...ok, supposedly getting the sb engine back in the next few days and i'll be fitting the stinger hood once it's done.....does anyone know of a source for "327" numerals for this hood - can't find them in any of my usual sources....an acceptable alternative would be a source for the letters "WTF" but the pins need to line up correctly :D :p:

thanks

fwiw, i've been spending a fair amount of time in a jag forum because my neighbor wants me to help him find an e-type...man, talk about a different crowd - VERY nice and helpful people but i have to be on my best behavior :rolleyes: ....have to use words like "boot" and "bonnet" and "fuel sump" ...can't just say WTF - i'm at the breaking point :crazy:


[Modified by Kid_Again, 1:24 AM 5/24/2002]

 

WTF Kid_Again,

Put your "bonnet" on and I'll "boot" you in your "fuel sump"..... :lol: :lol: :jester :jester

 

I know somwone else who looked for the #3 and there wasn't anyone that produced them in the proper hole pattern so he had someone fill the holes and paint the numbers in "3-d" black and silver to look like the original 427 call out numbers.

Its funny you mentioned the e-type Jaguar. I was driving in town last weekend with the '67 and a Jaguar roadster passed me. I ran into him later in the day in the gas station parking lot and I have to admit they're beautiful cars. He had a restored '64 4.2 liter which puts out 265hp, 4 speed, and it was a beautiful car.

What is the internet address for the Jag forum? Sorry guys, I love all the old cars...........


[Modified by sixtyseven427, 8:52 AM 5/24/2002]

 

I had my share of British motorcycles and reading the manuals was an absolute hoot. Some tips:

A good thing to remember about the Lucas electronics on some of those cars is that they are very very tempermentalWhen checking out any possible purchase of British vehicle always be sure that the black lead from the battery is properly connected to "earth". . On the BSA and Tryumph bikes I had we called Lucas Electricals "The Prince of Darkness". Always carry a "torch" (flashlight) with you in case you have to trouble shoot the "Prince Of Darkness electrics" someplace on a deserted road.

Also always install new "sparking plugs" and be sure that the "silencing system" , in particular the "Silencers", are in proper working order.

Cheers

 

I recently sold my 1966 BSA Lightning after rebuilding it from a basket case and riding it for the past decade. I'm currently building a pre-unit Triumph 650 bobber and actually sold a '74 Triumph TR6 to buy my Corvette!

Needless to say, I'm a fan of the classic British stuff, and the "Prince of Darkness" does truly exist! I always rewire my bikes with modern wire and connectors and use the solid state rectifiers, and have no problems whatsoever. I've ridden my BSA from Kansas City up through Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, etc. and never had any problems. The raw mechanics and beautiful, timeless design of the British bikes and cars are truly worth admiring and a pure pleasure on the road. They sure do leave a mess in the garage though!

My TR6, although underpowered compared to my Corvette, felt like a go cart. Really fun to drive and listen to. Don't get me wrong, I'd never trade back! My Corvette has been a dream of mine since I was a child and I couldn't be happier with it!

The XKE Jags though are truly one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. Enzo Ferrari himself was quoted as saying it was the only car he wished he had designed. That says a lot.

Some other British novelty terms frequently found in the manuals Whilst for while, gudgeon pin for wrist pin, yoke for triple tree, timing pinion for timing gear, gearbox for transmission, stanchion tube for fork tubes, etc., etc. The manuals are truly fun to read, and even have a British to American glossary although I don't have it in front of me here at work.

Anyway, you can tell by my signature I like just about anything with a motor and at least two wheels, as long as it's 30 years old or older! For most of my life I didn't own a vehicle made after 1969. And for more than a year, that Flathead Ford Pickup was my only ride, that was only a couple of years ago! That three speed 411 rear end is not a highway combination, I was lucky to do 55.

 

WTF????.......Kid, have you ever heard the phrase, "No sex please, we're British."? :lol: :lol:

And by the way, if you need help with spelling on the Jag forum, just look up one of us guys with the Canadian flag avatar :jester .

neighbor = neighbour
behavior = neighbour
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Stiff upper lip, chaps!

 

And pray the "bumbershoot" never opens up in your butt.... :lol: :lol:

 

I think you are right. It was as I recall more a matter of the connectors than necessarily the actual components the wires connected together. Seems to me I remember that the connectors fell off the wires now and then and the conncetors seems to ATTRACT water. It was a lot of years ago so memory may not serve me so well.

Only someone who has rebuilt these things can appreciate what i am going to say next. Ever have the three piece hub for the clutch come apart when the screws come loose? Happened to me one to many times, no matter what I did I could not fix that problem. Finally in frustration I took it to a welder and said..."Make these three pieces into one". He sorta balked..."But these rubber cushions inside are gonna get fried" ! Just "Do It" I said. Man what a smell, talk about smoke. Never had another clutch problem as long as I had the bike. Some things ya just gotta take into your own hands.

Some of the British engineering is just beyond me. Why oh why are the bearings in the front triple clamp on a 70 BSA not caged? Loading those little ***** in there on at a time...gimme a break!!! Then again what can you expect from a people so steeped in tradition that they think the transistor is leading edge!!!!!


[Modified by TheOman, 8:56 AM 5/24/2002]

 

Oman,

That's a funny story! But heck, if it worked it worked! I haven't had one of the "shock absorbers" (as they call them) in the clutch assembly come apart, but I've seen the exploded diagram and it doesn't look like it would be fun!

Like many vintage vehicle markets, the British motorcycles have a lot of modern fixes available these days. It's funny you mentioned the steering bearings as I just installed a modern set of tapered roller bearings on my Triumph earlier this week before I had the frame powder coated!

For about 1/4 the price of a big Harley, or 1/2 the price of a Sportster you can have an awesome British 650. Whether you build it or buy it finished, as long as it has a few minor upgrades, they can be very reliable. There's nothing that sounds like them or looks like them on the road, and I really like that uniqueness. They're real head turners like the Corvettes.

In the AHRMA circuit (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) they still road race, flat track, motocross and trials race all of the old British iron. You can get hot rod electronic ignition systems, belt drive primaries, race cams, mikuni carburettors, disc brake front ends, high performance dry clutches, tuned exhaust, etc. The powerplants and basic design were solid, they were really only limited by the electronics, and periferal components that can easily be upgraded.

My dad owned BSA's in the 50's and 60's and he has good and bad memories of them like most of the owners of that time. But, the marketplace is ripe with lot's of products for those old machines today. For an excellent example, check out this link:
http://www.nortonamerica.com

Talk about a modern version of an old classic!

 

A good firend is heavily into old British bikes, has several BSA and Triumph tripples, a few twins, and even a single (or maybe two). He scratch built a factory replica road racer for one of the twin motors (with a 4-valve head conversion if I remember correctly which motor ended up in it), have some pictures of it at Montery a couple years ago (watching, not racing).

He makes lots of custom parts for them (replica race frames, both steel and aluminum). Mostly for his own use, but also markets some custom parts ... including conversions to modern hydraulic clutches. Sends the parts "back" to a shop in England. Think he's still working on an electronic ignition system for one of them.

-Greg

 

...WHOA!!!!...bunch of interest HERE in UK cars and bikes....i'll read this thread when i get some time over the weekend.....the forum i used is jaguar clubs of north america, something about the originality section (NO snickers or guffaws, PLEASE :nono: ...my same handle

...well, looks like i more in common with some of you folks - my father sold bsa and triumph bikes when i was a kid - my job (literally), since i was about 8 or so when i started, was to take the just-received british bikes, open the crankcases and reinstall with TWO case gaskets so they wouldn't leak on the showroom floor...none of the japanese bikes nor the bmw's (oh, that R27S) ever did anything like that...be back to you soon...VERY :cool:

 

GregP,

Your friend sounds like my kinda guy, a true enthusiast! I work as a CAD/CAM engineer for a small manufacturing company in Kansas City. We work mostly with sheet metal (stainless, steel and aluminum, some brass and bronze). I design parts for some high end Amada equipment using SolidWorks software. We cut parts on an Amada 2415 laser with tolerances up to about .008" of an inch. We can cut flat sheet stainless and aluminum up to 1/4" thick and mild steel up to 1/2" thick. What ever I can draw in 2D I can cut in flat. Needless to say, I've made some pretty cool stuff for my projects at times too! Not quite as in depth as your friend though.

KidAgain,

That makes me wonder, I'll bet I could cut your 327 out of Stainless steel. We also have a stud welder that spot welds studs straight to the part. We have lots of different lengths and thread sizes of stainless studs, mostly American thread. Anyway, I'd need a 427 emblem as a template so that I could get the stud spacing and font correct. If it sounds like it's worth a try, I'd be willing to do it. E-mail me at tbone@dynamyte.com. If not, no biggie!

 

Kid

Leaks ....don't tell me about leaks! I was a two gasket guy myself. Also used allen head screws to hold the primary chain case on. Socked 'em down till they were singing from the torque on the bolts. Usually worked...sorta I guess.

Bone

You are right about a few upgrades. Even back then all ya really needed was a set of Barnett clutch discs. lace in a Harley 74 back rim. Dump the Amal (****) carbs and replace with Mikuni (is that right I can't recall it has been so long) carbs from the land of the Rising Sun. Most important thing I forgot!!! 750 CC barrel kit for the old Beza. I had all that cool stuff on my bike. A few things like that and you were jaming. Oh yeah had to have that Sportster rear seat, forgot that! If only "the Prince Of Darkness" could have been defeated I might still have a Brit machine.

 

Kid again, Check out the emblems for camaros. I think they had a "3" emblem on the hood. For the 302 I think. You might have to buy all the emblems instead of just the "3". Classic

 

Hey Kid I had the 427 on the hood hand painted in 3D and it looks outstanding , hard to tell the deference from 2 feet away and no holes in the hood. Have gotten a lot of :D :D :D :D :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :D
:cheers:

 

Rick's First Generation, great Camaro parts house, has "327" emblems - the one you want is their #EM-37, $12.97 each; 1-800-359-7717.

 

More Brit stuff - when I was a Freshman at Michigan, freshmen couldn't have cars on campus, so I bought a Triumph 650 Bonneville to get around on and back and forth on weekends - Helluva bike, if you didn't mind putting a cookie sheet under it in the garage to catch the oil drips; the 2-bearing crank "whipped" and made the vertically-split case "breathe" a little, which was more than the gaskets could accommodate - the Brits never figured out that horizontally-split cases never leaked a drop until the Japanese bikes buried them.

I got my driver's license in Ohio in 1955 at 14, driviing a friend's MG-TD; there was a section in the Owner's Manual that described how to temporarily replace bad (babbitt) main or rod bearings with a piece of leather belt until you could get the car to an "authorised service outlet" for a permanent repair.

When I was heavily into Ferraris in the 70's, a neighbor got a "bargain price" on a used XK-E, that soon developed a slipping clutch; the Jag dealer's estimate on a clutch job was about $1,000.00 (in 1972), as the entire powertrain had to be dropped out of the car from the bottom to change the clutch (not a real clever design feature :( ). I told him to buy the clutch and I'd change it for him - took three days of work to do it, but we got it done. I always ragged on him, because he spent more time with the dash out of the car fixing Lucas electrical problems than he did driving it, while I enjoyed driving my Ferrari. I took him to a Ferrari Club event one weekend, and he reciprocated, taking me to a Jaguar Owners' Club meeting a couple of weeks later. A few days later he showed up at my front door with a gift-wrapped package from the Jag guys - opened it, and it was a yellow T-shirt with green letters that said "The British Drink Warm Beer Because They Have Lucas Refrigerators" :D - still have it.

 

Good one. The British drink warm beer because they have Lucas Refrigerators!!!! Leather bearings...why not? Well they did give us the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

 

Check out the parts catalogs for 1968-73 Nova's. They use the same general type of engine numerals.