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Mystery engine identified

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waltesefalcon

waltesefalcon

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Well some of you will remeber that about a year ago I bought a MkII Spitfire, and right off it was easy to tell that the engine was incorrect since it had a single Stromberg set up instead of the SU set up. Well I got done with some things early and went out to piddle with it, and scraped off the block number. Its an FK engine making it a 1296, horray!, and from a US model MkIV. I thought I'd share with everyone.
 
My thoughts exactley, I was a bit worried that it would turn out to be a 1500. I think I'll stick with the engine I've got instead of looking for a 1147.
 
I'd like to know a little more about the differences in the various Spit motors if it's not to much trouble. What were the differences beyond just displacement?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd like to know a little more about the differences in the various Spit motors if it's not to much trouble. What were the differences beyond just displacement?

[/ QUOTE ]In short, the original Spitfire engine was 1147cc, derived from the then-current Herald engine (which, in turn, was derived from the 803cc and then 948cc Standard 8 / 10 engine). Bore / stroke was 69.3mm / 76 mm as I recall. These are notable for having the "six port" heads, with siamesed intake ports.

Spitfire Mk3s came with a 1296cc, eight-port head engine. Bore was increased on these to 74mm; stroke remained the same. The MkIV Spitfire used much the same engine, but with different ("commonised" with TR6/GT6) big end bearings.

Finally, the Spitfire "1500" is actually 1493cc, with the same 74mm bore and an increase in stroke to 87.5 mm (if I recall correctly). Nice for increased low-end torque, but the longer stroke might have something to do with the seemingly increased failure of big-end bearings that seems to curse these motors to this day.
 
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