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Elva front brake shoes and cylinder kits

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My latest good information source identifies the brakes as being identical to those that were used on a Morris 1000. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might obtain shoes for that vehicle? Thanks in advance for any leads.

[/ QUOTE ]Again, I fear the proverbial wild goose chase. A quick check seems to indicate that Morris 1000 models would use either 7" or 8" drum brakes, so the diameter is still off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Check out <https://www.morrisminor.uk.com/shop/brake-system-c-43.html>
 
[/ QUOTE ]Again, I fear the proverbial wild goose chase. A quick check seems to indicate that Morris 1000 models would use either 7" or 8" drum brakes, so the diameter is still off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Check out <https://www.morrisminor.uk.com/shop/brake-system-c-43.html>

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Andy--

You're likely right. I spoke with Kip at Kip's Orphan parts and he told me to send him pics of the existing shoes--he was very confident that he could match them up. I did that today and will report on progress.

In the meantime I took the 1/4"-too-wide-frames to a machine shop and they tacked two frames into a pair, chucked them into their lathe and took 1/8" off each side, then dressed the edges, etc., then repeated for the second pair. Cost--$35.00. The four frames are on their way to CarboTech in Shelby, NC where they will bake off the present shoes and bond and rivet on a metallic/ceramic racing shoe like I presently have fit.

This is like herding cats--see attached photo of present frame/shoe.
 

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Got a e-mail from Butch Gilbert today......No luck

Talked w/ Michaels Vintage Racing..........No luck

Going to try New England Classics tomorrow.

Any word from Kip? (if so, see if he has another compl. front set)
 
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Got a e-mail from Butch Gilbert today......No luck
Talked w/ Michaels Vintage Racing..........No luck.
Going to try New England Classics tomorrow. Any word from Kip? (if so, see if he has another compl. front set)

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Dave--

Kip (personally) assured me yesterday that he has a number of these frames available and that in fact they were out getting re-shoed as we spoke and that he should have them back the beginning of next week. I told him I would talk with him on Monday. In the meantime I got an email from a Healey friend of mine from Australia--he tells me that the frames/shoes in question are readily available there, that they were used on Morris Majors & Morris Elites, Austin Lancers, Wolseley 1500, Wolseley 4/44 etc. and that the Australian Wolsely Club makes a point of salvaging them.

Let's see what Kip has to say on Monday before going half way around the world. In the meantime UPS managed to lose my machined frames but now claims to have found them and guarantees that they will be delivered to Carbotech in North Carolina tomorrow morning.

This is getting to be like a Mission Impossible episode!
 
The front suspension is the hardest thing to source parts for....

Most other parts are either available or can be fabricated.

(My machinist knows me well, but has mixed feelings about seeing me walk in) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Just installed the brake shoes (TR2's thinned down to 1-1/2") that I sent to Carbotech along with a new set of Datsun 240 Z rear Alfin vented drums. The shoes were arched to the 9" diameter of the drums--they need to be broken in by several hard stops from 60 MPH and since the car is not street-legal I will probably not be able to do this until the practice sessions at Sebring next week.

See the attached picture, showing the new drums before they were drilled to match the pattern of the old ones. They sure are purdy!
 

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You should be able to get to 60 coming down your driveway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

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Dale--

I'm in Miami, won't be back up to MD for another several weeks. However I am tempted to take it for a run today on some side-streets. Given the number of undocumented /unlicensed people here who maintain their cars like they did in their native countries I should not be too noticeable!

My wife is flying up to MD today to get the house back in order for some home inspections that are taking place Monday. Looks like we have the place there sold, so regretfully there will not be any more "Drive Your British Car Week" picnics at Little Cove Farm. If you got any of the T-shirts from previous events I would save them--much like the upside-down postage stamps they will undoubtedly appreciate in value in the near future once the word hits the street!
 
Mike... you're gonna become a permanent Floridian?
 
Sounds like MD's loss will be FL's gain. If that happens, will miss seeing Michael at the car shows he faithfully supports. And to make things even worse, I never got a T-shirt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
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Sounds like MD's loss will be FL's gain.

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We will probably wind up some place between Florida and Maryland and a bit further inland--for now we will most likely be moving the boat north from Miami (that's where I'm writing from) and spend the summer/fall in Charleston while we are searching for new digs, etc.

Sorry about the T-shirt....

Best--Michael
 
We ran at the SVRA events at Sebring on Thursday and Friday. The good news is that the brakes were great--no fade even under hard repetitive braking. We finished the 90 minute Enduro on Thursday and did respectfully. Friday's Sprint ended unhappily--the engine blew on the third lap. The crank (billet) sheared in two behind rod #1 and the right side of the block wound up in the oilpan along with the intermediate bearing, cap and parts of the block that support it. See the attached picture--you can see the broken crank--this was taken from about under the oil filter. The good news is that the head seems fine the Carillo rods are not broken, though I suspect that rod #1 may be bent as the entire front of the engine is twisted in a smirk from where the front part of the crank bound up.

If anyone has a spare 1600 Mark II block and/or billet crank and/or knows of a race engine that is available I would like to know. Please send me a private message.
 

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Here's another shot of some pieces of the block I recovered from the sump.
 

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Here's what is left of the intermediate main bearing.
 

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Mike, that's terrible. I hate to see a good engine go away like that. But, having said that, I have my own photo collection, and know how it feels.
Jeff
 
This is a chance to go back to the original 1500 engine and become legal in more race groups. Sorry to hear about the engine....
 
Yup... nasty.
 
Wait a minute.....That looks like a 5 main block...

(Isn't that a journal between #1 & #2 pistons?)

BTW...To construct an original 1622 (Mk2)engine, you need to locate what has become the holy trinity of parts. (Block, Crank & Head) The 1622 is the most rare of engines & while you can use a early MGB "18" head as well as a Moldex billet crank, the blocks are getting rough to find. Also, last I checked, Moldex was awaiting a shipment of crank steel that they had all but lost hope of ever getting.

......Call Kent he will know what to do.

Best of luck........
 
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Wait a minute.....That looks like a 5 main block...
(Isn't that a journal between #1 & #2 pistons?)

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Yes, I had the same observation--it is definitely a 5-main CRANK but there is no webbing on the block to support anything but the one bearing between 2 and 3, so it must be a 1600 block, right?

Attached is a good shot showing the unsupported journal.

Best--Michael
 

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