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Looking forward to seeing those figures... I must confess that in my youth (well 20's),I did try to do flow testing of original RV8 heads by timing the outflow of paraffin (or was it water or petrol?)from a bore dia tin sealed to the head face and opening the exhaust valve a set amount. It was certainly crude but I did see a comparative 15% improvement with porting and valve lift changes. The car did also get into the 11's with 40DCOEs. Years and £s later with big valve SD1 heads 45 DHLAs etc I finally got into the ....mid 11s....
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May 13, 2018 21:12:44 GMT
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Great work - I'm looking forward to seeing how 40IDFs on IR RV8 manifolds, flow if you are going to test those soon. I also ran a pair of 38DGAS carbs on a Rover manifold.....
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Last Edit: May 13, 2018 21:18:28 GMT by flyingphil
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May 11, 2018 20:58:40 GMT
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Awww shucks! and I still have an uncool Sprite.....
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May 11, 2018 11:47:34 GMT
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It is indeed sad news as I have raced at several tracks since the 1970's and 'yes' the facilities were basic and did not improve very much over the years, but the economics of drag racing meant that few people ever made any significant money (rain-offs how many times???) I would like to thank all the Marshals and helpers who have given so much of their time and enthusiasm at those dragstrips over the past 30+ years. Many Happy Memories! Phil Herrick (Muscle Sprout(JM, JCA and DCA), Vicious Trait (ECA) , Super Sprite V8 (Street Rover) and Super B (Pro Rover)
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That's a perfectly valid opinion, but there's also the possibility of it creating something even better from the two. I'd very much like to try and make a small electric roadster out of a Midget. Rear wheel drive/inline engine so mounting the motor is simple, small and light for efficiency, reasonable boot space for batteries. You should be able to do it without needing an IVA. It would be interesting to see what it ended up like, but the cost is just too prohibitive at the moment. Especially as you could end up with a car that has completely lost it's soul. I think this is why I would look in to trying to retain a manual gearbox, or autobox without a torque covertor. As it would still allow some driver input as opposed to just accelerate and brake You could also possibly have different maps for motor speed and torque output per gear surely As per my previous post (April 23rd),I think you could do this without excessive cost and a modern battery pack could give good range without too much weight - not that the range on a regular Midget was very good (- 6 gallon tank / 35 mpg).
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A busy weekend to come on the GCR as my Brakevan will be in use on some of the Six goods trains that will be running as part of the "Goods Galore" event. I have also done a bit more at Quorn on the East side of those windcutter wagons. Whilst I was there they also turned the Jinty (0-6-0 Tank Engine) round on the Turntable.
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Thanks for the update - I'm sure we will be holding our breath on the 21st!....I bet the list of 'fixes' required will be very short!
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Thanks Darkspeed - I think the secret is to get the spindle of the disc on the centre line between the two ball joints on the carbs, then the two throttle links are parallel.....achieving it is the slight problem!
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Apr 29, 2018 15:34:37 GMT
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Thanks Bigearmuffs and Quickrack I've been working on the throttle mechanism to get even opening on both banks and a repositioning of the throttle cable. You can see on the last picture, the wheel rotates clockwise and the far bank doesn't open until about 30 degrees of movement, whereas the near bank starts to open immediately.
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Apr 25, 2018 19:32:28 GMT
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And another side gets painted - in between the rain showers today! I have also visited the brakevan, it is at Swithland on the mixed goods rake. The stove was full of ash so I spent a few minutes cleaning it all out. That is the problem when it is used by several different Guards - nobody actually cleans the ash - they all just light the fire!
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Last Edit: Apr 25, 2018 19:40:47 GMT by flyingphil
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Re the chokes, I ran 34mm chokes in 40 carbs, then changed to 36mm in 45 carbs and gained only at the very top end. In terms of road use you may well find the 34 chokes are better and, with the race cams, more driveable. I have not tried TBs and EFI though - they should give the best of both worlds - but at a price... PS These chokes were run in my 2600cc straight six Alfa with individual runner manifolds and on my RV8 3523cc with IR manifolds - both with race cams, - so comparable set ups.
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Apr 24, 2018 17:25:46 GMT
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Well done on the bonnet and hinge fitting - Do you have a date in mind that you would like to get it up and running for?...I would say finished, but I suspect there will always be things that you will want to improve!
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Apr 23, 2018 15:40:53 GMT
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So I had an idea a while ago and I'll share it here for you guys to tear apart. The fun of a retro/classic isn't just the look, the nostalgia or the sound, but the way it drives. An electric motor isn't the same as an engine, there's no torque curve, all the power is there all the time. My Midget has 75hp on a good day (a very good day downhill). I don't want an electric motor with 200hp in there, that would be terrifying. Not only that but the gearbox wouldn't be able to take the power, so I'd be changing that out too. Now we're getting into the points system and playing with needing to get it tested. That's more money and time and in 10 years I doubt that a Midget will make it through an IVA test. So my idea is to fit the electric motor to the gearbox and to programme it with a torque curve. Make a 200hp electric motor behave like a 75hp A Series motor. I just don't know enough about electric motors to do the job. Other things to consider; You could pump fake engine noises into the cabin while driving to give the driver the ability to change gear based on sound You could convert the tachometer to provide revs for the driver to change gear at the right time You could make an app whereby the driver could select a different torque curve. Want to try a 997 cooper engine? Just select it. a 1440 turbocharged engine? Go for it. The engine from a Fiat 500? Weird, but sure! Done properly I think it would be a fairly cheap conversion, but it's the cost of the batteries that's the issue, they're still very expensive, and last I heard Tesla doesn't like their cars ending up in scrap yards, so secondhand Tesla batteries are hard to come by. I have seen this done to a Midget in America on "YouTube" a few years ago - I'm sure that was on lead/acid batteries, so on more modern battery technology and electronics, it is a very attractive proposition.
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Apr 22, 2018 20:51:52 GMT
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Well mine is still unfinished - but slowly getting there.... with V12 power....
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genuine question (as ive seen a few builds using the front end of cars in the back of cars) how to convert a mchperson strut and single wishbone designed for steering, and make it not steer. the ones i have seen just add the track rod back in, fixed at the engine end, which seems like a disaster as it then bump steers. Just to add to this - with my 6C build I kept the steering rack in place and just locked it with a couple of chunky high tensile bolts through the rack section.
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Apr 17, 2018 18:03:53 GMT
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looking good!
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Apr 15, 2018 21:21:20 GMT
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Well done! With the original Alfa 6C, Autodelta had to modify the Sprint shell to create a bigger opening. On my version I put the engine and subframe in from underneath.
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Apr 15, 2018 17:47:46 GMT
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It's a good job that the tailgate is big!
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And another side gets painted. In fact this is one of two trucks that have not yet been through the "Rothley Works" and so the old repaired bodywork is in a really poor condition. It is a conundrum as it will take so long to do a good job, that all the other trucks get neglected.
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Well done both - looking forward to the Spring Sprint account.
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