Don't think I've posted here before, so a brief introduction. I have become the proud? owner of a '59 soft-top, currently fitted with a 1098. It looks like a complete heap, and it's weight decreases by the day as nature recovers more ferrous material. However, it did manage to get through its MOT with a little stitching around the rear spring hangers, and so it survives another year without being scrapped or ripped apart for a proper rebuild, for which I don't think I currently have the pre-requisites (time, money, space, skill, enthusiasm).
Now down to business before everyone turns off. The ends in the 1098 have gone. I've picked up a 1275 engine to rebuild. The oft asked questions start here:
1) I think it's an A plus. Screw on oil filter at the rear, ribbing on the block, clamp down distributor mount (rather than squeeze the body), twin exhaust downpipe. Have I got it right?
Now, what do I have to do to fit it? I is iggerant on this front.
2) Give up NOW and find a standard A Series
3) I know that I need to use a minor front plate for the engine mounts, but will that fit the A plus? Do I need to machine anything?
4) What do I have to do to the rear plate?
5) What needs to be done flywheel-wise?
6) Do I need to do anything different with the spigot bearing in the end of the crank?
7) Can I get an exhaust which will mate with the twin downpipes or manifold?
Or is there a different manifold/downpipe arrangement to use?9) What should I do about the crankcase breather system?
10) And now the most difficult, (from what I've found so far), how do I identify what the engine was originally so that I can find the correct parts to refurbish it?
11) Since I'm going to all this bother, what could/should I sensibly do to improve what I've got?
Well, for a newbie, that lot is a hell of an ask. I know that bits of it have been covered before, but things I've read do not specifically answer the questions. Everything I've read about A Plus is conflicting (maybe this, maybe that). I can't even find the engine code in A series lists. 12V923EHZ. The 12 V I've found, but the rest of the coding I can't identify.
Anyway, this is just a start. I look forward with anticipation and gratitude to the flood of concise and learned information!!
Many thanks to you all in advance.
foggers (with too many projects on the go)
