Practically Classics Forum

See here http://youtu.be/Q4btmulqnZU
http://youtu.be/ycqi8TCjols



John Simpson.

Brilliant

I see you also love the Triumph 1500 engine

Moral of that story: Large Journal Triumph OHVs are fine but don't try to overtake trucks or take the car to Morrison's to buy teabags unless you want to find yourself - or a worryingly happy colleague - spending half a day on your knees, up to the neck in leaked oil, attempting to address the least worrying of the engine's known failures.

Looking forward to the episode where Sam overtakes two trucks and becomes aware of a rumbling/knocking sound from "somewhere", accompanied by sudden loss of oil pressure and lots of rude words.

Stick an A-series in the thing, you know it makes sense!

A bit off topic; but what are the Triumph 1500 engine's faults?

The only one I know is that the bearings aren't that great; allowing the crank to flop about?

(My dad drives my Spit like a lunatic; up to 7000rpm; and it makes me angry. Sound knowledge should help to convince him that he shouldn't!)

I've only dealt with a few dozen really badly broken ones but, in fairness to the large journal engines (don't forget that some 1300s such as the Toledo and Dolomite one had that bottom end too) I've known some that covered well over 30,000 miles before they failed their thrust washers and bearings. 1500 motors taken from 1500TC and Dolomite autos are best to go for - for those who must buy one instead of fitting a 13/60 or 1300 TC-spec engine - since there's negligible thrust loading on engines where no clutch is present. I once encountered a 1500TC auto that had covered more than 65k and hadn't even had a change of shells at that stage of its life , though that one did put a leg out of bed at 72k. A great shame as the crankpins and shells weren't too bad when we eventually managed to get that engine all untied from itself.

Revving it to 7000 won't exactly do it any favours, but it's no more damaging in the great scheme of things than using the clutch.

There are people who can build 1500s to last reasonably well nowadays thanks to better materials and dynamically balanced bottom ends but the factory's take on how to make a long-stroke, 3-bearing engine that would be long-lasting and dependable was straight out of the dark ages.
If yours actually does reach 7k rpm, then I'd suggest that it can't be ex-factory as a stock one would usually burst open at well below that kind of speed.


Just spotted the other video, with the A7. I'd love to see it "restored" to the state it was in, cosmetically, when its student owner packed it away in the '60s. My logic being that there's not exactly a shortage of beautifully restored, concours d'état 7s around so it would make the car that bit different, therefore more interesting.

I agree on the 7,and I love Sams workshop atire.

The 1500 has a longish stroke, so very high revs are neither a strong point or really required. Quality control was a problem and some were built with far too much crank end flat and sometimes thrust washers would fall out.

The engine gained a worse reputation in the Midget but this was due to installation. The suspension cross member prevents cooling air getting to the sump, so an oil cooler is a must. The 1500 Midget lost its main air intake, as the bumper took up most of the original air intake. The extra one, under the bumper, was blocked up by the number plate (Clever one that ; mine has a self adhesive number plate on the bumper - see http://www.practicallyclassics.co.uk/vi ... a&start=20). Added to that, the engine bay is a touch cramped, which is why my bonnet has two rows of louvres.

The early 1500s were also under geared and would run into the red in top. Later ones (Mid 1977 on) had a 3.7:1 cwp but unlike the Spitfire, no overdrive (I have an overdrive in mine).

like it! what happened to the special?

Mrotwoman wrote:I agree on the 7,and I love Sams workshop attire.

I respect the way in which he breaks it, then stands there in his "off out on the pull, may be some time" gear while poor Danny does the work!

And the boy Hopkins is just so happy about kneeling on the floor, having his hands covered in whatever it is that oozes out of a Triumph 1500 engine besides oil.
I'd tie the hippy to the roof and make him watch.

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnntasticccccccccccc more! more! more!.Well done.