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justaguy, can you give me details on what looks like a fancy catch bottle (right of the radiator, has hoses running in, air filter on top). Thanks!

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Well not my car but that is a crankcase breather tank we do the same thing on the race cars. Here's a picture of couple Midget race cars we did, little different but the same purpose, I used clear tiegon hose for weight savings on the race cars, instead of the braided Aeroquip.

www.acmespeedshop.com/_images/enginebay.jpg

www.acmespeedshop.com/_images/100-0008_IMG.JPG
 
Oh my word Hap, I feel so inaddaquite (sp). That is just awsum.
 
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Thats a nice looking engine bay, yep I say you got it bad too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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Thanks!... I'm sure everyone here can relate to the sense of pride and accomplishment when it all comes together... Feels Great! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
justaguy, can you give me details on what looks like a fancy catch bottle (right of the radiator, has hoses running in, air filter on top). Thanks!

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Yep… It’s a fancy oil catch can...I had done a bunch of reading on the "A" series engine and the benefits of crankcase ventilation. Most of what I read pointed to the fact that the "A's" do not breathe very well in original form. At higher RPM's they build up a lot of crankcase pressure and the oil WILL find a place to go. If there is not adequate ventilation it will push by a seal, rings, ect...

I found a chrome catch can on flea-bay that was the right size to fit where the windscreen bottle used to reside. I picked up a few fittings from the aircraft supply, some braided lines, the proper size breather... then a little drilling, tapping & screwing (all of which are fun in the right company /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) and I had it in.
 
yup, just what I thought. I have been thinking about how to accomplish this--so far my only thoughts were running the breather hoses into a half cut water bottle, but this looks much more professional. I like.

Question, though. I have seen (in Hap's pics) that the bottom of the catch can has a hose coming down. Why? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a "catch can"?
 
Mustafa, all mine have drain hoses on them. But, there is a valve that you must open to drain them. Maybe Haps pictures just don't show the valve.
Jeff
 
Yeah... the hoses are for drainage... I did not want a hose or valve sticking out the bottom of mine so I drain mine the hard way... Pull it off, remove 4 allen screws from the top, empty, shine it up again and re-install... Takes about 15 minutes... Only advantage I see is I don't have a drippy oil line to deal with...

John
 
Yes they have valves to turn on to drain, the hoses are just there to direct the drainings when I do drain them.
 
hmmm, ok I need one. Any recommendations where and what kind/type? I believe I will have at least 2 hoses running to it--crankcase and timming cover breathing hoses. Anything else? What about the carbs?
 
They are fancy aluminum one available for the hot rod sources and even see them on Ebay, but they are not always the sizes you want, and if you need to customize it you need to fabricate and weld aluminum or you can go the pastc route as you see on the race cars I pictured, we started doing this, not a trick looking as a aluminum one, but we went with for the weight, for the street guys they are cheap and easy to modify, try Summitt Racing.
AS far as where to run the hose from, look at your block, all 948 and 1098 running a n electric fuel pump have and blanking palte cover up the old mechanical pump on the carb sdie of the block about half of the 1275 have this, if your block has this Mini Mania sell an aluminum block that bolt there that is crankcase breather and it works great becuse it goes directly to the source rather just getting from the timing cover and valve cover. On the carbs, sounds like you have the later model ones, with the brass tube that angles out of the carb body, if you're not running emmissions, you can just plug them.
 
I've been reading these posts with great interest as my 79 midget seems to leak oil only when on the road (I can let it run for hours at an idle w/no leaks). I'm planning on changing suspect gaskets soon and this seems like a good idea. I've got a Weber and aluminum valve cover w/plugged holes. I know one hose should be installed in the valve cover but where should the second hose go? I've found a source with a good selection of crankcase breather filters (clamp, plug-in, threaded connection). Any suggestions?
 
Bud with your Triumph 1500 motor you don't have as many choices, so using the valve cover would be a good start.
 
this looks like a good thread to ask my question.


as soon as mine is running/driving reliably and looks decent... i am going to want mo powa!


my question is, how many WHP is the stock 1275 good for? it only has 3 mains so i worry :/

has anyone heard of anyone putting say 7psi boost on it? im a big turbo fan... (turboed my crx and civic /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)

and if so, what did the ppl that turbo do for fuel managment? i have been thinking about trying to put a MegaSquirt on it, a Honda EFI system, or myabe jut put like a 2bbl downdraft on the intake of the turbo <- least desireable.
 
I did a set of prepped rods and a wedge lightened crank for a guy who was building a turbo 1275. he had a turbo in the car now with what is a pretty much a stock motor and he's been running that way for a couple of years. Now he's building a more tricked out motor and planning on playing with extra boost, I'm sure I have his phone number somewhere at the shop, give me a call and I'll try to dig it out if you are interested.
 
I have seen several websites on tuboing Spridgets. You can probably Google and get a few of them. All of the turbo Spridgets I have seen use the turbo from the MG Metro.

The A-series Spridget motor is a fairly high compression unit as I understand it. If I am correct, your stock compression ratio is in the area of 9.5:1 to 10:1. That may be a bit much for 7psi boost using street fuel.
 
I just did rods and crank for guy I mentioned but in our duscussion he told me he was getting JE to make him pistons so he could adjust the compression height.
 
Jumping in a bit late, Very Nice engine compartments.

Patrick
 
I appriciate your offer for the effort, but at this time I am wanting to get it running, and then I will be looking to do that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif so at that point I just may inquire more at that point.

i was under the impression that the stock engine was like a mere high 7:1 or low 8:1

so if they are high 9s... thats great /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif high comp and boost is a killllllller combo /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I ran my CRX on 10psi and 11.6:1 on stock Honda parts.. its was wicked. Then a couple professions tlked me into going to low compression and I was rather disappointed with the performance. I am now building my motors in the high9 low 10s:1
 
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