----- Original Message -----
From "Paul Asgeirsson" <pasgeirsson at worldnet.att.net>
To: <KrkLH@cs.com>; "Robert E. Shlafer" <PilotRob@webtv.net>; "Frank
Clarici" <spritenut@exit109.com>; <Spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: Original Intended Life Span of a Type A
Hi Kirk,
My experience with the 1275 is that they will go WAY over 100k miles, and
still be good. I have one now that has just about 300k miles on it after
it's last complete rebuild, but admittedly quite tired now. It went 165k
before I burned a valve. That's been the only repair work done to it since
installed.
It was a junk yard engine that had been in a burned in a rollover wreck.
Got hot enough to melt the cam bearings and flow through and solder up the
rocker arms!!!!! Did a Mickey mouse rebuild with new bearing and rings and
left it all standard. Got 105k miles on it, but some rings were broken.
Likely the result of one of my boys driving it up the ridge route out of LA
and having the heater base break and loose the coolant, He drove it till it
stopped! Called me and I suggested he get something to eat and let it cool
down. He then put a soda pop can side bolted under the remains of that base
and a screwdriver handle stuck in the hose and drove it to Portland OR and
back to San Diego. Not bad for a 16 year old!
THESE ARE TOUGH ENGINES!!
Later, Paul A
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <KrkLH@cs.com>
> To: <PilotRob@webtv.net>; <spritenut@exit109.com>
> Cc: <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 8:43 PM
> Subject: Re: Original Intended Life Span of a Type A
>
>
> > My original question regarding life span of the Type A had more to do
with
> > metalurgy than anything, ie. the hardness of the bores in terms of a
well
> > maintained engine that is driven somewhere between "girlman" and "like
you
> stole
> > it."
> >
> > I am new to the Spite thing having recently purchased for 5k a very nice
> '59
> > Bugeye with very minimal rust (if any) and a well documented 64k miles
on
> the
> > clock. The previous owner installed a rebuilt 1275 and only put about
100
> > miles on it until he cracked a notch in first gear. . and then it seems
> that he
> > lost interest in the car for a good while. I also have the original 948
> with
> > 64k on it.
> >
> > My sense is, after reading all of your helpful emails is that - the A
> engines
> > were cast as strong as just about any other engine and for that matter,
if
> > well maintained could go a good 100k miles before there is significant
> wear
> > between the rings and the cylinder walls? Most likely the same quality
in
> > casting that would also be found on the bigger Healeys. . . .?
> >
> > I have seen well maintained Harley EVO engines reach the 100k mark over
> and
> > over again - consider also that the Harley engine is an air cooled long
> stroke
> > pushrod design.
> >
> > Toyota's and Hondas seem to have engines that have incredibly dense
steel
> in
> > their cylinder walls as they can pull 300k miles on their bores even
when
> the
> > owners have not maintained them well.
> >
> > But the type A seems just as solid as most others in terms of wear
> potential.
> >
> > Thanks - Kirk
> >
> > Your messages not reaching the list?
> > Check out http://www.team.net/posting.html
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