21-11-2018, 06:04 PM
My first seven is now about a year old in my ownership. It is a 1934 Type 65 which has its original engine, so the crankcase is a precious item which I do not want to put at risk.
Talking to previous owners it seems that the engine has never been quite right since the car was restored in the early nineties.
I plan to rebuild the engine over the winter, intending to store the old crank and camshaft so that the engine could be put back to original if required. I shall install a John Barlow crank, Paul Bonewell cam and may reuse the rods depending what I find when I strip it down. I intend fitting slipper pistons and balancing the combustion chambers. I shall get the crank and flywheel balanced and since I need to install new valve seats I shall go for enlarged inlet valves.
Several people have advised me that I am making a mistake, and that what I should do is retain the original engine on a pallet for posterity and build up another engine to use in the car. This probably makes financial sense should I wish to sell the car at some point, but my philosophy is to preserve the vehicle in its original state as much as possible, but with the objective of using it rather than sitting looking at it.
What does the team think?
Talking to previous owners it seems that the engine has never been quite right since the car was restored in the early nineties.
I plan to rebuild the engine over the winter, intending to store the old crank and camshaft so that the engine could be put back to original if required. I shall install a John Barlow crank, Paul Bonewell cam and may reuse the rods depending what I find when I strip it down. I intend fitting slipper pistons and balancing the combustion chambers. I shall get the crank and flywheel balanced and since I need to install new valve seats I shall go for enlarged inlet valves.
Several people have advised me that I am making a mistake, and that what I should do is retain the original engine on a pallet for posterity and build up another engine to use in the car. This probably makes financial sense should I wish to sell the car at some point, but my philosophy is to preserve the vehicle in its original state as much as possible, but with the objective of using it rather than sitting looking at it.
What does the team think?