Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 13 July 2019 - 01:23 PM
Hi although I joined a while ago the restoration of this 1960 classic has been on hold so have not posted much.
This car would of had an Excelsior Talisman 328cc two stroke twin but this one was an early conversion to the 850cc Mini engine etc by Dave Ratner.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:34 PM
For obviouse reasons I have called her hasbig, although she has an 850cc Mini engine, that was considerably larger than the original 328cc Talisman twin two stroke.
The first thing to do is take the engine out ready to fit my 1380cc A+ so Hasbig engine.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:40 PM
As you can see by this image;
… she is a three wheeler in what some would call a reverse trike or tadpole trike. Note the tow hitch for the camping trailer.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:55 PM
This is my previous Berkeley that had a 1380cc A+ built by Jonspeed of Nuneaton. I had her for 14 years and covered about 200,000 miles as my daily run. Sadly I wrote her off in 2004.
I hope to make this car as user friendly as the last. Maybe even better although that would be some achievement.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 13 July 2019 - 10:30 PM
The last car ran on 13" wheels with Metro calipers. This time I shall try out 10" wheels on drum brakes. Being so light it is very important to keep the unsprung weight down. Drum brakes are lighter (uless you have deep pockets) and with Minifin drums all round should mitigate any brake fade, also helped by the reduced weight over the original Mini donor. Having a wheel less further reduces the unsprung weight by a third.
I have a set of these Mk 6 Cosmic 5 J's to go on. I think they will look good dressed in Yoko's.
Edited by Ricewind, 30 January 2020 - 11:43 PM.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 18 July 2019 - 12:19 PM
One of the few things that were salvagable from my old car that I wrote off was Hi-lows Adjusta ride trumpets. They really put up a fight and did not want to part company with the mangled subframe. They were eventually winkled out attached to the rubber spring which they were determined not to divorce.
had to first cut the rubber off,
And then machine away the remaining rubber to see what was what.
And finally press my angle grinder into action for the remaining band of resistance. I really should of bought new.
Uncle Cooperman, Voted Mr TMF 2011
Posted 18 July 2019 - 09:07 PM
I always liked the Berkeley B90 which was the 4-wheel one.
There was a guy I knew in Luton who was a Vauxhall development engineer and he fitted a 1.6 litre Vauxhall VX4/90 engine into a B90. Now that really went and he used it for sprints and hill-climbs.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 19 July 2019 - 04:02 PM
I always liked the Berkeley B90 which was the 4-wheel one.
There was a guy I knew in Luton who was a Vauxhall development engineer and he fitted a 1.6 litre Vauxhall VX4/90 engine into a B90. Now that really went and he used it for sprints and hill-climbs.
Do you know if it was rear wheel drive?
Speeding Along Now
Posted 20 July 2019 - 03:13 PM
I have always been a fan of Berkleys. Although not A series powered, Pat Moss rallied one on the Leige. Quite an effort!
Uncle Cooperman, Voted Mr TMF 2011
Posted 20 July 2019 - 09:38 PM
I always liked the Berkeley B90 which was the 4-wheel one.
There was a guy I knew in Luton who was a Vauxhall development engineer and he fitted a 1.6 litre Vauxhall VX4/90 engine into a B90. Now that really went and he used it for sprints and hill-climbs.
Do you know if it was rear wheel drive?
Yes, it was RWD. I always thought a Ford 1.5 Cortina GT engine would have been better, but this was a Vauxhall engineer who lived in Luton.
Actually before the Cortina GT came along, the VX4/90 was a very good car.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 30 January 2020 - 12:00 AM
Started to work on the 1380cc engine. removed the water pump
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 30 January 2020 - 12:01 AM
Ready to fit the electric Craig Davis pump.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 30 January 2020 - 12:07 AM
I will mount the pump away from the engine to protect from vibration. So I have made a plate out of aluminium checker plate and turned a large spigot for the coolant to enter the engine.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 30 January 2020 - 12:19 AM
Here is the finished plate, note the extended holes so as I can use the same bolts in case I need to revert back to the mechanical pump.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 30 January 2020 - 12:22 AM
Made spacers so I could fit this neat Alternator that I believe came from a Suzuki Swift Toyota.
Edited by Ricewind, 05 August 2020 - 10:14 AM.
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