11 years ago I was a younger man (pretty interesting eh ?) and I had
a unique opportunity to buy a very rare 1934 Singer and when you already
own a 1934 Singer and say this one is rare you know its unique.
I have not touched this Singer because I did not want to have 2 cars
apart at the same time and so I told people it was going to be my
retirement project, well retirement is too far away and I want it on the
road. The reason I mentioned something about being younger is that as
I have gotten older, I no longer enjoy the moments broken down on the
side of the road and I enjoy the trouble free driving more so I am
thinking of doing a engine swap.
The original motor is a 1493cc 6 cylinder motor of early 1930's
technology (59 mm. by 91 mm bore-stroke) and I have no idea the HP
rating of it but it can't be very high. The gearbox is a crashbox with
four speeds with ratios 5.22, 6.65, 10.68 and 19.43 to 1 and 26.4:1
reverse with silent second and third gears, no idea the rear axle
ratio. Fueled by twin Solex sidedraft carbs. The motor has had cracks
brazed in the side of the block on both sides, the freeze plugs corroded
out decades ago and were covered by bondo (yes Bondo) to prevent leaks I
assume. I removed the oil pan and found wood screws jammed into the
block because the oil pan studs were broken so they drilled small holes
and used wood screws. The oil pump strainer was cut off (presumably to
increase oil pressure after too much sludge plugged up the strainer) and
there appears to be a crack between the number 2 and 3 cylinders which
allows coolant into the oil sump. The motor can be fixed but its
ridiculously expensive and I want reliability.
I have a Spridget 1275 complete with carbs and gearbox, I have no idea
the year but it has a 10CG (or is it 10GG?) head which implies its a
later 1275 motor, no idea of its real condition but its free turning and
just turning by hand appears to have compression in all 4 cylinders, of
course a full rebuild is in order.
I am thinking a newer 1275 will have more HP than a 1930's 1500 motor,
it will also be lighter and extremely very easily fit into the chassis
with no permanent mods to the Singer and that the 1275 motor would work
well in this car. When I have done motor swaps it was usually to make a
hot rod with much larger more powerful motors, I have never gone down in
size before am I stupid to try this ? should I find a 1500 motor from
some other make ? There is one of these cars in New Zealand with a VW
2Litre from a modern car in it but they also swapped the rear axle and I
want to avoid that.
My goal would be to make it reliable and be able to get to freeway
speeds so I can take it places, if it takes a while to get to that speed
that is ok with me.
Wow, long message...
mike
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