $4315. Add to Cart. Quickview. Can't find a shop that offers a crankshaft nitriding service? Search (123\Tune+) For perfect timing. Triumph Spitfire 1500 engine and gearbox rebuild - CCK Historic Dont let this step scare you. Finally the machinist will use a special tool to chamfer (angle) the tops of the bores. 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. His advice on road cars and racers is often the last word. Cam bearings I prefer the full circle type Triumph Spitfire Performance Upgrade Parts | Rimmer Bros Yeah, except for Mazda, Ford, GM, Toyota, Mercedes, Nissan, Honda, etc. Most cam lifters can be installed after the cam, but on the MG and Austin Healey A-Series engine, the lifters have to be installed before the cam is installed. Manganese bronze guides expand with heat at a different rate than your cylinder head and require more clearance than cast iron guides. If you can catch a fingernail on the surface of the flywheel where the clutch disc rides, you will need to resurface your flywheel. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. The weber downdraft is basically the same carburetor that was used on early German Capris and Ford Pintos (1970s). Ideally, youd also get carburetors that arent worn out. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. I wouldn't bother changing the main bolts either, and I don't think loctite is a good idea. There is nothing inherently wrong with a properly designed 3 main bearing engine. Select your Triumph Spitfire PDF Download from the list below: Triumph - Spitfire - Parts Catalogue - (1962) Other Manuals 295 Pages. The key here is getting the entire setup, including the linkages. Never, ever fire up an engine without confirming you have oil pressure. This is where most cracks occur, so the proper filet radius is important for the overall strength of the crankshaft. By (Not for racing, just to bring them into the 21st Century and to get my little Midget screaming down the road). The intake will have receded. Maybe because its the one I raced back in the day, but it always just seemed better balanced than the 1500 for some reason. If the gap is too big you are going to have to shim the camshaft or remove material from the back side of the cam gear. Remove no more than .010 so that the head gasket will seal properly. Frequently bought together. They look 10X better in the engine bay on a 1300 or a 1500 than a ZS or Weber and have been around forever. And here's the reason why. Some enthusiasts opt for a WeberDGVdown-draft or single side-draft 40DCOEsetup. | From the March 2013 issue 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. Then rotate the crank til it stops, note the reading on your wheel then rotate it backwards. Over the past 8 years I ahve been upgrading my 1500. Install the oil pump, remember it is important to disassemble the oil pump, clean the inside whether new or used, lube them, and check the clearances on them per the manual specs. In my post above I was referring to "quality"! Install the camshaft, front engine plate and cam thrust plate 7500 19.00 21.88 At this point the machine shop is ready to assemble the cylinder head. , Follow the same process with the rod bearings as we did with the crankshaft and plastigauge each journal one at a time. Many parts are available for this engine from aftermarket suppliers. It set the record on 60% nitromethane, naturally aspirated. Powered by Gasoline and Caffeine. If using a performance aftermarket cam, it may be different than what is listed in the manual. TRIUMPH SPITFIRE MkI,II,III,IV & 1500 (1959-80) FUEL PUMP REPAIR KIT. 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. Instead, Ill tell you about steps the manual may not cover, and about the engine assembly sequence that can be helpful to you. Thank you very much! You will do this similarly to your crankshaft end float. This engine is almost a direct bolt-in. The car was an instant hit. WishboneClassics is able to perform certain machining operations on your engine that you cannot have done elsewhere. bolts. Our initial zero-to-60 testing was just as depressing. | This measured sprint took us an alarming 14.7 seconds to completenot very sporting for a sports car. A frind ran a Ginetta G4 with a 3 main Ford MAE - 3 main, 9500 rpm red line (albeit with a short stroke). And is actually a spelling mistake, made the first time I used it. I'm more than happy with 5000rpm - my currently daily is diesel so tends to live at less than 3000 - actually a lot less unless booting it (its a 3tr BMW so has lots of power and torque!). Good information. Read the Forum Help (FAQ) or contact the webmaster. Third, install the main bearings in the main capsbut dont install the caps yet. 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. In this way, conrods can be made 15% lighter and stronger than the OE ones. How have you set the timing?? Triumph removed the lock tabs quite early on in production and never reinstated them despite loads increasing considerably (e.g. A piece of angle iron drilled and tapped with a small bolt installed across the bore is easy to make. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Theyve even won countlessSCCAchampionships. Engine Machining & Assembly Photo Gallery. Those upgrades transformed my previously 1300 powered car, and it did well at club autocrosses. They are still relatively cheap, but are usually in need of new throttle shafts and waxstat to fixed jet modification. 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. I really like the improved proformance. Scott Sewell. Surfacing them smooth will result in more material being removed than needed. PDF SPITFIRE 1500 ENGINE - zeni.net Custom options available from electronic fuel injection. A balancer can be rebuilt or you can purchase a new one and in some cases a high performance harmonic balancer is available. June 30, 2021 June 30, 2021; GT6; Fanatik Builds started their 1971 Triumph GT6 project as a simple restoration. I use .005 before and after maximum camshaft lift. As JohnD mentioned, you can optimise the pump to minimise clearances between the body and rotor, see:http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/OilPump.htm.