[Nobbc] TRs and big engines

[Scott Irwin]

Ouch, I just remembered the gearbox output shaft is different than 
non-overdrive, and that there needs to be the shift control linkage that has 
the switch to disable overdrive in all but 3rd and top gear.  OD in reverse 
will damage the OD's one-way rotation bearing, and OD in 1st or 2nd can 
cause over-revving on downshifts.  OD is almost mandatory for U.S. highways 
though.  Also, a 3.89:1 diff is desirable if yours is 4.11:1.  The 4.11:1 
inner axle shafts are smaller and can't handle the torque of the 1500 very 
well.  I think I'll try to meet at the Cheese Factory tomorrow for a chat.

Scott

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Scott Irwin" <riprock99 at comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 7:08 PM
To: "North Bay British Car Club" <nobbc at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Nobbc] TRs and big engines

> Hi Rich,
>  Don't ride with the club much, but I wanted to tell you I've done a
> similar thing to my Spitfire.  You may want to consider sourcing a cyl 
> head
> from a Toledo.  These have larger valves than the Spitfire heads and go 
> well
> with the 9:1 pistons.  Also look very carefully at the space between cyl 2
> and 3 on the head for erosion.  It's very small and a good spot to blow 
> the
> head gasket (voice of experience).  The symptom is no compression at all 
> on
> 2 and 3, but also no fluid mixing.  You can mate a 1300 intake system with
> dual 1.25 SU's OK, or find the home market dual 1.5 SU system, or weberise
> the single carb manifold to good results.
>
> The overdrive will require a shorter driveshaft and a bit of tunnel 
> removed
> to get to the u-joint.  I used a shop in Santa Rosa to re-pipe my
> driveshaft.  The speedo cable is also longer and uses a right angle 
> adapter
> off the tranny.  God luck with it all.
>
> Scott
> '65 Spitfire
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: <rlmossholder at comcast.net>
> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:07 AM
> To: "North Bay British Car Club" <nobbc at autox.team.net>
> Subject: Re: [Nobbc] TRs and big engines
>
>> Hi Greg,
>>
>>
>>
>> B  That Busa V8 was what I'd do to the spitfire if I win the lotto. Did
>> you
>> watch the video of the dyno test? The sound of that engine is
>> astonishing!B
>>
>>
>>
>> B  Well, I found the main problemB with the Spitfire that kept me from
>> participating in any of the rides. The stupid previous owner installed a
>> bolt
>> from under the car in the transmission. This bolt served as the fulcrum
>> for
>> the clutch throw-out yolk. Since it was installed from underneath with a
>> standard nut, over time, the nut worked loose and the bolt fell out. I
>> couldn't see the bolt location because the exhaust pipe blocked the view.
>> I
>> found this after removing the engine, of course. Since I had the engine
>> out I
>> decided to rebuild it all. All the engine bearings were shot as well as
>> the
>> pistons and cam. The head had an unusual burn pattern. cylinders 1&4 were
>> running rich, 2&3 were lean. I thought this was strange since I only have
>> one
>> carb . Maybe it's a function of the intake manifold? I purchased a
>> J-typeB overdrive transmission for $400, not a bad deal. I will tear that
>> down
>> next time I go up to my Dad's shop. The engine block and head have been
>> taken
>> to the machine shop. We are going to useB .030 overB European spec flat
>> topB pistons. That will bump up the compression ratio from 7.1 to 9.1 and
>> add
>> a little HP to the mix as well.B  The main goal is to build a reliable
>> engine
>> with a little more power. We are balancing everything and adding roller
>> rockers too.
>>
>>
>>
>> B  John Kenner has given me aB bonnet which I am modifying. I always
>> thought
>> it would look good with a hood scoop, so I've cutB itB out andB will be
>> weldingB that soon. I also want to move the headlights back farther in 
>> the
>> fenders with the perspex lens covers like the Le Mans Spitfires of the
>> '60s.B Not sure how to do that yet. I want to fill in the seams and 
>> smooth
>> things out a bit too. The fender seam has always looked odd to me. It 
>> just
>> dies into the door with no continuity to the rest of the body. B I will
>> also
>> be removing the bulky side marker/reflectors, and replacing them with 
>> 3/4"
>> round LED markers with chrome bezels.B  I am , however, keeping the
>> original
>> bonnet in tact.
>>
>>
>>
>> Have a great ride this weekend. Hope to see you all soon.
>>
>> Rich
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>
>
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