Thanks for waiting at Restoring a Pre-war Riley Special

27.10

Thanks for waiting

Posted on Wednesday 27th October, 2010 in Uncategorized • No Comments

Ok, its been ages since I blogged. Its not because I havn`t done any work on the Riley, just a mixture of laziness, lack of time, broke my digital camera, and lots of other stuff going on in my life. … I decided to sell the Sprite replica chassis and parts. I let it go because I have a Riley Monaco languishing in a lock up garage that I want to use as the basis for a Brooklands rep special, and I`m thinking that I will never get to it unless I reduce my collection. (I also have a shortened 9 chassis, rebuilt mag engine and gearbox, shortened orque tube, and the parts for another special!)

I sold my MG competition car, (turned into a bit of a disaster), and switched to a highly modified 1964 example for next seasons sprins and hillclimbs. More of this later.

Anyway, the Riley special. I have been working on the braking system, (particularly the handbrake), floorboards, pedal boards, torque tube cover, aluminium panels around the bulkhead firewall, and many other minor jobs. … I havn`t got pictures to post just now, but I`II take some over the next couple of days.

The floorboards have been cut from marine ply and mounted on aluminium brackets and the rebates cut into the bed timbers of the body frame. … This has taken weeks and weeks of making patterns, designing and constructing brackets, etc. The footboards which are cut around the pedal assembly were particularly complicated and difficult. They also required aluminium facing as they form part of the firewall between engine bay and cockpit.

Whilst making floor boards I decided to complete the rear brake linkages and design a handbrake assembly. This would be more difficult once the boards were in place. The handbrake assemblt is from a early MG Midget. … A nicely made handle and rachet assembly, connected by a standard cable to newly designed and constructed brackets on the brake actuating rod to the rear brakes. (Something else that took weeks!). … Pictures later.

About the 64 MG Midget race car. As I have said previously, I enjoy the MGCC sprint and Hillclimb series, The Luffield Speed Championship. .. The MGCC Luffield Speed series goes to Prescott, Shelsley Walsh, Loton Park, Anglesey, Goodwood, Silverstone and many other great venues. The car I have bought for next year is a ex circuit racer that competed in the Midget Challenge race series. It is a serious competition car with the followin spec:

Engine: Built by Morspeed

Bored out to 1380
MED big valve head
APR cylinder head studs
1.5 : 1 Roller rockers
310 cam
Vernier duplex timing gear
Balanced & lightened internals
11.5 : 1 compression ratio
Aldon electronic distributor & HT leads
130bhp at flywheel

Transmission:

Straight cut, close ratio gears
Large, (7 1/2”), rally clutch. (AP friction plate).
Roller release bearing
New master and slave cylinder

Rear axle/suspension:

3.9 : 1 diff
Peter May comp half shafts
Panhard rod
De-cambered rear springs
Spax adjustable rear shocks. (Upright mounted)
Lifted front eye on spring hanger

Front suspension:

600lb coil springs, (lowered)
11/16” anti roll bar, solid mounts, rose jointed drop links
Neg camber trunions
Top king pin spacers
Triangulated top arms
Up-rated lever arm shocks

Brakes:

Big front discs, (Peter May)
Dual circuit
Mintex pads
STD rear drums & shoes

Body shell (all solid, no rot):

F/glass flip front
F/glass doors
F/glass rear panels, (Round wheel arch)
F/glass boot lid
F/glass, race weight hard top

Fuel & exhaust Systems:

48 DCOE carb
Maniflow inlet manifold
Tubular exhaust manifold, (3 into 1)
Maniflow silencer boxes, etc. (Below 100 decibels)
New facet silver top fuel pump
New front to rear copper fuel line
New non return valve on tank vent
Aluminium foam filled tank in boot with catch bowl & drain pipe

Electrical system:

High energy battery
Race spec battery box on passenger side floor
All instruments newly rewired, (all working)

Safety equipment:

Plumbed in, correct spec extinguishers, (engine bay & interior)
Latest spec harness
Cobra race spec seat

Cooling:

High capacity x flow radiator
New 13 row oil cooler
STD water pump

Wheels & tyres:

5 off 6 x 13 minilites with Avon slicks
4 off 6 x 13 weller motor sport with Avon wets

All of this equates to almost 250bhp per ton, and 0 – 60mph in under 5 secs. … Very primitive and crude. Lots of fun! I will be in the most modified group, (group 4 racers), in the Luffield series, and my target times will be ultra tough. I probably won`t get near them, but I`II enjoy trying!

Under bonnet view

Midget racer

Ready for 2011 season

Languishing in my lock up

The coachwork is worse than it looks!

recently rebuilt engine. good spec

riley monaco 028

Nice twin SU set up

About the Author

Phil Smith is a vintage car enthusiast with many years experience of owning, restoring and using vintage, PVT and classic cars. A longstanding member of The Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC), The Riley register and The MG Car Club. Makes he has owned include Alvis, Bentley, Lagonda, MG, Talbot and Riley, of course. Now retired, Phil satisfies his 'old motor urges' by competing in the MGCC Luffield Speed series in MG Midgets from the 60's and 70's. This blog will chart his return to vintage/PVT cars.

Contact

philsmith432[at]hotmail[dot]com

Restoring a Pre-war Riley Special

riley restoration diary