1275cc engine supercharged

[Blaketon]

I always had the impression that, apart from the gearbox (So not relevant here), the Metro Turbo was fine?

[bmcecosse]

Not really! All 'top end' power - and very unreliable - and VERY thirsty!

[RobThomas]

I have some Turbo heads and turbo manifold/blower/carb units in the garage if anyone feels like giving it a go. I've also got a Shorrocks kit, but you'd need deep pockets for that!

[Blaketon]

Not really! All 'top end' power - and very unreliable - and VERY thirsty!

And in the heavier Minor that peakiness will be even worse.

Do you feel some of the unreliability could have been caused by poor maintenance, by owners who didn't understand the cars? I recall one "Lemon", who owned a Renault 5 Turbo. He used to like to show off around town and would could screaming down the road to park and then switch off the motor, with the turbo still spinning at thousands upon thousands of RPM, with the oil supply cut off . What a burke !!

[bmcecosse]

Well I'm sure that kind of behaviour didn't help!

To try to hold it all together - the Metro Turbo engine had a Tuftrided crank - and the 'solid' shell leaded bronze bearings on the crank - and a special high output oil pump! And a very special (and expensive) head gasket.

[Stig]

I know a guy who had a Metro Turbo for a few years and the reliability wasn't that bad, but it wasn't 100% by any means. He had a couple of breakdowns which turned out to be caused by a pressure dump / anti run-on valve failing. The 'fix' was to remove the valve and plug the pipe with the shank of a large drill bit.

I don't remember the engine being excessively peaky, it's not a huge turbo after all. Bound to be more peaky than normally aspirated though. I seem to remember reading that the boost was regulated to reduce the peak torque to save the gearbox -Vizard? Maybe that's what that valve was for.

[bmcecosse]

Indeed it was! It is the best/quickest/cheapest way to get a good power increase - but how long the engine wil last is anyones guess.