For those who haven't heard of the vehicle in question, it's my 67 Sunbeam Highwayman. Rootes slipped a few campers into the country under the Sunbeam name in the late 60s, and this is one of them. It's based on a Commer forward control delivery van chassis, and was powered by the bare-bones Hillman Minx version of the 1725. In other words, 60hp, cast iron head, single carb, go NOWHERE fast! Top speed.... with a LOOOOONG windup, was 55 mph unless going downhill.
Picture viewable at - http://members.aol.com/rootes/pics/67beam.jpg
Well, 2 years ago, while waking it from it's winter sleep, the darn thing threw a piston ring. Long story short, I've been working on it on and off for 2 years, hampered by the fact that it's stored 45 minutes away. The engine now boasts a new set of pistons, a reprofiled Alpine cam, a shaved Alpine head, and now, Ser II dual Zeniths. With an overbore and 8.5 to 1 compression, I'm hoping to get about 80 hp out of the engine. Maybe I'll even be able to hit 65, now that they've raised the speed limit here in NJ! lol I'll let ya know how it goes when I start her up!!
Jon Arzt Rootes(at)aol.com
61 Humber Super Snipe 62 Humber Super Snipe 66 Sunbeam Alpine 67 Sunbeam Highwayman camper 72 Plymouth Cricket
