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Well, Paul, good luck with the new engine. Did you go with the MOFOCO w/ hydraulic lifters?
Staying with a local machine shop that has provided engines to a number of VW buddies.
Used case that was taken to a machine
shop and aligned bored, opened to 90.5 and case insert added (the head studs bores areincreased and small threaded inserts are tapped and screwed into the case
then the head studs are screwed in, increased bite to avoid the head studs from pulling out of the softer case
material.)Crank is a used counterweighted (inspected and the journals were polished). Cam,
lifters, pistons, cylinders and bearings all new.Re hydraulic lifters, I’ve heard good and bad. I know Mark goes that route. This builder said simply “I don’t use them.”
A more technical comment from another friend, “Hydraulic lifters ….. ‘Run Forest Run’. Hydraulic lifters are good in
the sense as you don’t need to adjust the valves every 3k miles.
However, get a speck of dirt into a lifter and the motor will hammer
and the only way to get at the offending lifter is to tear the motor
apart and split the case so….. IMHO I would not suggest using them.”I chose to not go hydraulic. I will just be more conscientious at getting under there to check/adjust regularly.
So Ed, want the 1641?
PMOSSBERG40361.8040740741
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Thanks, Paul. I’m very much hoping not to need a new engine any time soon, but I might like to tinker with one, just to reacquaint meself with the process. The 1641 needs, at most, a set of rebuilt heads–$300–yes? And as Karen agreed: these engines are small. So, maybe.
Then again, I’m not in any rush & have a pretty full dance card, project-wise, so if you need or want to get it off your property ASAP I sure won’t cry if you hand it over to someone more needy/desirous.
So…
Two years, one month and four days later……
After a long drawn out divorce, during which time my Duchess was held hostage….
The Duchess lives! Well almost….
First, I loaded up the daily driver with the 1776 long block, and boxes with the new shroud and cooling tin, new oil cooler and new muffler and drove them over to my engine builder.
Back home, after sitting for over two years long, I expected the worst. And expected to end dragging the old girl out of the shed and winching her up onto a flatbed.
Well, body wise, she’s pretty dirty. And despite the empty acorn shells, there was no interior or wiring damage that I could see. So the local critters may have dined in, but apparently did not take up residence. Chalk up one for the good guys.
Moving on….she had been on a battery charger the whole time. And even though she was down a cylinder, I figured what the heck. Let’s try to start her!
I checked the distributor & points. Hmm…no corrosion, looks good.
Hit the starter and the engine turned over, albeit reluctantly.Poured a little gas down each carb. Let her sit for a few minutes.
Back behind the wheel….on the third time, all three working cylinders fired up!
Had to keep my foot in it, gently, to keep the engine running. But after she was warmed up, she managed to idle on her own.
Backed her out of the shed, took a few turns around the block. Soft, VERY soft brakes. But drivable.
With my lovely daughter Lauren following close behind in her Volvo (What else? I’m Swedish American!), we set out for the engine builder’s shop. No land speed records were set. But I am pretty sure we hit 30 mph!
Geez, you just can’t kill these VW engines!
The new engine should be done and installed before the end of the week.
Carlisle 2013…here we come!
And I plan to put on many smiling miles before that!
Although driving time will have to be shared with my 1965 Plymouth Satellite Convertible (which also started after sitting for a year and a half!).I cannot wait to report back when both babies are settling in at home, where they belong! 😀
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Congratulations and good luck.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"Great to hear Paul. Had I known that you were not going to have your TD at Carlisle 2012, I might not have come. Now, I guess I’ll have to come to 2013 just to be sure that all your TD talk isn’t just a wishful thinking scam. Seriously, I’m happy for you. Many of us have “been there”. No fun.
I’m running a stock SP 1600. What carbs are on the engine your’re scrapping? I may be interested.Hi Roy,
Good old Solex carbs, which have been fine for my 1641 (I forget the specifics, but will follow up when the car comes home).
I’m transferring the generator, ignition and intake systems to the new engine.
But if the carbs turn out to be too small and I replace them, you can have ’em.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Yes there is a happy ending to this story!!!!
TDREPLICA Map
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=7f9174ad614e43b680deba085b0abf48
Congratulations! By the way, my problem turned out to be a new valve guide that had been underreamed. The man who did them for me loosened it up and it has run like a champ ever since.
Paul, I expect that they will work fine on a 1776. If not, don’t forget that I still am running a single port. Have you ever seen dual carb manifold(s) for a sp? It may be a waste of time. Don’t really know since I have never driven a dual carb dual port of any displacement. I am interested in your driving impressions when you get her going.
It’s almost 30 years since I drove my Duchess the first time (December 1982).Believe me, I’m chomping at the bit to post those first “1776” driving impressions!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Progress report…
Engine builder almost done.Not sure I understand this yet, but he said the Empi 3487 will not fit. I know some of you have used that single-outlet muffler. Anyone run into problems?And I have the long awaited answer as to what happened to the old engine.First, I was absolved. It was not a maintenance issue.Some of nature’s finest critters, likely field mice, had built nests INSIDE the cooling tin. Completely unseen, unless you took the tins off.
With absolutely NO air flow, cylinder 4 (driver side, rear) burned up. Got hot enough to melt the plug wire!PMOSSBERG2012-06-28 15:28:38
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Paul, I had two problems. First, although it was new, I had to rebend (just a bit) a couple of the pipes to fit up to the manifolds. Then, after I installed the 3487, I noticed that I only had about 3/8″ clearance between the pipe coming out of #4 and the apron of my engine cover. I wrapped the pipe with exhaust manifold tape because I was a bit worried about the heat.
No problems on mine, once I got that broken exhaust stud out. Really hard to see how that setup would not fit on any VW-based car, so close to dimensions of the original pea-shooters it appears.
Paul,
mine fit on the CMC/Fiberfab like it was sent with the original kit. I didnt even have to bend the pipes to tweak them in like I did on the 4 outlet GT style that I had put on my car a few years back. Didn’t you have the EMPI 4 outlet GT on your car? If so the single outlet is identical in exhaust configuration and the single outlet is on the lower right where one of the outlets on the 4 outlet gt style is. Unless there is something other than bigger jugs on the exterior of the 1776, I don’t see why it wouldn’t fit if you once had a 4 outlet on your car.
That mice nest where you cant see it is a scary thought. I keep my car in a locked pole barn that I know mice can get in. I always check the fan intake for nests after it has set, but no way could you have found the nest under the tin. Just the other day when I was backing my car out there was a black snake/chicken snake prowling in my pole barn right in front of my car. I imagine it was searching for mice. As long as it doesn’t slither out from under the seat of my car it is welcome to eat all the mice it can find . And yes I am afraid of snakes, but do know they have a purpose and leave the ones that aren’t poisonous alone.Normal
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mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Mike N Scarlett2012-06-29 08:08:13
Thanks for the advice on the Empi 3487.
I spoke with the engine builder again. The problem is not fitting the 3487 to the engine. The pipes align ok. He said the problem is the body of the muffler will hit the rear splash panel.Mike, the four outlet on the car now is a Monza muffler. It sounds like the body of the Empi is angled differently.We’re gonna cut the Empi apart and reconfigure it. But that’s a job for another time.Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
My mistake Paul. I thought it was the 4 outlet EMPI like I had. The Empi muffler does have a pretty good angle to it. Guess I was just lucky I had the clearance. It also seems that the VW CMC/Fiberfabs
have a larger engine cover and rear splash panel than some of the other kits. It gives more engine room, but at the same time lets them look a little less authentic. In my other post about the snake I wasn’t suggesting anyone tie a black mamba to their car to ward off mice, any garden variety constrictor should do the trick. I have two banks of shop lights in my pole barn and once a few years back I throw both bank switches and nothing. The rafters are all open and I look up to see there is no wiring running to the lights. I’m like you gotta be kidding me, someone broke in to steal $20.00 worth of 12/2 for the copper? I look at the end of the barn and in the seat of this old wooden rocking chair is a monster sized nest built with twigs, cedar tree bark and about 20′ of 12/2 wire chewed into about 2′ long pieces and all woven together. I would not have believed this if I had not seen it in person. I tore the nest up and rewired my lights never saw the critter that did this and never had anymore problems. Just one of those weird things that sometimes happens, but it had to be some kind of large rodent. Pack rat maybe? Whatever it was it had no problem climbing into the rafters.The Duchess lives!
Here she is, resting in the driveway after her first run through the backroads of Northampton County PA, with her cousin, my 1965 Plymouth Satellite in the background:
And both girls, tucked away for the night:
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
So far, I’m very pleased with the 1776.
Just the right amount of power for these little cars.
Looking forward to a longer run!Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
I like that picture. She looks at home. How long/many miles you going to go before to checking the valves and head bolts? So hot down here in NC, that MiGi is in the garage with the A/C on.
Congrats, Paul–awesome news!
Man, the scale of those two cars. Looks like you could hang the TD sideways off the back of the Plymouth.
Dan
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