filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Aug 16, 2006 23:09:23 GMT
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The 1500 engine isn't all bad - My Pete Burgess built was putting out a torquey 85bhp@wheels when just run in, and so far has taken well over 40k miles of abuse, including missed gears and misc over-revving to well over 7000rpm. But oil cooler is essential... Nah, in hindsight I'd pick something else too
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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budgetbus
Part of things
look into my eyes.....
Posts: 23
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Aug 17, 2006 10:27:54 GMT
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The 1500 engine isn't all bad - My Pete Burgess built was putting out a torquey 85bhp@wheels when just run in, and so far has taken well over 40k miles of abuse, including missed gears and misc over-revving to well over 7000rpm. But oil cooler is essential... Nah, in hindsight I'd pick something else too ;D ;D
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ALFA155 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE1500
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Aug 17, 2006 10:35:15 GMT
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Surely you must be able to beef the rear end up a bit? What's the weak link, the diff or the axles? If you were to go modern, bearing in mind a none to strong rear end then maybe a smallish capacity 16 valver would be the way to go. Decent HP but not too much low end torque with which to break stuff.
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,537
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Aug 17, 2006 11:01:17 GMT
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I know that Canley Classics are currently looking into a CV joint conversion for the rear end. The 1500 in our Herald seems to be surviving the regular thrashing its getting....
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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budgetbus
Part of things
look into my eyes.....
Posts: 23
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Aug 17, 2006 16:18:53 GMT
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so is the 1500 engine really as bad as folks say?
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ALFA155 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE1500
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Aug 17, 2006 16:25:53 GMT
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No, I quite like driving them. It just really depends on how healthy the engine in question is. They are long-stroke sluggers though and have quite a "thud-thud-thud" feel to them, like I said, standard ones are only good for 5500RPM but they have quite a good punt to them Easy to push the limits of tuning on 'em though, or mistreat it too much and spin a bearing or break a rod! ;D
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Aug 17, 2006 17:13:54 GMT
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I've seen a 1500 break the rearmost web of the crank before! It still ran okat too just somewhat noisily
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Aug 17, 2006 17:29:20 GMT
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Engine builder took mine to 6500rpm on rolling road - I was almost hiding behind a bench at that point But as I said, have accidently buzzed it past 7k before and still running OK ;D
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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Aug 17, 2006 18:56:40 GMT
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Surely you must be able to beef the rear end up a bit? What's the weak link, the diff or the axles? If you were to go modern, bearing in mind a none to strong rear end then maybe a smallish capacity 16 valver would be the way to go. Decent HP but not too much low end torque with which to break stuff. The weak bit is the design. A transverse leaf spring with swing axles, no lower wishbone. Go round a corner wrong and you're a tricycle as one wheel folds underneath the car. Later cars had slightly different tie rod arrangements and some gained Rotoflex couplings but ultimately it was designed as a cheap way to get independent rear suspension into a Standard Ten powered 948 Herald so with due respect to my car trying to improve it is handling wise polishing a turd.
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor
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Aug 17, 2006 20:33:05 GMT
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Seth's one goes alright. I haven't been a passenger in my own car but it felt like he could chuck that baby about under power harder than I can mine (Anglia)
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,537
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Aug 17, 2006 20:36:02 GMT
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The weak bit is the design. A transverse leaf spring with swing axles, no lower wishbone. Go round a corner wrong and you're a tricycle as one wheel folds underneath the car. Later cars had slightly different tie rod arrangements and some gained Rotoflex couplings but ultimately it was designed as a cheap way to get independent rear suspension into a Standard Ten powered 948 Herald so with due respect to my car trying to improve it is handling wise polishing a turd. Didn't think we were talking handling but you only get dodgy things happening if you lift off suddenly in a tight bend and show me a similarly aged car that is any better! The handling was praised by the press when the cars were new. There is much that can be done to improve them. Later Spits have a swing spring anyway* Our Herald has siffer Koni shocks which have reduced the amount the car rolls and I've just fitted a 1" block between diff and spring which alters the geometry and gives more neg camber. Lifting off on the limit now just results in a bit of easily controllable oversteer. Pic is of Le Mans Spitfire, 109hp from 1147cc, 140mph *(for those that don't know this means the spring can rock slightly on a central pivot)
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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