Me:
> They are fun to drive (especially when fitted with a 1798
> B-series instead of a 1500)
Allen H. Bachelder:
> I would think a B series punched out to 2 litres with four-syncro overdrive
> would make one very nice road driver out of the Z.
Well, I suppose if if you're really power hungry. I'd settle for a
warmed over B in closer to stock bore at this point. I'd considered
the ZB as a home for my Rover 3.5 V8- it would have been fantastic on
the road, and could have hauled my race car trailer to boot... But,
alas, tis not to B. The front crossmember on a Z runs under the
*back* half of the engine, rather than the front as on B's. (This
requires using the Magnette oil pan on any engine swaps). I never
finished measuring, but the side clearances were also probably more
than tight.
> But is there room in
> the trannytunnel for the four-syncro overdrive?
I believe there may be. The Magnette, you see, had the option of a
standard, or the Man-u-matic tranny. From reading the manual, the
manumatic sounds like one of the worst attempts at an automatic I've
heard of, and probably sent not a few Magenttes to an early resting
place at the scrap yard, while contributing to the afore mentioned
poor reputation.
Anyhow, because of this option, the tranny tunnel is fairly broad, at
least in the front. Towards the back things might get a little tight.
But, with the 15 inch tyres, and a 3.9 rear gear set, the Magentte
cruises at 70-75 with nary a problem, and lower RPM's than a B.
And, the stump puller 1st gear still spins the 'ole bias ply tyres...
-----
I forgot to mention yesterday- We finally got far enough with our
current house project that I ventured out into the fine spring weather
and cranked up my first LBC of the season. The Magnette fired right
up, and escaped from it's long sleep in the barn. All 4 of us
clamoured aboard, and went for a fine evening drive.
Tomorrow- hopefully the Bugeye will roar to life again.
________
/ _ \ Roger Garnett (Roger-Garnett@cornell.edu)
/ /|| \ \ Agricultural Economics |
| |\/ || _ | 3 Warren Hall | "The South Lansing Centre
| | || | | Cornell University | For Wayward Sports Cars"
\ ||__/ / Ithaca, N.Y. 14853-7801 | (607) 533-7735
\________/ (607) 255-2522 | Safety Fast!
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