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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Hello again - 1500 engine build

Hi everyone - long time no see. I have been lurking but not really contributed in a while.

For those who were interested in my 1500 engine re-build, I am getting there! I hope to get the lump back in the car this weekend.

Full spec has ended up as below. A lot of it is carried over from the old engine which had a knackered block and knackered piston rings that was affecting compression. The last straw was when it spun a big back in November! (Plus gearbox issues and a very noise clutch bearing!)

In a couple of months I am going to try to make a pilgrimage to Peter Burgess. It would be nice to hit 100hp, but that's probably me being optimistic.

Obligatory picture attached. I don't know why the camera flash makes the painting look so bad. The red is the primer under the silver, but it only seems to show through when flashed. Weird! Head and rocker cover need sprucing up too :-)

Short Block
• Bored 20 thou (1512cc).
• Centre main oilway enlarged to 5/16”.
• Lightened and balanced rods and pistons.
• Balanced crank, flywheel, and pulley. (Crank end float ~3 thou.)
• All crank journals ground 20 thou under.
• Standard main bearings, tri-metal big end bearings.
• Piper 270 fast road cam. (Cam end float ~6 thou.)
• Longitudinal baffled sump.

Ignition
• Electronic ignition.
• Distributor refurbished and curve calibrated.
• Vacuum advance connected to manifold vacuum.
• Sports coil.

Head
• Lightly ported head (casting ridges removed).
• Three angle valve seats, new valves, guides and springs.
• Skimmed to give ~9.5 compression ratio.
• BP5ES plugs gapped at 30 thou.
• Rockers bushed with bronze bushes.

Manifolds
• DCOE carb on straight manifold.
• High flow air filter, cold air feed.
• Spitfire MK3 exhaust manifold.
• Custom made 1.75” exhaust with twin straight through silencers.

Misc
• Thermostatically controlled oil cooler.
• Wide band lambda sensor in downpipe.
• Modified front engine mounts.
• New clutch.
• Alloy rocker cover.
• PCV valve to carb inlet.

Cheers,
Malc.



Malcolm Le Chevalier

Nice spec Malc. Very similar to my 1500, years ago. Only mine was + 30 rebore and I also lightened the flywheel for a quicker reponse. Mated mine to an OD box. And I kept the SUs.
GuyW

Cameras love rust, too. They find it where you hadn't noticed. I like the faint blush - hope it won't be coy about re-entry.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

was wondering how you were getting on..

With that spec I thought you might go for the programmable ignition system from Aldon or Accuspark?
might get you that extra couple of horses.

Best of...
MGmike
P.S. is that an MGB door I see in the background?
M McAndrew

Hi Mike,

Engine went in on Sunday (see attached).

Dizzy is in really good condition. So wasn't going to spend money on it right now as I know the current one is good. Maybe a future upgrade, I dunno.

It is a whole MGB in the background, not just the door :-)


Malcolm Le Chevalier

Interesting front crossmember.

Did you modify that yourself?

I don't remember it being discussed in the past.
Dave O'Neill 2

It's been seven years and you are the first to notice Dave! Part of my cars "interesting" history :-)

As far as I can deduce, it had a front impact at some point in it's long history and was "made good" with bits of an earlier shell (modified to suit the 1500 engine). I suspect at the same time it was repainted from it's original pale yellow to red. According to HPI, it changed colour in the 80s (I forget exactly when).

All this is fairly inconsequential though, as when I was restoring the shell it had so much cut out and repaired it is pretty much a new shell anyway! During that time I made sure it was all straight and solid and now it's just how it is.

All good, as long as I don't try to sell it :-D

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malc.
I know what you mean about the spends unless it's absolutely required! It'll be interesting to see how much compromise the curve is when PB get his hands on it! I guess that will be the time to decide if an extra few horses are worth the extra spends.

Is it running yet?

Best of...
MGmike
M McAndrew

This thread was discussed between 20/04/2018 and 25/04/2018

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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