Fellow Mog-o-philes, Al and Bob:
Al Hamlet writes:
>I have no wish to start a religious war. I just wanted to hear some pros
>and cons. Is that so bad?
>
>I swear and avow that I am making this request on my own behalf. I am in
>the service of no faction or clique.
In response to Bob N.'s firebrand:
>> Okay Will Zehring, are you so bored and have so little to do that
>> you're sending "Bait mail "
>> If not, I'll waive opening and reserve the right to close
First off, Al: Have no fear. You have not started a religious war, but
you might inadvertently have joined in one. While you assure us you fly no
flag in the morgan engine debate as of yet, you will, inevitably, be forced
to make a selection. None of these cars came with both, to the best of my
understanding. Some might be found with neither, but none with both.
As Charles Harris writes:
>1. Depends on if you listen to a 4/4 or +4 owner, because if someone owns
>both a 4/4 and a+4 that is an indecisive person.
Charles is 100% correct. One is either a cat person or a dog person, chevy
person or a ford person, an MG person or a triumph person. So it goes; one
is either a 4/4 person or a +4 person. I'll warn you that you are on the
edge of what I like to call a "defining moment" in your life when you make
a decision that seals your identity and fate for years to come. When,
after all, was the last time Awesome Bill drove a chevy?
Anyway, as the self-appointed spokesperson for the 4/4 camp, let me give
you a brief synopsis of why the 4/4 is, as I am oft quoted saying, "THE
THINKING MAN'S MORGAN."
Heritage: The ford push rod four has it in spades. From the anemic little
thing it started as, probably only able to burp up about 30-40 some odd
horsepower, through its bores and strokes, up to the then state of the art
DOHC iteration w/twin webers, that Colin Chapman used in his (fragile) cars
back in the fabulous 60's. This engine has seen service for many many
years, and hence joins the league of great mills, including the small block
chevy, the venerable jag XK engine, and others. Don't forget: some are
born to greatness, others have greatness thrust upon them, and yet others
miss greatness by a mile. Catch my meaning? It is used today in formula
ford. Which leads me to the second point:
Parts availability: God knows (God knows he knows) how many vehicles are
powered by some iteration of this mill. Parts really aren't a problem, and
importantly: go fast parts aren't a problem. As long as Formula Ford
remains in existence and good and true men gather together on weekends to
go fast in light-weight cars powered by small displacement four cylinder
engines, well then, parts will be available. You have a spectrum of power
outputs and reliability levels to select from.
Economy: My 4/4 gets in the high 30's MPG-wise on the highway, then
running regular gas. Now, that's a minor consideration for the average Mog
owner, I'll grant you, but then it makes a difference to those of us who
see a distinction between style and content. You listening, Bob?
Quirkiness: That push pull shifter is always good for a line as
conversation lulls at your local cocktail party. You'll turn heads when
you announce that "Mine's a push-pull." If things go well, your host won't
have to resort to his lamp shade trick to get the party going again. If
such a remark doesn't draw attention then you need a new set of friends.
I would say that the last reason is that you don't want to drive a sports
car that has a motor that was also used in farm implements, but I'm afraid
that that goes for both the ford and triumph engines. Okay, so we're
versatile.
There you have it, Al. I suggest that before you make up your mind you
hear what others have to say (Bob N. in particular, my worthy adversary in
this debate) and then weigh your options. Don't spend a moment's time
worrying about how important this decision is, however, nor whether Bob N.
and I have too much free time (say it ain't so). Regardless of the
selection you make regarding engines, you have already made the most
important one and that is to get into a Morgan. You'll never look back.
Godspeed to you,
Will "God, I love this car" Zehring
|