Rich Colwell's Blog (3)

Well my A is finished. I had the motor in and out 3 times in the spring of 09. The gearbox was opened 3 times, and finally she is right. For the first time since 83, she shifts smooth. The motor has been modified, and should be producing about 92 BHP. The Houston highway entrance ramps are fun. She really growls now. Modifications: Compression increased to 9.1:1 New Pistons (.040" over) Cylinder Head burretted, volume of each combustion chamber is equal Larger valves installed 3 angle grind on… Continue

Have had a time with this motor swap. While the block I purchased (via ebay from British Spares -Sarasota, FL) was OK, the crank and head were no good. Buyer Beware. Britsh Spares doesn't exemplify the british car communities sense of doing the right thing. Anyway, after two heads turned up cracked, I took the head off of my running car. It too was cracked, but the cracks had not yet made the water jacket. The 4th head had no cracks. It is April 19th, and I will start the car tomorrow...I hope. Continue

It is 24 January, and I am in the midst of an engine swap. The 1600 motor purchased from British Spares came complete with a bad cam and a cracked head, the head not even the correct one. So much for ebay. Let the buyer beware. I pulled the head off of my 1500, and gave it to the machinist, who a day later called me to let me know that it too was cracked. I am scrounging around trying to find a suitable head. I have two in storage in Pennsylvania, but that is not much help here. The motor bloc… Continue