I think for a car of that vintage you should locate (and perhaps upgrade) an
original motor.
I just don't see it being that less reliable than an A-series.
I realize it might be difficult to locate another motor, but I would at
least give it a shot.
-----Original Message-----
From: spridgets-bounces@autox.team.net
[mailto:spridgets-bounces@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Mike Rambour
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 2:20 PM
To: Spridgets
Subject: [Spridgets] kind of spridget related
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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