Clark,
Can you say "Grenade"? That is what the 1500 engine becomes when you rev it
very high for extended periods. The 1296 is almost square
which leads to a much greater reliability at higher rpm levels. ANd the small
journal version (Mk3) has less drag caused by the
bearings. Kas Kastner himself will tell you that the Mk3 engine was the
strongest one of the bunch.
However, there is no doubt that the 1500 has more torque and if kept in the
proper rpm range, it will hold together and give pretty
reliable operation. In a street car it is a good motor, but give me a small
journal 1296 in a race car any day!
Joe
P.S. The Spitfire was national F-Production Champion in '69 and '70 with guess
which engine?
Cwn74@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 11/29/2000 3:57:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> sos@kymtnnet.org writes:
>
> > I'd like some suggestions on a performance rebuild of
> > my 1976 1500. One suggestion was to use a 1300 engine.
>
> Have the suggestors explained how giving up 200cc's (13% of the 1500
> displacement) will send you on your way to higher horsepower?
>
> If I remember correctly, the FP Spitfires that placed best at the SCCA
> Runoffs used the 1500.
>
> Steve Johnson won with a 1500 and duct tape covering over all his gauges back
> when FP was a real tough Spitfire class.
>
> Clark
>
> "If it's not fun, why do it?" Ben & Jerry
> Clark W. Nicholls
> CWNicholls@aol.com
> http://members.aol.com/CWNicholls
> fax: 419-844-7564 (yes, 419)
> phone: 413-243-3433
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