Somethings wrong, although the Spitfire and Midget engines had different
part numbers for most/all of the individual items the engines were identical
specification so the crank weights should be identical (at least within a
certain tolerance). 1300 cranks are certainly lighter as the webs are much
smaller, and it isn't unusual (in the UK) to find a 1300 engine where a 1500
should be. There is a version of the 1500 crank which has the smaller webs
(and is therefore much lighter) made for the Israeli market, I only know of
two in the world - I've got one and John Thomason has the other (we were co
drivers on the London-Cape Town in 1998) - these 1500 cranks have the small
nose as Spitfire III so they are readily identifiable. I doubt there are any
in the US.
John Kipping
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Johnson" <fpspitfire37@msn.com>
To: "fot" <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 5:12 PM
Subject: 1500 midget crank vs. spitfire crank
> All,
>
> A little clarification/help/information is needed.
>
> We've been doing a little research lately and are finding that 1500 midget
> crankshafts seem to be weighing about 7 lbs less than the equivalent 1500
> spitfire crankshaft. We seem to be getting 3lbs safely off the spitfire
crank
> and are thinking that if the midget crank really weighs less than it might
be
> a good option.
>
> This car is for limited prep SCCA so the rule states that the stock
crankshaft
> must be used. The casting numbers seem to be the same, and the bearings
etc
> are all the same...in fact they are same motor.
>
> Does anybody out there know if the spit and midget motors were made in the
> same facility or were they spread out. Or are the weights we are coming
up
> with just random and part of the process variation?
>
> Do the parts books (official Leyland) show the cranks to be the same part
> number?
>
> Aaron Johnson
> #38 FP Spit Mk4 Oregon Region SCCA
> http://www.geocities.com/spitracer9
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