Todays Project - What did you do today?

[the penguin]

(11-22-2012, 09:07 PM)Rickabilly Wrote: I started out with an MG Midget, the very first Race engine I ever built, all my mates were raving about their minis so I went out and got one, only to sell it a few weeks later, the Midget was just so much better to use in every respect, handling, braking and especially running about on summer evenings, with the Newcastle Knights cheerleaders balanced in the back as we paraded around the field at half time, but essentially the same engine, from 1997 through to 2001 I specialised in BMC A and B series Race engines, even billet machining cylinder heads from stock and a foray into a reproduction B series twin cam head copied from the MGA twin cam, Ahh the good ole days.

Rick

I had a street MG Midget for a while, it was a former SCCA racer, full boxed frame with a roll cage, all that was necessary, as the engine was a 375 hp Mazda rotary engine, with a 6 speed transmission. I had to sell the car, as I was positively sure I would die in it.

[f350ca]

Yesterday went on a road trip to pick up this furnace. Belonged to a friend of a friend. The chap that used it passed away some time ago, been sitting since, apparently he cast among other things brass injectors for steam boilers. Brought all the moulding supplies to Bills last spring, finally got them out of his hair and into inventory here. Now I need another building for the foundry and blacksmith shop.






Will be asking for advice once I get things set up.

[doubleboost]

Hi
Greg
You will have fun with that lot
First thing to think is safety
John

[sasquatch]

Yup, Another building is going to be "In the Works" !!

[Rickabilly]

(11-24-2012, 01:03 PM)doubleboost Wrote: Hi
Rick
I remember using the Longman alloy 8 port head
As well as the BMC cast iron 8 porter
I was involved with the development of the Cosworth SCA engine (on top of a mini gear box using Jack Knight gear sets)
This was the fore runner to the famous BDA series of engines
We used to fit Janspeed turbo conversions on to B series engines giving good reliable power
Any info on your cylinder heads would be great
John

Hello John,

What has up until now been quite off topic "what did you do today?" has now come back on topic, as I have decided to get back onto an old project that I had veered away from.

I'm currently working on a new Patentable concept in classic engine after market cylinder heads, so as soon as the tech is properly protected I will gladly share. Actually I'll be advertising the IP to "all and sundry" as it could well be a serious game changer, and frankly I could use the money

As for my billet heads from the old days, I simply copied the important dimensions straight off of the original design, but I pinched a little tech from the Ford Cleveland V8 heads by Canting the valves slightly just about five or eight degrees was enough to dramatically improve the air flow without the head looking very different from the outside, it was just cheeky enough to work. the big "Trick" making billet heads is how to do the water jacket, suffice to say there are some trade secrets that I need to keep just in case I ever go back to that line of work

As for the use of MGA Twin cam heads, on an 1800, it is a pretty straight forward conversion in every respect, except getting pistons, which is near to impossible, I used to make em, as back in the 90s it was out of the question to have a piston manufacturer make one offs at my budget, but nowadays with the proliferation of CNC in the custom auto game, getting the Twin cam heads is probably more difficult than having the pistons made. It was never easy to get twin cam heads, So I made up a set of patterns that were eventually bought by a guy in South Australia who had serious plans, but given that I've never seen them advertised, I suppose that never happened either.

I also designed a range of Limited slip differentials, for MGAs, Bs and various other cars after selling 36 units I got tired of the project and sold my designs and other IP, to my knowledge these are still available today. But as my non compete contract has now expired I suppose I can make them myself again and the new designs would be better as Automotive engineering has come quite a way in fifteen years.

Back to heads, If anyone is interested in building some of these great heads and then the engines, And has the budget, I would do just about anything to get back into it, but it seems no-one has the dream anymore, or more correctly no-one with the cash has the dream. So the new tech has to work on other engines as well, not just A and B series MOWOG stuff. Just to "widen the net" in which to snare customers.

Given my current health, what I really need is an investor with an interest in creating IP and the vision to see that my design skills haven't been affected by being restricted to a wheelchair. With 35 Patents, Seven individual engineering business startups, all of which were profitable, but folks just turn off when they see the chair nowadays, it's pretty hard to take

Best Regards
Rick

[DaveH]

(11-25-2012, 09:42 AM)Rickabilly Wrote: folks just turn off when they see the chair nowadays, it's pretty hard to take
Best Regards
Rick

Hi Rick,
Chin up mate, lets see a bit of that British Bulldog mate, and when they throw you a curve ball just HIT it

DaveH

[stevec]

(11-25-2012, 09:42 AM)Rickabilly Wrote: folks just turn off when they see the chair nowadays, it's pretty hard to take

Best Regards
Rick

Rick, thank you, I will try not to do that, I think maybe it's normal to just avoid situations that one is not prepared for. I hope I will not "turn off" in the future.
Steve

[TomG]

All this talk about MGA's is getting me excited. The first car I ever restored was a 1958 MGA. I brought the body back to pristine condition, re-upholstered the interior, re-built the brake system and stuffed an 1800cc MGB engine into it (I was 17 years old and the 1500 just didn't do it for me).

I had loads of fun with that car.

Tom

[doubleboost]

(11-26-2012, 05:18 PM)TomG Wrote: All this talk about MGA's is getting me excited. The first car I ever restored was a 1958 MGA. I brought the body back to pristine condition, re-upholstered the interior, re-built the brake system and stuffed an 1800cc MGB engine into it (I was 17 years old and the 1500 just didn't do it for me).

I had loads of fun with that car.

Tom

The 1500 was a triumph engine
Not the best
Had a crank shaft like a bent coat hanger
John

[sasquatch]

Not much exciting today, got the rest of the shaper parts buffed up, and got the shaper head repainted, now to get it all back together, and try it out.
Tommorrow is "Old Age Pension" day, so gotta head out to town to the bank, will let the new paint harden up for 24-36 hours or so.