This is a fun discussion. Thanks, Tim, for kicking it off with a
relatively simple question. It's amazing what you can do to a motor if you
have the will or the reason. I just put a deposit on one of Kenny Dreers
Norton Commandos. So here's a pre-80's brit bike, and the only parts made
in England are gearbox case!!! Everything else is made in various shops
throughout the USA and has been extensively re-engineered so it works much
better, lasts longer, makes more horsepower, goes together easier, and
still looks like a 1970 Norton. Electric start, lights that work,
reliability, great handling, oil stays on the inside, and twice the
horsepower.
Don't get me wrong, I love original stuff--my Vincent is true to 1950. But
riding it takes fortitude, a triple a card and a cell phone.
-----Original Message-----
From: BRITPAC@aol.com [mailto:BRITPAC@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 11:35 AM
To: twakeman@cruzers.com
Cc: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Justification for cheating
The Morgan TeriAnn refers to is Jim Belardi's, and at one point he
actually
won a race with a head I had prepared for him. And yes, it was a later
design
than the Standard Vanguard it 'should' have had. No one gave him any
grief:
he runs clean, never endangers himself, his car, or those around him. He
has
those expensive furrin' cars at home, but the Mog is reliable and fun.
The really big cheaters are the Ford engined guys, both flathead and
overhead
valve. There is so much that can be done to any Ford engine, from Model T
on
up to today, you can just assume any Ford must be running something
illegal.
Great Race inspects Ford engines very closely, but we all know Roush
Racing
is running his flathead V8 motors on engine dynos at the race shop, and
that
there are very few ancient cast parts in those engines. Just try finding
period prewar speed parts for a Chevy 216 I-6 or a flathead Dodge 6.
Yet, racing has always been about seeking out the 'unfair advantage' , so
as
long as things are safe and the drivers not idiots, it ain't so bad, as
long
as there aren't any trophies or money at stake. That Chevy 216 with
aluminum
pistons, more cam and carb, and more compression (Mr. Kastner is very
correct
there) results in a higher output and more reliable engine than the Ford
V8.
Basically, that works out to the same displacement, but with 5 main
bearings
and overhead valves the Chevy wins. Starting with a good motor design
means
less work needs to be done.
The amazing thing about the old Standard Vanguard is just how much you can
get out of the old lump with limited options. It truly is an amazing
engine,
brilliantly designed. Having driven Vanguard engined Triumphs, 120-130 bhp
is
roughly double of their original output.
Steve Hedke
British Pacific Ltd.
Land Rover Parts & Accessories since 1974
26007 Huntington Lane, unit 2
Valencia, CA. 91355 USA
fax: 661 257-9765
orders: 800 554-4133
tech: 661 257-8634
e-mail: britpac@aol.com
web: britishpacific.com
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