Got this from a gent from down under, John Macksey. He was an
engineer on the P76 car in the early seventies. Thought this was kind
of interesting.
Greg
Subject: Re: P76 V8 head question
Author: "John Mackesy" <mack@melbpc.org.au> at inetmail
Date: 10/31/98 10:45 PM
Greg,
My thing was anti-pollution measures. As originally conceived, emissions
were not a big issue in the minds of those involved. As mixtures got leaner
a few things were found to be deficient:
Spark plugs - they used Champ L10 on dyno work, didn't occur to them that
road application might be different. L92Y is the plug to use.
Ignition - Lucas coils weren't suitable at .035" gap
NOX reduction - vacuum retard. I actually made the first combo vac
retard/advance distributor for P76 despite (because?) vs. people said it
couldn't be done.
There's much more, but I don't think any of it is relevant to what you'll be
doing.
Manufacturing problems:
Camshafts with lobes off-centre PCD's
Intake manifold mating surfaces not parallel/square
Crazy intake manifold gasket arrangement. This was prone to "thermal
ratcheting", gasket material would get sucked in. Original embossed gasket
was much better. (I had a serious argument with the person responsible for
this)
Al machining chips clogging radiators
Dopey production people
I could go on, but at this distance the details are getting a bit vague.
There's a thousand stories in it all, but overall it was an object lesson on
how not to run a company. Having said all that, I still think the
BOP/Rover/P76 V8 is a bloody fine engine, both as an engine and as a
production proposition.
Regards,
John Mackesy (my thing was REALLY aircraft engines)
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