I really think it comes down to the following factors:
a) As delivered, the A-series engine was detuned by the factory. Small
valves,
mediocre cam (not much different from the Morry Minor for heavens
sake),
mediocre chamber and port shapes. You can take an A-series motor from
about 70HP to about 100HP by a few relatively inexpensive mods that
have *no*
detrimental effects to street driving - LCB extractors, Kent 266 or 276
cam,
switching to Cooper S head (larger valves) or converting to same specs
and
shaving a bit of head to bring the compression up and some minor port
reshaping.
These changes will cost say US$1000 to US$1500 at a guess if you know a
good
workshop. Less if you do it yourself.
Remember that because the A series was also used in the Mini, there are
many
specialist performance parts producers that spridget owners can tap
into. In
comparison, the B engine is a bit of a performance orphan.
A difference of 70HP to 100HP is a whopping 42%
Another 2 price/performance points. A well know spridget supply place
was selling
a 1275-based 1380cc engine for approx US$4500 (no change-over required)
that
they claim puts out 115HP on the dyno. It is a hot road motor, still
very tractable,
road friendly, on standard gas. That is > 64% increase.
A full race engine can be had anywhere in the range of about US$4000 to
US$12000 At the higher end we are talking billet cranks, Carillo rods
etc. Mostly
we are talking reliability not HP. You can expect say 130HP+ from these
full race
engines. > 85% increase. My race motor cost me about A$5500 total. It
is a 1275,
+0.040", full race head (13:1 comp), standard crank that has been
wedged
and cross-drilled, Cooper S rods, full race cam. It is about 130HP
or so
It isn't just parts that are readily available, but lots of performance
shops that
mostly do Minis. I use one of those...
b) The balance of a Midget is better than a B. The B engine is much heavier
and
this is reflected in the heavier steering and the greater tendency to
understeer.
It is also reflected in better cornering speed than a B.
c) the Steering geometry of a Midget is better than the B. The Spridgets are
a delight to drive straight out of the box. Nice quick and precise
steering.
Plenty of folk have nice trick suspension mods, but at the end of the
day,
they aren't much better than standard with a few very minor and
inexpensive
changes
change trunnions or bushes to give about 2.5 degrees of neg camber cost
A$110
Nylon bushes say A$100
stiffer sway bar say $125
spacers to lower front and rear suspension (real cheap from your local
hardware)
revalved standard shocks and maybe 30wt fork oil. c/o cost say US$250
stiffer front springs. I paid A$120 for these.
and of course wheels and sticky tyres.
This is exactly the setup on my historic racecar. It handles as well as
almost
any car on the track. I can outbrake and outhandle some (most?) Porches,
not just Bs.
I can't comment on what a similar package will cost for a B, but as an
example,
my whole racecar has cost about A$14000. About $5500 of that was initial
purchase. The rest was strip and paint, new race engine, new SCCR gearbox,
extractors (jet-hot coated), SS race muffler, completely rebuilt suspension,
new wheels, new tyres, new wiring loom, completely rebuilt brakes, race
radiator,
harnesses etc. That is just over US$9000.
This car can beat even the "no expense spared" B that competes under exactly
the
same Historic eligibility rules (i.e. they can make the same restricted set
of
modifications that the spridgets can). That car would have cost > double
what mine
did and I can still beat it.
The rest of the Bs in the same category are significantly slower.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Ajhsys@aol.com>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, 12 January 2000 3:24
Subject: Re: Midgets and Sprites
> In a message dated 1/10/00 9:42:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> mvheim@studiolimage.com writes:
>
> << So, given the same racing regulations, if you spent the same amount of
> money on a B and a Midget, how would that make the Midget faster than the
> B? >>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> Maybe Midget mechanics are better than full size...er...MGB mechanics.
>
> Allen Hefner
> SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
> '77 Midget
> '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
>
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