Austin A35
- Thread starter CommerJon
- Start date
The Austin received a few presents for Christmas -
Some vented disc brakes from a rover 200, to go with them some Wilwood Dynalite Calipers and some 8.5" 360lb rated springs - which will lower it 1.5" without the need to cut the springs.......
It does seam a bit of overkill in terms of brakes but I got the Wilwoods for a silly cheap price from America. A friend lives there and is back in a few days which will save on shipping!
Now it'll stop, the engine debate may be over......
Looks like it'll be a 2.0l Austin A35 sometime next year
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Some vented disc brakes from a rover 200, to go with them some Wilwood Dynalite Calipers and some 8.5" 360lb rated springs - which will lower it 1.5" without the need to cut the springs.......
It does seam a bit of overkill in terms of brakes but I got the Wilwoods for a silly cheap price from America. A friend lives there and is back in a few days which will save on shipping!
Now it'll stop, the engine debate may be over......
Looks like it'll be a 2.0l Austin A35 sometime next year
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Yes a nice tasty Pinto.......................................Mmmmmmmmm[xx(]
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Theres nothing wrong with a well set up Pinto engine, Tim kept breaking ours as he liked to work on it so much
Yes Panky, on the look out for a decent C20XE / Red Top now! Weighing up the continued cost of a full 1275 rebuild we thought (whilst being a good few £££ from where it needs to be) that for bang for your buck an early red top would be best. Looking around I've not found one that has been done in an A35 before either which is surprising.
I've just spoke to a chap who is selling me a Midget back axle for £20. At worst it will have a 3.9 diff in it, but hoping for a 3.7 - either way it's a ridiculous bargain. Now who can pick it up from Cornwall and deliver to the Midlands soonish!?[:0]
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Yes Panky, on the look out for a decent C20XE / Red Top now! Weighing up the continued cost of a full 1275 rebuild we thought (whilst being a good few £££ from where it needs to be) that for bang for your buck an early red top would be best. Looking around I've not found one that has been done in an A35 before either which is surprising.
I've just spoke to a chap who is selling me a Midget back axle for £20. At worst it will have a 3.9 diff in it, but hoping for a 3.7 - either way it's a ridiculous bargain. Now who can pick it up from Cornwall and deliver to the Midlands soonish!?
[:0]Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Remember Dozer's power packed peanut, I think it had a Fiat twin-cam under the bonnet. Quote
"best of the lights run iv had was against a v6 golf have always destroyed everything else but that golf was quick it was a tie to the next lights .. but i was to keen at the next set my wheels were still spinning in 4th & i lost control as it drifted sideways and when it griped i had him 4 a split second until it nearly toppled over due to my excitedness ..then the adrenalin turned brown got an 8th mile track near me & i ain't been beat there yet by any none race prepared cars that includes the yanks"
Gulp:I
Two's company
"best of the lights run iv had was against a v6 golf have always destroyed everything else but that golf was quick it was a tie to the next lights .. but i was to keen at the next set my wheels were still spinning in 4th & i lost control as it drifted sideways and when it griped i had him 4 a split second until it nearly toppled over due to my excitedness ..then the adrenalin turned brown got an 8th mile track near me & i ain't been beat there yet by any none race prepared cars that includes the yanks"
Gulp:I
Two's company
I've met two polar opposites in the past 2 weeks. The first chap was Club Secretary for a Classic Car club - we spoke abit about his classic and then the A35. He gave me such a crappy look as I discussed the posibility of an engine swap! The second chap had a nice collection and talking about the Austin, he liked the idea of an engine swap so after some more thought.......
Out came this....
Which left this....
To be replaced by this...
It is a 2.0L 16v Red Top engine,rebuilt with +.08 pistons, skimmed head etc. Plan is to run it with twin 1 3/4 SUs and Megajolt Ignition.
I also picked up a Desmo Roof Rack today from an eBay win as our tent will not fit in the car as and when we are ready to use. The Austin is not sitting flat but initial thoughts are [xx(]:I[xx(]
It is also sitting high at the front as the engine is out!
It has been slow process due to getting time to get to the barn, the cold weather and my lack of skill, knowledge and issues with my hands. Although I tried to do it all to the book, the grinder had to come out today to remove the clutch from the box - no matter how many manuals you have the instructions and pictures are always different to the way the car is [}] Obviously Tim is on hand in between eating cake working on the V8!
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Out came this....
Which left this....
To be replaced by this...
It is a 2.0L 16v Red Top engine,rebuilt with +.08 pistons, skimmed head etc. Plan is to run it with twin 1 3/4 SUs and Megajolt Ignition.
I also picked up a Desmo Roof Rack today from an eBay win as our tent will not fit in the car as and when we are ready to use. The Austin is not sitting flat but initial thoughts are [xx(]:I[xx(]
It is also sitting high at the front as the engine is out!
It has been slow process due to getting time to get to the barn, the cold weather and my lack of skill, knowledge and issues with my hands. Although I tried to do it all to the book, the grinder had to come out today to remove the clutch from the box - no matter how many manuals you have the instructions and pictures are always different to the way the car is [}
] Obviously Tim is on hand in between eating cake working on the V8!Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Jon
0
Great engine, should have loads of power to weight ratio. What gearbox/rear diff you going to use?? Dont listen to tim with his 1 3/4 SUs and Megajolt Ignition. Get yourself the engine loom and ecu from a cavalier or calibre with the sfi injection system on it. Once the loom is disected there are only about 4 wires to get it runing. Loads of stuff on the net about it as many people have done the red top conversion in stacks of cars. Good choice though[8D]
A commer with boost will be appering on a screen near you soon!
[8D]
A commer with boost will be appering on a screen near you soon!
There's been some measuring and re-measuring to be honest! The dizzy will be coming off the Vauxhall engine with using megajolt and a manifold will have to be made for the carbs anyhow. There is a small lip on the bulkhead which may need to be cut off to initially get the engine in but the main concern is the steering track rod which will dictate the rearmost position of the engine. At the front there is a radiator support panel which may need cutting too.
One thing noticed today was the supporting/ strengthening pillars which narrows the engine bay are actually bolted to the body and also in the middle - which is a bit odd as it'll flex and therefore is it giving much extra strength?
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
One thing noticed today was the supporting/ strengthening pillars which narrows the engine bay are actually bolted to the body and also in the middle - which is a bit odd as it'll flex and therefore is it giving much extra strength?
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
Using a Type 9 Jon as I have one already from when we had the Commer. Putting a narrowed English axle on the back with Quaife shafts which I am having from a chap who is doing a Sigma conversion in his A35 and putting a wide track axle on. It'll be 4 link, rather than 5 but don't know which diff yet?!
The Sfi manifold will foul the steering gubbings below the battery in the pics, plus keeping the dizzy adds extra towards the bulkhead which we need to loose. If I had got a later coil pack engine then we could of moved that but this rebuilt one was too good a buy. With regards to megajolt, that was my input
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
The Sfi manifold will foul the steering gubbings below the battery in the pics, plus keeping the dizzy adds extra towards the bulkhead which we need to loose. If I had got a later coil pack engine then we could of moved that but this rebuilt one was too good a buy. With regards to megajolt, that was my input
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
An acquaintence has used the MX5 engine with twin SUs in his wife's Herald. Looks like it belongs there and is suitably quick.
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=35482&page=9
Spare a Commer Guv?
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=35482&page=9
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
Much better with an 803cc A series
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Thanks Adam! Can not wait to start getting more involved with it, with everything that is needing done it is going to be a slow project in the short term but very, very quick in the long term . As you say the first drive may be fun, I'll be wheel spinning in 5th!
Being a member (albeit a silent member) of the Austin A30/35 forum there is only a select few who have done any radical mods. By radical I mean putting a non original rubber boot on and not telling the club secretary and their insurance company... or something as outlandish as that. There are two or three who have put a bigger engine in, up to a 1275 midget engine, one with a mg turbo and another who is putting a 1.7 Sigma engine in but that is to be a track car. But the majority like to ensure that originality is kept.
Thanks for the link Baz, I had heard it being done when I was looking at possible engines. I'll take a look at the thread now!
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
. As you say the first drive may be fun, I'll be wheel spinning in 5th!Being a member (albeit a silent member) of the Austin A30/35 forum there is only a select few who have done any radical mods. By radical I mean putting a non original rubber boot on and not telling the club secretary and their insurance company... or something as outlandish as that
. There are two or three who have put a bigger engine in, up to a 1275 midget engine, one with a mg turbo and another who is putting a 1.7 Sigma engine in but that is to be a track car. But the majority like to ensure that originality is kept.Thanks for the link Baz, I had heard it being done when I was looking at possible engines. I'll take a look at the thread now!
Jon&Cara - missing Fontaine
A35 owners are notorious for some reason at turning their noses up at 'unsuitable' modifications. Not sure why that is, these cars are begging for a few subtle tweaks here and there
Could you point me to the build thread for the 1.7 Sigma build. I found the guy on the forum, but couldn't find any pics of his car. Sounds rather interesting and am guessing that this is the Ford Puma Sigma unit (which is a cracking engine!). Cheers
Could you point me to the build thread for the 1.7 Sigma build. I found the guy on the forum, but couldn't find any pics of his car. Sounds rather interesting and am guessing that this is the Ford Puma Sigma unit (which is a cracking engine!). Cheers