From mikey at b2systems.com Tue Mar 16 19:41:59 2010 From: mikey at b2systems.com (Mike Rambour) Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:41:59 -0700 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? Message-ID: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious concerns about the motor and I am considering a temporary engine swap. The Singer is a 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access to a late 1960's or extremely early 1970's MGB that is pretty much a running rust bucket parts donor. I am going to assume that its a 1800cc motor but anyone know the weight of the motor also motor and trans ? The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the Singer's 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track difference be a issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire wheels I am not sure I could put in spacers like you would on a steel rims. My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put in the MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that will take some serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have pistons made, babbitt bearings poured and its all going to be very expensive. I would not want to do any permanent butchering of the Singer, anything and everything I do would have to be reversable when I finish the proper motor but it gets it on the road for now. Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the engine compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 should fit very nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld up motor mounts that minimize the damage to the Singer or better yet do no damage. The only "gotcha" I have at this time would be the clutch and brake pedal assembly and mixing the MG rear brakes with the Singer front brakes, I have to check on that as I don't even like the sound of it, but I should be able to take the MG front axle back plates and put them on the Singer, so I am back to just the pedal assembly without damaging the Singer chassis. I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, etc. I just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, never done that YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have started it on another car but its not finished yet. mike From david_laver at hotmail.com Wed Mar 17 02:07:26 2010 From: david_laver at hotmail.com (David Laver) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:07:26 +0000 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> References: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> Message-ID: Why not leave the Singer rear axle in place? That would solve the brake and track problems. You're going to need a special propshaft anyway so get that made up to suit MGB gearbox at the front and Singer axle at the back. Just a thought... David > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:41:59 -0700 > From: mikey at b2systems.com > To: british-cars at autox.team.net; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > > I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious concerns > about the motor and I am considering a temporary engine swap. The > Singer is a 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access to a late 1960's > or extremely early 1970's MGB that is pretty much a running rust bucket > parts donor. I am going to assume that its a 1800cc motor but anyone > know the weight of the motor also motor and trans ? > > The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the > internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the Singer's > 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track difference be > a issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire wheels I am not sure > I could put in spacers like you would on a steel rims. > > My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put in > the MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that will take > some serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have pistons made, > babbitt bearings poured and its all going to be very expensive. I would > not want to do any permanent butchering of the Singer, anything and > everything I do would have to be reversable when I finish the proper > motor but it gets it on the road for now. > > Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the > engine compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 should > fit very nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld up motor > mounts that minimize the damage to the Singer or better yet do no > damage. The only "gotcha" I have at this time would be the clutch and > brake pedal assembly and mixing the MG rear brakes with the Singer front > brakes, I have to check on that as I don't even like the sound of it, > but I should be able to take the MG front axle back plates and put them > on the Singer, so I am back to just the pedal assembly without damaging > the Singer chassis. > > I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, etc. I > just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, never done > that YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have started it on > another car but its not finished yet. > > mike > > _______________________________________________ > > Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html > > http://www.team.net/archive > > British-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > > http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars-pre-war > > You are subscribed as david_laver at hotmail.com From masquith at btinternet.com Wed Mar 17 02:17:19 2010 From: masquith at btinternet.com (Malcolm) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:17:19 -0000 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? References: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> Message-ID: <2671463390194556A6D6165BAE7D6FEE@home3brgwzj6ev> It is a very long time since I sent anything to this list and am not sure if I am doing it correctly but here goes - The dry weight of an MGA engine is 359 pounds (including clutch) and the gearbox weighs 67.25 pounds. The MGB engine will be slightly lighter as it has a larger bore. The early MGB gearbox is very similar so should be about the same. Malcolm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Rambour" To: ; Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:41 AM Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious concerns about > the motor and I am considering a temporary engine swap. The Singer is a > 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access to a late 1960's or extremely > early 1970's MGB that is pretty much a running rust bucket parts donor. I > am going to assume that its a 1800cc motor but anyone know the weight of > the motor also motor and trans ? > > The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the > internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the Singer's > 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track difference be a > issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire wheels I am not sure I > could put in spacers like you would on a steel rims. > > My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put in the > MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that will take some > serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have pistons made, babbitt > bearings poured and its all going to be very expensive. I would not want > to do any permanent butchering of the Singer, anything and everything I do > would have to be reversable when I finish the proper motor but it gets it > on the road for now. > > Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the engine > compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 should fit very > nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld up motor mounts that > minimize the damage to the Singer or better yet do no damage. The only > "gotcha" I have at this time would be the clutch and brake pedal assembly > and mixing the MG rear brakes with the Singer front brakes, I have to > check on that as I don't even like the sound of it, but I should be able > to take the MG front axle back plates and put them on the Singer, so I am > back to just the pedal assembly without damaging the Singer chassis. > > I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, etc. I > just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, never done that > YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have started it on another car > but its not finished yet. > > mike From twelvetrees at mac.com Wed Mar 17 06:54:38 2010 From: twelvetrees at mac.com (Adrian Twelvetrees) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:54:38 +0000 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <2671463390194556A6D6165BAE7D6FEE@home3brgwzj6ev> References: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> <2671463390194556A6D6165BAE7D6FEE@home3brgwzj6ev> Message-ID: <3694939D-BC96-4375-9101-ED26CB5FDA54@mac.com> My worry would be whether or not the Singer wheels would take the extra torque from the later engine. Best, Roger On 17 Mar 2010, at 09:17, Malcolm wrote: > It is a very long time since I sent anything to this list and am > not sure if I am doing it correctly but here goes - > > The dry weight of an MGA engine is 359 pounds (including clutch) > and the gearbox weighs 67.25 pounds. The MGB engine will be > slightly lighter as it has a larger bore. The early MGB gearbox is > very similar so should be about the same. > > Malcolm > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Rambour" > > To: ; war at autox.team.net> > Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:41 AM > Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > > >> I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious >> concerns about the motor and I am considering a temporary engine >> swap. The Singer is a 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access >> to a late 1960's or extremely early 1970's MGB that is pretty much >> a running rust bucket parts donor. I am going to assume that its >> a 1800cc motor but anyone know the weight of the motor also motor >> and trans ? >> >> The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the >> internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the >> Singer's 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track >> difference be a issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire >> wheels I am not sure I could put in spacers like you would on a >> steel rims. >> >> My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put >> in the MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that >> will take some serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have >> pistons made, babbitt bearings poured and its all going to be very >> expensive. I would not want to do any permanent butchering of the >> Singer, anything and everything I do would have to be reversable >> when I finish the proper motor but it gets it on the road for now. >> >> Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the >> engine compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 >> should fit very nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld >> up motor mounts that minimize the damage to the Singer or better >> yet do no damage. The only "gotcha" I have at this time would be >> the clutch and brake pedal assembly and mixing the MG rear brakes >> with the Singer front brakes, I have to check on that as I don't >> even like the sound of it, but I should be able to take the MG >> front axle back plates and put them on the Singer, so I am back to >> just the pedal assembly without damaging the Singer chassis. >> >> I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, >> etc. I just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, >> never done that YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have >> started it on another car but its not finished yet. >> >> mike > > _______________________________________________ > > Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html > > http://www.team.net/archive > > British-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > > http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars-pre-war > > You are subscribed as twelvetrees at mac.com From mikey at b2systems.com Wed Mar 17 08:45:31 2010 From: mikey at b2systems.com (mike rambour) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:45:31 -0700 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: References: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> Message-ID: <1268840731.10867.3.camel@WebBrowser> Several people have asked this already, my reason for swapping the rear also was the new MG motor would put out quite a bit more power, the Singer rear is already a known weak point and while I know that its my right foot that controls the power, I was just thinking that swapping it out was the "smart" thing to do. Someone already pointed out that the MG axle being 3.25" narrower my original Singer wheels might rub on the inside of the wheel wells/body, extremely good point that I had not thought of, I need to measure that one. mike On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 09:07 +0000, David Laver wrote: > > Why not leave the Singer rear axle in place? That would solve > the brake and track problems. You're going to need a special > propshaft anyway so get that made up to suit MGB gearbox at the front > and Singer axle at the back. > > Just a thought... > > David > > > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:41:59 -0700 > > From: mikey at b2systems.com > > To: british-cars at autox.team.net; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > > Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > > > > I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious > concerns > > about the motor and I am considering a temporary engine swap. The > > Singer is a 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access to a late > 1960's > > or extremely early 1970's MGB that is pretty much a running rust > bucket > > parts donor. I am going to assume that its a 1800cc motor but > anyone > > know the weight of the motor also motor and trans ? > > > > The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the > > internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the > Singer's > > 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track difference > be > > a issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire wheels I am not > sure > > I could put in spacers like you would on a steel rims. > > > > My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put > in > > the MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that will > take > > some serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have pistons > made, > > babbitt bearings poured and its all going to be very expensive. I > would > > not want to do any permanent butchering of the Singer, anything and > > everything I do would have to be reversable when I finish the > proper > > motor but it gets it on the road for now. > > > > Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the > > engine compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 > should > > fit very nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld up motor > > mounts that minimize the damage to the Singer or better yet do no > > damage. The only "gotcha" I have at this time would be the clutch > and > > brake pedal assembly and mixing the MG rear brakes with the Singer > front > > brakes, I have to check on that as I don't even like the sound of > it, > > but I should be able to take the MG front axle back plates and put > them > > on the Singer, so I am back to just the pedal assembly without > damaging > > the Singer chassis. > > > > I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, etc. > I > > just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, never > done > > that YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have started it on > > another car but its not finished yet. > > > > mike From mikey at b2systems.com Wed Mar 17 08:48:56 2010 From: mikey at b2systems.com (mike rambour) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:48:56 -0700 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <3694939D-BC96-4375-9101-ED26CB5FDA54@mac.com> References: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com> <2671463390194556A6D6165BAE7D6FEE@home3brgwzj6ev> <3694939D-BC96-4375-9101-ED26CB5FDA54@mac.com> Message-ID: <1268840936.10867.6.camel@WebBrowser> Another good one, I had thought of it but not very seriously thinking it would be fine, maybe I need to look into that also. mike On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 13:54 +0000, Adrian Twelvetrees wrote: > My worry would be whether or not the Singer wheels would take the > extra torque from the later engine. > > Best, > > Roger > > > On 17 Mar 2010, at 09:17, Malcolm wrote: > > > It is a very long time since I sent anything to this list and am > > not sure if I am doing it correctly but here goes - > > > > The dry weight of an MGA engine is 359 pounds (including clutch) > > and the gearbox weighs 67.25 pounds. The MGB engine will be > > slightly lighter as it has a larger bore. The early MGB gearbox is > > very similar so should be about the same. > > > > Malcolm > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Rambour" > > > > To: ; > war at autox.team.net> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:41 AM > > Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > > > > > >> I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious > >> concerns about the motor and I am considering a temporary engine > >> swap. The Singer is a 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access > >> to a late 1960's or extremely early 1970's MGB that is pretty much > >> a running rust bucket parts donor. I am going to assume that its > >> a 1800cc motor but anyone know the weight of the motor also motor > >> and trans ? > >> > >> The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the > >> internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the > >> Singer's 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track > >> difference be a issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire > >> wheels I am not sure I could put in spacers like you would on a > >> steel rims. > >> > >> My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put > >> in the MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that > >> will take some serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have > >> pistons made, babbitt bearings poured and its all going to be very > >> expensive. I would not want to do any permanent butchering of the > >> Singer, anything and everything I do would have to be reversable > >> when I finish the proper motor but it gets it on the road for now. > >> > >> Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the > >> engine compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 > >> should fit very nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld > >> up motor mounts that minimize the damage to the Singer or better > >> yet do no damage. The only "gotcha" I have at this time would be > >> the clutch and brake pedal assembly and mixing the MG rear brakes > >> with the Singer front brakes, I have to check on that as I don't > >> even like the sound of it, but I should be able to take the MG > >> front axle back plates and put them on the Singer, so I am back to > >> just the pedal assembly without damaging the Singer chassis. > >> > >> I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, > >> etc. I just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, > >> never done that YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have > >> started it on another car but its not finished yet. > >> > >> mike > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html > > > > http://www.team.net/archive > > > > British-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > > > > http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars-pre-war > > > > You are subscribed as twelvetrees at mac.com From david_laver at hotmail.com Wed Mar 17 08:52:34 2010 From: david_laver at hotmail.com (David Laver) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:52:34 +0000 Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <1268840731.10867.3.camel@WebBrowser> References: <4BA04177.7050006@b2systems.com>, , <1268840731.10867.3.camel@WebBrowser> Message-ID: There are ways to limit the power of that engine... That would save the axle, wheels, and prevent having to fit a 140mph speedometer. Otherwise it shouldn't be all that hard to find a low spec and past its best A-series engfine and box. David > Subject: RE: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > From: mikey at b2systems.com > To: david_laver at hotmail.com > CC: british-cars at autox.team.net; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:45:31 -0700 > > > Several people have asked this already, my reason for swapping the rear > also was the new MG motor would put out quite a bit more power, the > Singer rear is already a known weak point and while I know that its my > right foot that controls the power, I was just thinking that swapping it > out was the "smart" thing to do. > > Someone already pointed out that the MG axle being 3.25" narrower my > original Singer wheels might rub on the inside of the wheel wells/body, > extremely good point that I had not thought of, I need to measure that > one. > > mike > > On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 09:07 +0000, David Laver wrote: > > > > Why not leave the Singer rear axle in place? That would solve > > the brake and track problems. You're going to need a special > > propshaft anyway so get that made up to suit MGB gearbox at the front > > and Singer axle at the back. > > > > Just a thought... > > > > David > > > > > Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:41:59 -0700 > > > From: mikey at b2systems.com > > > To: british-cars at autox.team.net; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > > > Subject: [PreWar] are these lists still alive ? > > > > > > I have a question about my 1934 Singer, I have very serious > > concerns > > > about the motor and I am considering a temporary engine swap. The > > > Singer is a 6cylinder 1.5litre car, I have free access to a late > > 1960's > > > or extremely early 1970's MGB that is pretty much a running rust > > bucket > > > parts donor. I am going to assume that its a 1800cc motor but > > anyone > > > know the weight of the motor also motor and trans ? > > > > > > The Singer wheel track is 4'4" front and rear and according to the > > > internet the MGB is 4.125 for the rear, I would have to put the > > Singer's > > > 18" wire wheels on the MGB's rear axle. Would that track difference > > be > > > a issue on the handling of the car ? since its wire wheels I am not > > sure > > > I could put in spacers like you would on a steel rims. > > > > > > My thinking is to butcher this extremely rare 1934 Singer and put > > in > > > the MGB drivetrain while I get the Singer motor redone, that will > > take > > > some serious cash, the block is cracked, I have to have pistons > > made, > > > babbitt bearings poured and its all going to be very expensive. I > > would > > > not want to do any permanent butchering of the Singer, anything and > > > everything I do would have to be reversable when I finish the > > proper > > > motor but it gets it on the road for now. > > > > > > Both rear ends are leaf springs so I don't see a issue there, the > > > engine compartment is quite roomy for the 6 cylinder so the MG 4 > > should > > > fit very nicely (not measured anything yet), I could weld up motor > > > mounts that minimize the damage to the Singer or better yet do no > > > damage. The only "gotcha" I have at this time would be the clutch > > and > > > brake pedal assembly and mixing the MG rear brakes with the Singer > > front > > > brakes, I have to check on that as I don't even like the sound of > > it, > > > but I should be able to take the MG front axle back plates and put > > them > > > on the Singer, so I am back to just the pedal assembly without > > damaging > > > the Singer chassis. > > > > > > I have all the cool toys to do this with, lathe, mill, welders, etc. > > I > > > just don't have the engine/drivetrain switching knowledge, never > > done > > > that YET but it does not look too hard. Well I have started it on > > > another car but its not finished yet. > > > > > > mike From mikey at b2systems.com Wed Mar 17 09:13:28 2010 From: mikey at b2systems.com (mike rambour) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:13:28 -0700 Subject: [PreWar] [British-cars] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <24f2d.61270814.38d254f7@aol.com> References: <24f2d.61270814.38d254f7@aol.com> Message-ID: <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> That is the attitude I expected from my original e-mail :) I admit I am of the same thought, this car is a survivor and rare even for a Singer. The UK clubs know of 7 left of this model, it would be a tragedy to destroy it. My intent since it looked easy, is really to swap the drivetrain WHILE I rebuild the original but I admit I am afraid once it was on the road it might never go back to original. I also need to find out the condition of the original motor as I have not looked into it yet. When I purchased the car from the original owner, he said it ran fine with no noises/knocks but knocked when shutting down the motor, turn off the ignition and there was a knock in the motor. Last time this motor ran was on the S. Calif. 405 freeway in 1968 when the brakes went out and the car was parked until I purchased it. There is a visible crack in the side of the block that has been brazed, not welded, but brazed. For all I know the motor is "good" but I have the option of getting this running MGB for free and thought maybe I should look into this as a temporary drive train. Mike On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 11:53 -0400, WSpohn4 at aol.com wrote: > I wouldn't even consider butchering a prewar car just because I was > impatient to use it. > > Your car; your call. But I say do it right or sell it to someone that > will. We aren't talking about an MGB here, and you don't see them every day. > > If butcher you must, choose something small that won't be a problem - a > Sprite engine, for instance. > > Bill From dtg at aol.com Wed Mar 17 09:37:37 2010 From: dtg at aol.com (dtg at aol.com) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:37:37 -0400 Subject: [PreWar] [British-cars] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> References: <24f2d.61270814.38d254f7@aol.com> <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> Message-ID: <8CC940749E200F8-7FD8-246F@webmail-d059.sysops.aol.com> Mike, Your car your call - as Bill said - but as you said - "For all I know the motor is good" - surely the first thing to do is check what the state of the original engine is before making any decisions. Im not familiar with this particular engine but generally for a car of that age a brazed repair to part of the block that is visible on the assembled engine would not worry me too much. Daveg -----Original Message----- From: mike rambour To: WSpohn4 at aol.com CC: british-cars at autox.team.net; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net Sent: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:13 Subject: Re: [PreWar] [British-cars] are these lists still alive ? That is the attitude I expected from my original e-mail :) I admit I am of the same thought, this car is a survivor and rare even or a Singer. The UK clubs know of 7 left of this model, it would be a ragedy to destroy it. My intent since it looked easy, is really to wap the drivetrain WHILE I rebuild the original but I admit I am afraid nce it was on the road it might never go back to original. I also need to find out the condition of the original motor as I have ot looked into it yet. When I purchased the car from the original wner, he said it ran fine with no noises/knocks but knocked when hutting down the motor, turn off the ignition and there was a knock in he motor. Last time this motor ran was on the S. Calif. 405 freeway in 968 when the brakes went out and the car was parked until I purchased t. There is a visible crack in the side of the block that has been razed, not welded, but brazed. For all I know the motor is "good" but I have the option of getting his running MGB for free and thought maybe I should look into this as a emporary drive train. Mike On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 11:53 -0400, WSpohn4 at aol.com wrote: I wouldn't even consider butchering a prewar car just because I was impatient to use it. Your car; your call. But I say do it right or sell it to someone that will. We aren't talking about an MGB here, and you don't see them every day. If butcher you must, choose something small that won't be a problem - a Sprite engine, for instance. Bill British-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars-pre-war You are subscribed as dtg at aol.com From johno8 at aol.com Wed Mar 17 09:39:08 2010 From: johno8 at aol.com (johno8 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:39:08 -0400 Subject: [PreWar] Singer dilemma In-Reply-To: <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> References: <24f2d.61270814.38d254f7@aol.com> <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> Message-ID: <8CC94077FCD2CBC-2D1C-21A0@webmail-d082.sysops.aol.com> Agree 100% with Bill. Please don't "ruin" your Singer any more than you have to! Find a Morris 1000, Austin A30/35, Spridget etc engine and leave all else well enough alone! Good luck! John -----Original Message----- From: mike rambour To: WSpohn4 at aol.com Cc: british-cars at autox.team.net; british-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net Sent: Wed, Mar 17, 2010 12:13 pm Subject: Re: [PreWar] [British-cars] are these lists still alive ? That is the attitude I expected from my original e-mail :) I admit I am of the same thought, this car is a survivor and rare even for a Singer. The UK clubs know of 7 left of this model, it would be a tragedy to destroy it. My intent since it looked easy, is really to swap the drivetrain WHILE I rebuild the original but I admit I am afraid once it was on the road it might never go back to original. I also need to find out the condition of the original motor as I have not looked into it yet. When I purchased the car from the original owner, he said it ran fine with no noises/knocks but knocked when shutting down the motor, turn off the ignition and there was a knock in the motor. Last time this motor ran was on the S. Calif. 405 freeway in 1968 when the brakes went out and the car was parked until I purchased it. There is a visible crack in the side of the block that has been brazed, not welded, but brazed. For all I know the motor is "good" but I have the option of getting this running MGB for free and thought maybe I should look into this as a temporary drive train. Mike On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 11:53 -0400, WSpohn4 at aol.com wrote: > I wouldn't even consider butchering a prewar car just because I was > impatient to use it. > > Your car; your call. But I say do it right or sell it to someone that > will. We aren't talking about an MGB here, and you don't see them every day. > > If butcher you must, choose something small that won't be a problem - a > Sprite engine, for instance. > > Bill British-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars-pre-war You are subscribed as johno8 at aol.com From twelvetrees at mac.com Wed Mar 17 11:18:57 2010 From: twelvetrees at mac.com (Adrian Twelvetrees) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:18:57 +0000 Subject: [PreWar] [British-cars] are these lists still alive ? In-Reply-To: <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> References: <24f2d.61270814.38d254f7@aol.com> <1268842409.10867.28.camel@WebBrowser> Message-ID: <764F2F20-E54B-445B-B3D8-68D4601FA323@mac.com> Hi Mike, Over the years I have found that the best overall outcome in the long run is to keep the original design. However, you can improve certain aspects at the expense of others by doing the sort of transplant you are suggesting. That should improve the performance which is good if you are racing or trialing but may make the car less pleasant in other ways. For instance, the six will be much smoother and sound wonderful. (I am not a fan of the B series!) Best, Roger On 17 Mar 2010, at 16:13, mike rambour wrote: > That is the attitude I expected from my original e-mail :) > > I admit I am of the same thought, this car is a survivor and rare > even > for a Singer. The UK clubs know of 7 left of this model, it would > be a > tragedy to destroy it. My intent since it looked easy, is really to > swap the drivetrain WHILE I rebuild the original but I admit I am > afraid > once it was on the road it might never go back to original. > > I also need to find out the condition of the original motor as I have > not looked into it yet. When I purchased the car from the original > owner, he said it ran fine with no noises/knocks but knocked when > shutting down the motor, turn off the ignition and there was a > knock in > the motor. Last time this motor ran was on the S. Calif. 405 > freeway in > 1968 when the brakes went out and the car was parked until I purchased > it. There is a visible crack in the side of the block that has been > brazed, not welded, but brazed. > > For all I know the motor is "good" but I have the option of getting > this running MGB for free and thought maybe I should look into this > as a > temporary drive train. > > Mike > > On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 11:53 -0400, WSpohn4 at aol.com wrote: >> I wouldn't even consider butchering a prewar car just because I was >> impatient to use it. >> >> Your car; your call. But I say do it right or sell it to someone >> that >> will. We aren't talking about an MGB here, and you don't see them >> every day. >> >> If butcher you must, choose something small that won't be a >> problem - a >> Sprite engine, for instance. >> >> Bill > > _______________________________________________ > > Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html > > http://www.team.net/archive > > British-cars-pre-war at autox.team.net > > http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars-pre-war > > You are subscribed as twelvetrees at mac.com