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Old 01-22-15, 05:06 PM
  #5576  
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I have been thinking of these early 70s MGs (smog exempt in CA). Is it difficult to find suspension/brake parts for them? As I have been checking them out at the boneyards, it is a nice rotary project, likely a 12-A conversion due to tight engine bay.
Old 01-22-15, 06:17 PM
  #5577  
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Originally Posted by Siraniko
I have been thinking of these early 70s MGs (smog exempt in CA). Is it difficult to find suspension/brake parts for them? As I have been checking them out at the boneyards, it is a nice rotary project, likely a 12-A conversion due to tight engine bay.
I wouldn't look at too old, have a 64 Midget here and finding the right water outlet and other stuff proved to be a pita ... haven't looked at chassis crap yet
Old 01-22-15, 06:59 PM
  #5578  
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Originally Posted by Siraniko
I have been thinking of these early 70s MGs (smog exempt in CA). Is it difficult to find suspension/brake parts for them? As I have been checking them out at the boneyards, it is a nice rotary project, likely a 12-A conversion due to tight engine bay.
i thought about it too, you can buy just about every piece of the car, and its cheap. MossMotors.com - Restoration Parts And Accessories For British Cars

i think the 12A would literally bolt in...
Old 01-22-15, 07:50 PM
  #5579  
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Thanks for the info 13x and J9. It will look more into it since restoring an old school RX-2/3/4 as well as a REPU is no longer challenging for me.
Old 01-22-15, 09:53 PM
  #5580  
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Originally Posted by j9fd3s
i thought about it too, you can buy just about every piece of the car, and its cheap. MossMotors.com - Restoration Parts And Accessories For British Cars

i think the 12A would literally bolt in...
j9 even Moss doesn't appear to have this water outlet, anyone else you have found?

Originally Posted by Siraniko
Thanks for the info 13x and J9. It will look more into it since restoring an old school RX-2/3/4 as well as a REPU is no longer challenging for me.
Wacky draw back may be how wide a tire you can fit under these things, ported 12a would probably roast the tires with the greatest of ease lol
Old 01-22-15, 10:11 PM
  #5581  
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Originally Posted by dougingraham
I joined NEDRA which is the National Electric Drag Racing Association. From my goofing around last summer I found that I was about 0.7 second off of the existing 1/8th mile record so my goal is to break that record this year. I can probably do that now since I added a cooling system for my motor controller but I want to set a decent record, one that won't be easily broken on a whim. And with that in mind the car needs to lose a little weight. I had it on the scales last summer and the weight is 2424 lbs without me in it. Here is the weight on each wheel.
--- snipped ---
Doug, I don't want to be a negative Nancy, but .7 seconds off of 1/8 mile is a tall order. It's the equivalent of 1.28 seconds off the quarter mile, which is huge...several car lengths. What was the record holder's 60' time, trap speed and ET? Your 60' time, trap speed/ET?

From the calculators I've used (I've used several, but my favorite is the app Drag Race Calculator as it's free, has adjustments for BHP/WHP and altitude, and I wrote it ), you'd have to lose over 300 lbs at the same power to match that ET.

Now, if the record holder was using slicks and you weren't, and you had relatively close trap speeds, you might have a chance if you don slicks. I've shaved several tenths off my ET just based on getting your 60' times down wearing slicks.

fm
Old 01-23-15, 12:48 AM
  #5582  
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I ordered an FC FMOC with stainless steel AN lines and fittings, a glass sunroof and Racing Beat springs today - yay for upgrade parts!
Old 01-23-15, 12:30 PM
  #5583  
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Originally Posted by Fungus Mungus
--- snipped ---
Doug, I don't want to be a negative Nancy, but .7 seconds off of 1/8 mile is a tall order. It's the equivalent of 1.28 seconds off the quarter mile, which is huge...several car lengths. What was the record holder's 60' time, trap speed and ET? Your 60' time, trap speed/ET?

From the calculators I've used (I've used several, but my favorite is the app Drag Race Calculator as it's free, has adjustments for BHP/WHP and altitude, and I wrote it ), you'd have to lose over 300 lbs at the same power to match that ET.

Now, if the record holder was using slicks and you weren't, and you had relatively close trap speeds, you might have a chance if you don slicks. I've shaved several tenths off my ET just based on getting your 60' times down wearing slicks.

fm
Fungus, I appreciate the feedback. Here is why I think this will not be too tough. The existing 1/8 record in my class is dismal. 10.235@65.85 mph. I was doing consistent 10.9's @ about 62 mph with a passenger last summer. I had previously done 6 sec 0-60's on cold days before all this so when I saw the slips I was shocked and wondered what was going wrong. I got to put it on a dyno and found that I was getting full torque for just a few seconds and then it was cutting way back due heat in the controller electronics. Losing the weight of one person, and going from 90 ft-lb back up to 266 ft-lb and increasing HP which was also being limited by the motor controller from right at 100 to the battery limit of 161 should get me below the current record. The lighter battery will also not be a limiting factor as it can put out more than the heavy one I have now. Power will go up from 120kw to 170kw (228 HP). So to recap.

Peak power goes from 75kw (100HP) to 170kw (228HP).
Torque goes from about 90 ft-lb to 266 ft-lb (0 to 4000 rpm).
And weight drops from 2800 lbs (passenger) to 2600 (No passenger).
And if I build a drag racing battery will drop to 2250 lbs.

Then again I could be totally deluding myself. I have a NHRA strip about 30 miles away so when they open I can go see what is real.

I will look at your drag race calculator. I wrote my own but it does not include rolling resistance or air drag effects so it is extremely optimistic. Not many people get to race in a vacuum.
Old 01-23-15, 12:48 PM
  #5584  
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...snipped...

Originally Posted by dougingraham
So to recap.

Peak power goes from 75kw (100HP) to 170kw (228HP).
Torque goes from about 90 ft-lb to 266 ft-lb (0 to 4000 rpm).
And weight drops from 2800 lbs (passenger) to 2600 (No passenger).
And if I build a drag racing battery will drop to 2250 lbs.
OK, so I hadn't realized you were doing 10.8 secs at 100hp. If you manage to keep 228hp and maintain your torque at 266ft-lb, you should definitely be able to beat that record and turn a respectable 1/8 mile time.
Then again I could be totally deluding myself. I have a NHRA strip about 30 miles away so when they open I can go see what is real.
There is always a bit of deluding oneself when mulling over changes and effects on your time slips that they'll have. My experience has always been that I've been optimistic, but not overly so.

I will look at your drag race calculator. I wrote my own but it does not include rolling resistance or air drag effects so it is extremely optimistic. Not many people get to race in a vacuum.
It's fairly simple, based on the most realistic equations I could find. Of course, traction and gearing play a role as well as drag and rolling resistance. It's a good tool for estimating, but bench racing is no substitute for going out and smoking the tires. But bench racing is fun...that's why I named the company Bench Racing Productions.

fm
Old 01-23-15, 03:32 PM
  #5585  
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Originally Posted by 13x
j9 even Moss doesn't appear to have this water outlet, anyone else you have found?
try mini mania? they made the A series engine up to like 2003, shouldn't be hard to get parts for



Wacky draw back may be how wide a tire you can fit under these things, ported 12a would probably roast the tires with the greatest of ease lol
no idea, but roasting the tires might be fun? stock is like a 175-14, and there was one with a 15". actually they did a factory v8 version
Old 01-23-15, 03:43 PM
  #5586  
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How about MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, Sunbeam Parts & Accessories - Victoria British, Ltd. Their the same company as Black Dragon and LMC Truck.
Old 01-23-15, 04:28 PM
  #5587  
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Originally Posted by j9fd3s
try mini mania? they made the A series engine up to like 2003, shouldn't be hard to get parts for

no but I will thanks!



no idea, but roasting the tires might be fun? stock is like a 175-14, and there was one with a 15". actually they did a factory v8 version
Originally Posted by KansasCityREPU
How about MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, Sunbeam Parts & Accessories - Victoria British, Ltd. Their the same company as Black Dragon and LMC Truck.
I thought I did but will double check myself thank you
Old 01-23-15, 07:38 PM
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Finally got it running again today after being out of commission for a few weeks while replacing the Clutch, Clutch master and Slave cylinders, and the leaky Tranny rear main seal.
Filthy as all hell, gotta wash it tomorrow. Luckily having a nice few days of warm weather here in L.A.
Old 01-24-15, 05:03 PM
  #5589  
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im having the same problem with my gslse

Originally Posted by DreamInRotary
Well, dropping the distributor down into the front cover yields some interesting results for me. The helical cut gears that drive the distributor spline with it and force the assembly to rotate when it's about 1/2in from bottoming out on the front cover. They rotate the reluctor (from the gear on the bottom that I lined the dimple up on) in a clockwise direction when you're pressing it down home to where it should be sitting. Well the dimple being lined up allotted for two options for the distributor to sit at the center of its adjustment after the clockwise rotation of the reluctor.

Option 1:
This was the closest alignment to what the distributor looked like outside of the car on the bench, so I assumed that this was correct.


Option 2:
This was me moving the teeth one movement clockwise compared to the first option. Mind you, the dimple still appeared to line up with the raised cast part - it was a close toss up either way. But I don't believe this to be correct because it's not at either pickup at TDC.


Take note that the distributor housing is lined up in the middle of it's adjustment on the front cover in both cases.

Well, then I noticed something else peculiar going on and it was the amount of play in the rotor tree (not sure on the technical name, looks like a tree so why not). The flat spot where it should line up on the distributor shaft was too small so it allowed for at least 15 degrees of deflection in either direction from where it should be lined up.

Spun out as far as it could go in the counterclockwise direction:


Spun out as far as it could go in the clockwise direction:


The too-small flat spot on the rotor tree:


Well, while doing all of this the starter got stuck out against the flywheel. So to fix that I dropped the starter and bench tested it. The solenoid works and pushes the gear out quickly and strongly, as well as spinning the motor at a decent enough seeming rate. I still think the cranking speed is too slow but maybe I'm just not used to the rotary cranking speed any more.


So I got the starter thrown back in thinking it would all be ok now, she'd fire up and I'd have no more problems.















Yeah right, in my dreams...(get it, DreamInRotary)...... I'm tired.

She didn't fire. Didn't even hint at firing. So I knew that the worst had come to pass and I'd need to do what I should have done in the first place...
i have the same problem on my car it keeps popping and studding how you got it to fire up?
Old 01-24-15, 06:20 PM
  #5590  
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Originally Posted by 13x
Wacky draw back may be how wide a tire you can fit under these things, ported 12a would probably roast the tires with the greatest of ease lol
i just put my tape measure in it, and its got more room in the front than the 1st gen, and slightly less in the rear. so 205's should be no trouble and 225 is tight but probably possible.
Old 01-24-15, 10:48 PM
  #5591  
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Originally Posted by j9fd3s
i just put my tape measure in it, and its got more room in the front than the 1st gen, and slightly less in the rear. so 205's should be no trouble and 225 is tight but probably possible.
lol that would be beastie looking (no offense DD) measured a B or Midget?
Old 01-25-15, 02:27 AM
  #5592  
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Helped Jesus get things ready for re-assembly of Selene.

Pulled nasty tranny
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Cleaned it
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Polished it
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Dropped it in
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Old 01-25-15, 11:16 AM
  #5593  
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To be installing today:
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Old 01-25-15, 07:59 PM
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Well, that was easy...


Old on the right, new on the left. Note that the new bottom cap is shallower than the original, and that the pellet itself sits higher. I installed all the new components figuring they are meant to work as a set.

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Water temps are now exactly where they traditionally have been on the car; about 1/8" into the bottom of the "normal" brackets after a warm-up and hold steady even after a "spirited" 30-minute test drive. Which included a jog down the 71 next to a very nice white 280Z.

Problem solved.
Old 01-25-15, 08:49 PM
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DD,

I recall you posting about your temp issues.

So your oil cooler thermostat was stuck open keeping your car from warming up properly?

I am thinking if I replace my oil cooler lines I may as well replace the t stat also...
Old 01-26-15, 09:27 AM
  #5596  
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It looks like it was opening early, rather than stuck open, but yes - - it was allowing oil through the cooler even though the engine was not warm enough to need it.

It didn't make a huge difference in performance, just a little bit 'off'; idle wasn't as solid as it should be, response at low RPMs was slower, all the usual "not quite warm yet" behavior, but it never really went away unless it was a hot day.

Probably would have been a lot more noticeable on a daily-driven car in a cold-weather country.
Old 01-26-15, 02:05 PM
  #5597  
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Originally Posted by 13x
lol that would be beastie looking (no offense dd) measured a b or midget?
b
Old 01-26-15, 04:16 PM
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I bet a lot of owners don't even know there IS a Oil Cooler Thermostat!
Old 01-26-15, 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by sti-g
i have the same problem on my car it keeps popping and studding how you got it to fire up?
Do you think the timing is off? Have you checked compression on the motor? Made sure you're getting fuel to the engine? Don't screw with timing until you have narrowed it all down to that one issue.

I learned that one the hard way.
Old 01-26-15, 11:50 PM
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Got to bring this beast home on Sunday. She's definitely going to be a bit more work than I initially anticipated but I know it'll be worth it in the end.

1983 VIN Mazda RX7 GSL with Pacifica Widebody kit on staggered Epsilon 3-piece wheels that are 16x8 and 16x9.







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