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Elva front brake shoes and cylinder kits

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How was the difference between five and three main blocks compensated for with that extra set of "spacers" on the five main crank?! I would think something like this would be BOUND to occur as there MUST be some difference in spacing of rod/bore centers, one to the other... Or were the mains' webs cast somehow to allow a five journal crank to actually have the rods be spaced identically (bore centered) to the three main's ones? Offset big ends rods aren't uncommon, so is that the way this is done? This three main engine's "intracacies" are outside my "skill set" so I ask out of curiosity.
 
I have heard of "cheater" engines being used.....
A cheater is something where the 8 on the 1800 is ground/brazed so it looks like a 5 or 1500.

Pre 1960 race groups like VSCCA will only allow 1500cc engines & some people sneak a bored out 1800cc in.

Oh well......Cheating is part of racing

A 3 main crank comes in 3 styles....The 1500/1600, the 1622 (mk2)& the 1800
The 1622 has a more narrow middle journal while the 1500/1600 has journals all the same width. The 1800 is larger in dia (2.125)

The 5 main crank has obviously 9 journals (4 rods + 5 mains)all 1800

No one that I have ever known is optimistic enough to consider that one might work in the other.

(The cylinders on all 3 main engines are siamesed while the 5 mains had separate water jackets)

(BTW.... Doesn't look like any billet crank I have ever seen)
 
Dave wrote: [ QUOTE ]

No one that I have ever known is optimistic enough to consider that one might work in the other.

(The cylinders on all 3 main engines are siamesed while the 5 mains had separate water jackets)

(BTW.... Doesn't look like any billet crank I have ever seen)


[/ QUOTE ]

Seems it worked for a bit... I understand now how an early B head would be a fair bodge.

I saw the mold/flashing marks too.
 
3 main B-series engines take an awful pounding.

I have heard Elvas wound up so tight you'd think there was no way they were going to stay together.

And they just kept going 14 to 1 @ 8000 rpm's

And to think Michael's car was doing it for 90 min with 4 crooked rods.

Almost makes me tear up.
 
Rarity is what gets me close to tears... One less.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Rarity is what gets me close to tears... One less.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dr. E--

Now don't go getting all sniffly quite yet--i am seriously considering Dave's suggestion of going back to a 1500 engine and having the car dance in its original prom dress.

I'll keep the list posted but in the meantime if anyone has a source for a good 1500 block, either long or short, please let me know.
 
1500 blocks are a dime a dozen......(also heads)

I've got one here if you want it.

Free. (& never bored)
 
Well, that seems easy enuff!
 
Unfortunately, the shipping would probably be more than the thing is worth. (unless he could pick it up in Grove City ,Pa.)

Most race engine builders "throw in" a 1500,1600 or 1800 block and head on account of the labor & other parts being so expensive.

A race prepared short block goes for $4000 at very least, while a striped block is worth maybe 80 bucks.

So far as the previous list of engine builders goes...
I forgot one....Michael's Vintage Race Cars (845)226-4979
 
Not sure if this is going to work but here's a picture of the right side of the engine or what is left of it. Notice the crank sheared neatly and the "extra" journal....
[image]https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthreads/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2202/limit/recent[/image]
 
Nope, it didn't work. The picture is up but i just can't figure out how to get it to show in the body of the message.

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure if this is going to work but here's a picture of the right side of the engine or what is left of it. Notice the crank sheared neatly and the "extra" journal....
[image]https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthreads/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2202/limit/recent[/image]

[/ QUOTE ]
 
The [image] (or I use
on it.
 
best way to get the URL directly to the image is to right-click on the image on the page and select "View Image" that'll give you the URL directly to the image. Firefox will even give you the option to "Copy Image Location" in the right-click menu.....
 
We *love* Firefox. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Welcome aboard, Scott!! Another Elva represented!
 
...and that would be a "bad thing" how?!? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I've GOT to dig out the Ledges photos of John Kelly floggin' his Elva around... They're here ~someplace~ I just KNOW it!
 
EEEWWWW!!! Seeing nekkid cranks THRU the outside of the block make me all queasy inside!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif
 
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