XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 21, 2007 11:57:18 GMT
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Hi all, I'm new here so go easy on me please!  I have a 1972 Reliant Rebel Estate with original 750cc engine, though it's maybe a bit tweaked.  Weber 32ICH with suitably non-restrictive air filter, Pertronix (Or Aldon if you pay twice as much and buy in the UK) Ignitior ignition and Lucas Gold 40Kv coil, original camshaft reground to give the equivalent of a "mild" one from Dick Harvey, but again cheaper than the far more durable F750 parts he uses. BHP at the flywheel is up from the 750's original 35bhp at 5750 to just under 48 at 6800rpm, mainly due to the fuelling and ignition mods. Speaking of which, I use solid copper cored ignition wire to make my leads, well there is no point in having a radio in a car that's doing 6000rpm at a steady 84mph, it gets loud in there and the reliability outweighs the likelihood that any of my neighbours complain about the way my car interferes with their TVs! These aren't as light as Kittens, the Estate weighing in at a lardy 600Kg as against 539Kg for a Kitten Estate, but the very low gearing suits the car far better and the 750 is much more tweakable than the long-stroke 850. Now, how does a bloke upload pics around here? I know, let's try this:  Sorry if that's too big, I'll take some VGAs if needs be and post them instead. John. |
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John.
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Feb 21, 2007 11:59:46 GMT
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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Mr K
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,992
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Feb 21, 2007 13:24:16 GMT
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Cant wait to see this! atlast, another guy with a tweeked relaint (with a reliant engine)!! I would be well happy with 48hp with those mods! nice work! the 750 vs 850 debate is a tough one, as although the 750 is the better engine when it comes to revs, (and main bearing prices!!) they are not as strong as the 850 due to smaller crank journals and a 'bent wire' crank. I had a 750 full race ex f750 engine, that was very very nicely made but I changed my plans and sold it on, I have got my eye on somthing else however interested to hear about the cam, who did the work and how much was it? F750 parts prices have come down alot since them going over to the fiat engine, but most cams knocking about are all full race and peak at around 9000rpm! Always wanted a rebel, this just fuels that!! p.s. my kitten suffers dreadfully from the jump from 2nd to 3rd gear, but currently the power peaks at 4500, I think if there wasnt such a big step in the ratios (3rd seems realy simular to 4th!) it would be considerably quicker to 60 and I was just wondering what the ealier boxes are like for this, although reving to 6k you probably wont notice it. |
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2007 13:25:01 GMT by Mr K
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 22, 2007 18:47:59 GMT
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The camshaft was done (before I got the car) by the company that builds engines for G. Scott cars, formerly known as Penguin, the Gateshead-based Reliant dealership.
So that would likely have been Northern Rebores of Elswick, in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
All it really seems to do is keep the thing from getting hot when thrashed, er, sorry, driven at current traffic pace......
I've had a couple of kittens with around the 55bhp mark and they didn't feel as lively as the Rebel, but the low gearing probably accounts for that more than the "Lets chuck loads of fuel down the beast" idea!
Ratlookreliant - You must have a Rebel! For a start, they will outhandle a kitten (more weight to the rear, in spite of the engine being further forward) and can be held on the throttle at some ridiculously sideways attitudes without fear of total loss. Oh, how my passengers love getting in the car with me. Not.
Reliant built a Rebel 1600GT (Ford x-flow, Mexico spec) but didn't pursue production as that car embarrassed their own Scimitar mightily in terms of its performance.
Then there is the 2.0ltr Carlton engined Rebel saloon, first modded like so many Rebels, with a 928cc Climax engine, ex-Talbot Sunbeam, this car was then fitted with the Carlton engine and gearbox and looked, apart from some extra ventilation slots in the front panel, quite standard. PM me with an email address if you want a pic of the "Rootes Rebel" that evolved into the 2.0ltr Vauxhall-powered beasty!
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John.
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Feb 22, 2007 19:31:11 GMT
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That X flow thing sounds ace, i still have My XR2's heart, and it was a great engine, always ready to give some more!  *waits patiently for photos...* |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 22, 2007 22:13:37 GMT
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*waits patiently for photos...* Uploading some exterior shots of the everyday drive as I write this, so will link to those and will take some engine bay ones tomorrow when it's less dark. I'll do a scan of the Vauxhall-engined car and crop that for here while I'm about it.    |
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Last Edit: Feb 22, 2007 22:18:05 GMT by XJR 40
John.
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bobz
Part of things
Posts: 343
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Feb 22, 2007 23:02:54 GMT
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That lovely Was that the only body style they did? I don't think i've EVER seen one before! |
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Don't plan anything, it'll start raining!
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Feb 22, 2007 23:03:01 GMT
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What a cool little wagon!
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scimmie
Part of things
1969 Reliant Scimitar GTE
Posts: 223
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Feb 22, 2007 23:09:10 GMT
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Hiya John, Welcome to the forum. Your Rebel is really cool!! I do like the rebels and Kittens. I had a kitten a few years ago, but is was more expensive to keep that my Scimitar so the kitten had to go  I would love a Rebel to play with one day ;D I went to the Tamworth Heritage day last year and the was a few of us who got together to park our cars in the town centre:   All the best Scimmie ;D |
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 22, 2007 23:19:55 GMT
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They made a van from the same shell, and there was a saloon too, apparently there are currently 26 of all types currently taxed, tested and on the road in the UK, though possibly many times more awaiting rescue from barns, gardens and lockups. Total production of all types between 1964 and 1973 was around the 2,600 mark, of those only some few dozen are 750 estates. Here are some of the cars in the "work in progress" category, and a pic of a 700 saloon from a period brochure:   I'm hopelessly biased, but I do think the estate shape is much easier on the eye.  As an aside, yes, that window in the back door is the same as you'd find in a mk1 mini saloon. |
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John.
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 22, 2007 23:31:07 GMT
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Hi scimmie, Fred Heath's red saloon looking very good there! Well I remember travelling around the Country in the company of that little beauty in 1998 on the ROC's 40th birthday bash from Land's End to John O' Groats. I had a red Rebel estate at the time, GUS265L, now restored to its original blue and living down in Liverpool.
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John.
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Very nice, i do like the estate shape. excellent, look forward to seeing it the shows this year. |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 23, 2007 10:39:04 GMT
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I'll be on the popular classics forum stand at Elvaston Castle, late June, possibly at Seaburn before then and definitely at Ryhope in October, others will no doubt come along and fill the gaps!
(Must try to get to Callander as well, missed that last year).
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John.
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 23, 2007 17:01:49 GMT
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Here as promised the pic of the engine installation in the Carlton-engined Rebel owned by a mate from the club that caters for these things:  |
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John.
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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Feb 23, 2007 18:16:21 GMT
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the rebel has a much roomier engine bay than the kitten, i used to run a fiat 2.0 twink powered rebel saloon with an anglia axle. that carlton motor looks a tidy install |
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XJR 40
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Feb 24, 2007 10:10:02 GMT
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Yeah, it's a very neat job. Jim, the guy who did it, also ran a Fiat twin cam-powered kitten estate with 5-speed Fiat box and viva front hub carriers with magnum discs, that car had a stock kitten estate axle and looked, apart from the neat flip-front and some 12" Imp steels, totally stock! Naughty, but by 'eck could it shift.
Dunno if the other modded kitten that's quite famous is owned by someone here, but there's a lovely yellow saloon with 5-link rear end and coilovers, engine is a Ford 2.0 ltr twin cam, ex Granada. The chain driven one. Guessing that the breakers were out of Pintos that day? ;D
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John.
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Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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Feb 24, 2007 10:28:36 GMT
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Wow! I've never seen one of these before.
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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Feb 24, 2007 19:51:49 GMT
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was jims car beige by any chance? if so i bought it from a lad in port talbot a couple of years back after he had crashed it and wrecked the front end, i was going to re biuld it but it was too far gone and i ended up doing a kittten van with a tl1000 mid mounted bike engine and a spaceframed four wheel drive v8 kitten saloon which is still in build.there is a very tidy kitten estate with a n/a cosworth motor in up north and a mate of mine is finishing off a kwak zx10 powered saloon |
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Feb 24, 2007 22:48:26 GMT
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Oh, how my passengers love getting in the car with me. Not. are you offering ? wouldn't mind a closer look at this - very cool , something a bit 'different' . in the nicest possible sense , obviously.. |
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Feb 24, 2007 22:55:33 GMT
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Oooh...Northumberland?
Whereabouts?
*n
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Top grammar tips!
Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated
Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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