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Re: African Tiger back - few questions

To: Derek White <derekw@zamnet.zm>
Subject: Re: African Tiger back - few questions
From: Steve Laifman <Laifman@Flash.Net>
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 11:43:03 +0000
Derek White wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm back having survived a pent up Swedish blond, her parents, her mother's
> cooking (I've gained 10lbs!), blizzards, "The Storm of the Century" (stuck
> in Bordeaux for 3 days resisting the urge to choke the arrogant shit out of
> a few French un-civil servants), Lisbon drivers/traffic/cuisine etc. etc.

Tough luck, kid. {9->  We (much better half and I) just got  back from
Denmark/Norway/Sweden/Finland/St. Petersburg.  Great trip.  Those Swedish girls,
WOW.  They all must be over 6' tall, long blond hair, killer bodies, and walk
around in high platform shoes.  Their boyfriends look like midgets.  I do 
believe
their choice of granny type dark patterned long dresses does not do them 
justice.
Was in France for their Centennial, and found the countryside people warm and
friendly, if you just were courteous and gave them a 'good morning' in French.  
A
week in Paris was not bad.  Everybody seemed nice.  Had a young couple help us
pass the Gendarmes guarding the Presidential Palace, to get back to our hotel.
Turns out that all the REAL Parisians had left the city for holiday, and to get
away form the crowded festivities, so my contact was with french people from
outside Paris, after all.

> The highlight (after the pent up Swedish blond) was seeing a few very
> special cars in a Swedish friend's collection (the only Ferrari 340 Mexico
> Spyder built, two Bugatti Brescias, a Salmson GP, a Riley Brooklands, a very
> unique Abbott Detroit, and a handful of pre-war Benzs and Mercedes (some of
> them the only examples left.)

Sounds great.

> I am determined to sell up, leave Zambia and help organise the historic
> "Rally of the Midnight Sun" in Sweden/Norway, summer 2001. In the mean time
> I must build this tiger...
>
> 1)I have this 302 and need to order parts (e-bay, Summit...?) Is the
> Edelbrock Performer/Holley 600 a good value, simple set up? What about the
> Performer RPM and the Holley 650?

I'd personally pick the Performer 302, as it is a high rise and a better
manifold.  Unless you have an engine that is extremely highly tuned, and 302 
CID,
or more, I would stick with either the Holley or Edelbrock 600 CFM.  The 
Edelbrock
is smoother, and a better gas seal design.  More people know 'tricks' on the
Holley, and more racing parts are available, like center pivot float bowls,  You
should have no hood clearance problems with any, if you aren't crazy on your air
cleaner.  Too bad you can't get the Tiger one and use a K&N filter.  Would use
one, regardless of your housing choice.

> 2)Which air cleaner (I will get the standard hood/bonnet so clearance
> worries me.)

Need it to be the same thickness as the stock with the K&N, which is available
from Sunbeam Specialties at a reasonably competitive price.  If you haven't got 
a
local Tiger handy, I'll measure my total thickness, but some air cleaners go 
below
the top flange, and that must be adjusted for.

> 3)Is there some special front pulley I need to order for the 302 into a tiger?

You really do need to worry about a lot of things in a 302 conversion, depending
on which 302 block you use, and how much of your original engine you have.  Need
that front timing chain cover, for one, as you don't have a reverse rotation
serpentine belt.  That pulley is set to match the water pump, generator, and 
those
are set to clear the radiator and steering rack.  This distance is peculiar to 
the
Tiger, so you have to do some junk-yard sorting if you have 3 hole stock pulleys
and the 50 ounce counterweight 4 hole crank.  Hopefully you'll get exact part
numbers from those that have done this.  BTW:  Make sure your flywheel, ring 
gear
teeth, starter all match.  The 28 oz. balance engines were different than the 50
oz. balance engines.

>
>
> 4)Distributor suggestions.

Mallory Unilite is liked by many.  Your stock vacuum advance Ford unit, when
properly modified for advance by spring and weight adjustments, and a Pertronics
points replacement are pretty good.  Again, if you have a late 302, with roller
lifters, you will need a different distributor drive gear.  You may also want to
look at high energy spark units, such as the MSD6-AL.

> 5) Are there any low cost headers that will fit (I have MIG and TIG welders
> so can make changes.)

Sunbeam Specialties carries a good set.  You must "dry fit" and 'adjust' to fit,
then remove for local metal-ceramic flame spray coating (advised for long life,
cooler running, and great appearance, but NOT cheap)

> If any of you have spare engine bits you'd like to sell, let me know. I need
> everything but the block, crank, rods and heads! I've ordered the Griffin
> aluminum radiator.
>
> I was given a Getrag 5-speed from an Opel Rekord while in Sweden but I was
> already 28kgs over my baggage limit (I'll get it sent.) They are easy to
> find there. I will get more info from the South African contingent who do
> this conversion and share it with the list once I have it.

Are you sure this small box (Opel Rekord torque size) can handle a modified big
V-8?

My opinions, for what they are worth.

Steve




--
Steve Laifman         < Find out what is most     >
B9472289              < important in your life    >
                      < and don't let it get away!>

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