Enthusiasts' Directory: No.12 - Engine tuning equipment
[From the very early days enthusiastic owners have endeavoured to improve the performance of their cars above the manufacturer’s intention, by tuning or, more correctly, “hotting-up” their engines. In the nineteen-twenties o.h.v. conversions were available even for such staid vehicles as the Rover Eight, Fiat 501 and Austin Heavy Twelve, and one recalls the popularity of the proprietary supercharger in the ‘thirties. Below we provide a survey of the speed equipment that is available today. Next month’s Directory will cover chassis modification equipment and fibre-glass bodies, etc.. – ED.]
A.C.—Modified cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd. Anthony Crook Motors, Ltd., can modify the Bristol engines fitted to these cars by arrangement with the manufacturers.
Aston Martin.—Special cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd., for £35.
Austin.—Engine conversion sets are available for A30 and A35 models from Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd., for £65 10s.
Special cylinder heads are available for all Austin models from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
For the A50 and A55 models Rally Equipment, of Elstree, can offer special cylinder heads and exhaust systems for a total cost of £44 10s., including fitting charges. Customers can have their own cylinder heads modified and a set of parts for the exhaust system supplied for £7 less than this figure. Alternatively, heads may be supplied on an exchange basis, when a deposit of £10 is required against the return of the customer’s cylinder head in a reasonable condition. The cost of these alterations to A30 and A35 models is £42 10s., including fitting, or £7 less if the work is done by the customer.
The Aquaplane Company can provide speed equipment for A30 and A35 models. Special twin-carburetter inlet manifolds, exhaust manifolds, valve springs, and revolution-indicator kits are available.
Alexander Engineering have conversion kits for A30, A35, A40. A50, A55 and A90 (Six) Austins.
Bristol—Special cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd. These cost £38.
Special engines and modifications to existing engines are available on application to Anthony Crook Motors, Ltd., of Hersham, Surrey.
Citroën.—For £26 special cylinder heads can be supplied for the four-cylinder Citroëns, for the six, £29, from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
Daimler.—Special cylinder heads are available for £31 from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
Fiat.—For both 600 and 1,100 models cylinder heads with special high compressions can be supplied by Barwell Motors, Ltd., for £26 and £28. respectively.
Modifications of Fiat 600s to Abarth 750 specifications can be carried out by Anthony Crook Motors. Ltd.
Ford (Anglia and Prefect).—A specially strengthened overdrive unit for hotted-up Anglias and Prefects is being offered at a price of £48 10s., plus £5 10s. fitting charge. The kit is produced by Vehicle Developments, Ltd.. 60, Balcombe Street, London, N.W.1.
Modified exhaust and carburetter systems are available for new Ford Anglias and Prefects from Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., Haddenham, Bucks.
Barwell Motors, Ltd., supply modified cylinder heads for 100E models. Varying stages of tuning may be specified.
One of the largest companies making speed equipment for all Ford models is the Aquaplane Company. Cylinder heads, manifolds, flywheels, camshafts and many other components are available, even for the early 8-h.p. models.
Ford (Consul and Zephyr).—Aquaplane modifications cover essential tuning conversions for all model Consul and Zephyr cars. In addition to major modification parts all manner of small items are also listed on the comprehensive parts sheets for each model.
Barwell Motors, Ltd., supply cylinder heads for Mark I and II Consuls and Zephyrs in various stages of tune and with different carburetter sets.
Alexander Engineering supply speed equipment for all Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac models.
Raymond Mays supplies conversions for Zephyr models. Special cylinder heads and triple-carburetter manifolds are available.
Healey.—For the Austin-Healey Barwell Motors, Ltd.. provide special cylinder heads for £29.
For the Riley-engined Healey, Barwell Motors. Ltd., also provide special high-compression cylinder heads. The cost, in this case, is £34.
Hillman.—Speed equipment can be provided for Series I and II Hillman Minx cars by the Alexander Engineering Co.
Jaguar.—Barwell Motors, Ltd., make cylinder heads for all 2.4, 3.4, 120 and 140 models. Prices are approximately £35.
Lea-Francis.—Special cylinder heads can be obtained from Barwell Motors, Ltd., for £30.
Metropolitan.—Engine-tuning kits are available for this model from Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd„ and cost £60.
Engine modifications to these cars can be carried out by Alexander Engineering, of Haddenham.
M.G.—Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., of Haddenham, Bucks, can supply a complete range of parts for the M.G. TD, together with components for the similar TB, TC, TF and Y models.
Modified cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
M.G.A.—Oil-cooler kits are available from S. A. H. Accessories, 17a, Bridge Street. Leighton Buzzard, Beds.
Engine-tuning kits are available from Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd., and cost £50.
Special cylinder heads are available for all models from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
Modified cylinder heads, exhaust systems and competition tuning for M.G.As can be had at Rally Equipment, of Elstree. For fitting a new cylinder head and exhaust pipe of larger diameter, and for other tuning and adjusting, the charges amount to £52 10s. Your own cylinder heads can be modified and exhaust parts supplied for £7 less than this figure.
M.G. Magnette.—Engine conversion kits are available from Speedwell Conversions, Ltd.. and cost £50 for this model.
Rally Equipment, of Elstree, can supply modified cylinder heads with enlarged ports, higher compression-ratios and other alterations. New exhaust systems can be fitted and cars tuned by experts. The cost of this for the Magnette is £52 10s.; this includes all labour charges for fitting.
Tuning equipment is available for ZA and ZB M.G. models from Alexander Engineering.
Morgan (TR engine).—Oil-cooler kits are available from S. A. H. Accessories, 17a, Bridge Street, Leighton Buzzard.
Morris Cowley.—Tuning kits are available from Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd.
Morris Isis.—Alexander Engineering can modify these cars with their kits of tuning parts.
Morris Oxford.—Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd., provide engine conversion kits for these models. The cost is £60.
For the Morris Oxford Series II and III, Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., can supply modifications and fit them within 48 hours.
Morris 1000 and Minor I and II.—Speedwell Performance Conversions. Ltd., supply performance engine kits for the Morris 1000. These cost £65.
Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., of Haddenham, Bucks, can supply all modifications to Morris Minors of all types.
For £26 special cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd. Carburetter sets are also available from the same firm.
Cylinder heads and exhaust pipes of large diameter can be supplied by Rally Equipment, of Elstree, for a total cost of £42 10s., including fitting. A charge of £7 may be dropped if customers do their own dismantling and have their own cylinder heads modified. The time taken to complete the work is five days.
Aquaplane supply speed equipment for 803- and 948-c.c. B.M.C. engines as fitted to Morris Minor Series II models. Special manifolds, valve springs and rev.-counter kits are obtainable.
Renault Dauphine.—Complete sets of parts for modifications to standard cars are available from the Performance Equipment Co. These comprise special cylinder head, twin carburetters, manifold and exhaust system for £37.
For £26 a special cylinder head may be obtained from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
Alexander Engineering supply equipment for tuning Renault Dauphine engines.
Riley 1.5.—Engine conversion kits are available from Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd., at £50.
Special high-compression cylinder heads can be supplied for these models by Rally Equipment, of Elstree, for £52 10s.
Simca. – Anthony Crook Motors can carry out engine modification to Simca models at their Hersham, Surrey, workshops.
Singer Gazelle.—Special cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd., for £29.
Standard.—Special cylinder heads are available for Standard Vanguards, Eights and Tens for approximately £28 from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., market engine tuning kits and can modify engines for Standard Eight and Ten models.
Sunbeam.—For £28 Barwell Motors, Ltd., can supply special cylinder heads for the Rapier.
Also for this model, equipment for tuning can be purchased from Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., or can be fitted at their Haddenham works.
Triumph TR2 and TR3.—Modified cylinder heads, inlet manifolds, oil-cooler kits, exhaust systems, and general tuning can be obtained from S. A. H. Accessories. 17a. Bridge Street. Leighton Buzzard.
Modified cylinder heads are available from Barwell Motors Ltd.: these cost £32 each.
Vauxhall Victor.—Engine modifications are now available for this model from Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., Haddenham.
Volkswagen.—Twin-carburetter kits, engine conversions, and special silencers are available from the West Essex Engineering Co., Ltd. The engine conversion costs £100, the twin-carburetter kits cost £40, and the silencer £6.
Wolseley 1500.—A modified cylinder head and exhaust system can be supplied by Rally Equipment, of Elstree, for the 1500 for £44 10s. This includes all fitting charges but the parts can be supplied for £7 less than this for home fitting.
The Alexander conversion comprises modified cylinder head, with 8-to-1 compression-ratio, special valve springs, twin 1-1/4-in. carburetters on special manifold, special sparking plugs, and air filters on each carburetter. The cost of this kit is £43, with fitting £12 10s. A Stage II kit is available at £58, with an axle conversion set costing £15, and a fitting charge of £15 15s. for both kits together.
Engine conversions can also be carried out by Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd., at a cost of £60.
Special cylinder heads and carburetter sets are available from Barwell Motors, Ltd.
Wolseley 15/50 and 4/44.—Conversion kits are available from the Alexander Engineering Co., Ltd., Haddenham, Bucks.
Rally Equipment, of Elstree, offer high-compression cylinder heads for £44 10s. Special exhaust systems are also obtainable from this firm.—I. G.
Addresses of suppliers
Alexander Engineering Co.. Ltd., Haddenham, near Aylesbury Bucks.
Anthony Crook Motors, Ltd., Esher Road, Hersham, Surrey
Aquaplane Co., Ltd., Oulton Broad, Suffolk.
Barwell Motors, Ltd., Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey
Carburettors Ltd., Grange Road, Willesden Green, London, N.W.I0
G. M. Carburettor Co., Ltd., Cranford Works, Malt Street, Knutsford, Cheshire
Performance Equipment Co., 327-329, Tower Building, Water Street, Liverpool 3
Rally Equipment, High Street, Elstree, Herts.
Raymond Mays, Ltd., Bourne, Lincolnshire
S. A. H. Accessories, 17a, Bridge Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds.
Speedwell Performance Conversions, Ltd., 7, Accommodation Road, London, N.W.11
Vehicle Developments, Ltd., 60, Balcombe Street, London, N.W.1
West Essex Engineering Co. (Abridge), Ltd., Market Square, Abridge, Essex