All Kitted Up

Hello Everybody,

I just wanted to jot a quick post about kit cars. How do you feel about them? I really can't generate an opinion on them. I really respect the idea and process behind them, the desire to recreate/re-imagine iconic vehicles in a new and hopefully cost effective way. I mean for the vast majority of people this is the only way they will ever get to own/experience an AC Cobra or GT40. But... there is always a but, most of the kits look like just that, kits that are cheaply made and are at most an attempt at recreating the vehicle. Am I missing the point of the endeavor is the soul and expression of the project more important than the outcome?

They say that good artists copy and great artists steal, so how come it seems that there are so many good artists and so few great. So few kits live up to the cars they are based on, but is this just an endorsement of how great the originals are? It must be or may be it is a call to arms for the reproduction community to step up the quality and craftsmanship of the replicar.

All of this comes around as I kick around the idea of a Porsche 550 Spyder replica, but that literally is for another day.

Cheers,

Jay

A Triumph in the Face of Adversity or At Least Freeway Speeds

Being a simple man with simple needs I decided to head out to Galesburg, IL Saturday June 13th morning and boy am I glad I did. As I was driving out on Rt. 74 I am upon a rental truck that was hauling a most interesting cargo, please see below.

What an intriguing view, could that be a very tall station wagon???? I must find out.

Getting closer it sure looks like a van, and old too like a fine wine, or an old van.

Odd proportions and an off pastel color, this must be English

Looks like I found a Triumph Herald Van, pretty cool and it looks like its in great shape.

Kitted up to look like a dealership van. Its great to see stuff like this out in wild. Wouldn't mind having one for Kautz Farm if anyone has a line on one in good shape

What a smart looking vehicle, a shame that you can't buy one new. A nice mix of quirky and utilitarian.

A van is like a crew cut, business in the front and business in the back.

- Keep on Truckin, literally,
Jay

All The Way Around To The Beginning: A Rotisserie Story's Completion

Hello, long ago I told of the project that Kautz Farm Cars undertook to build a rotisserie for the Midgets. Now you may say, Jay, do you even like chicken that much?? Well I have to say that its not that kind of rotisserie and now I have pictures to prove it. Below is the documentation of the completed build. Now I have to apologize for not having step by step pictures on how this was build but I can roughly walk you through the steps:

1. Argue about Design

2. Think about buying 2" pipe to build the project, see cost

3. Buy 2" tubing because its cheaper and this is a fabrication project, also buy just a bit of 3.5 and 4"

4. Cutting

5. Bend a drill chuck quill shaft with a 4" hole-saw, don't worry the hole-saw is fine (???)

6. Welding

7. More Cutting

8. Some light lay out work and drilling

9. More Welding

10. Twice to Harbor Freight

11. Scour the shop to find bits to make rotisserie to car adapters

12. More Welding

13. Hitting wood blocks with hammers

14. Bolting

15. Now you have a rotisserie!

15a. Paint

Now some sights would charge hundreds of dollars for this step by step knowledge, but since we are all friends at Kautz Farm Cars I will let you have all of this for free. If you are feeling generous share the site or click on the ads, but I'm giving this knowledge to you.

Now the part you've been waiting for the pictures.

I am extremely happy with how this turned out, its very stable and just by eyeballing the mount locations the car naturally sits at almost any angle that you put it at. A testament to how easy it is to sight the CG of an MG.

Did I Already Say Get Blown Away?

So in a fitting tribute to my inability to stick to a plan when it comes to this car, I am changing direction again and am planning on using a turbo on the A-series. Why you may ask? The biggest reason is that I was having trouble finding a supercharger solution that fit with the spirit of the car. I thought that I had a line on a Schrrock unit, but that went cold. Although I do like the Eaton solution that some people are using, and that Moss and others sell. The blower is horribly over-sized for the A-series. Thus I am focusing on a small turbo, Garrett 1241.

Now, you say, Jay you said you wouldn't do a turbo because its so difficult to do with carbs??? I say exactly! I am now planning on running EFI on the car. I think the Holley two barrel EFI kit, 550-200, would be perfect for this application, right size for the application, already set-up with the needed sensors for forced induction.

Overall I think this fits nicely in the spirit of the car. A small easily spooled turbo, on a mild-reving, 5000 rpm soft limiter with 5500 redline. Also this will allow for a free flowing exhaust with little silencing, but without a huge amount of noise.

I am still looking for a 5 speed conversion for the car. I am starting to sway from the Ford Type 9 box and am thinking about the transmission from a Datsun 210. My only hesitation on these boxes is the seeming lack of spares/new rebuild parts in comparison to the ubiquitous Type 9 components.

I have also purchased a new dual core aluminum radiator for the car and will work on mocking up the new radiator in the car soon. I am working with Piper Cams in the UK to try to get a performance cam and adjustable timing gear for the car. The only hold up is shipping at the moment, but I am trying to work through this and hopefully I will have good news on this front in the coming weeks.

Keep the Rubber Side Down

- Jay

A Wireless Future

Alloy Wheels, I think the midget is going to have alloy wheels. What this really means is that I am stealing the axles and corners off of the 76 and will be trying to sell a set of wire wheels, rear axle and corners in a short time. So if you are interested in some truly British Motoring parts let me know.

Hopefully the alloy axle will be able to handle the power of the blower, otherwise I may have to accelerate my search for a custom driveline for the car.

I should have a nice update for all of you in about a week, when I return to work on the rotisserie and plan out the work on the floors.

Motor On
- Jay

All About Rust

The nice thing about a plant shut-down is that I got to spend almost two full weeks back at the ranch. That certainly gave me plenty of time to work right?!? You are correct and I spent most of that time... woodworking, I was building a workbench for my apartment, but fear not Spritacus did receive its fair share of work. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures, partly because the car is in rough shape at the moment, I originally though that only the passenger floors under the seats would have to come out, I was mistaken. Rust and its companion holes have taken over my MG. It looks as though the passenger floor from rear spring shackle to forward foot well needs to come out. Luckily I purchased the floor repair panels from Moss Motors a while ago and they are waiting patiently to be installed.

With the limited amount of cutting that I did do I found more hidden rust. I wonder why the Brits even put drain holes in their cars. With the additional work that will have to be carried out on the floors it looks to be a good time to build a rotisserie for the car. Excess 1 inch heavy wall pipe from a failed well, weeks earlier, and some 2 inch pipe from the local 'home' improvement store looks to me the needed ingredients for a home build car spinner. This is heads up to keep your eyes open for the story of the up-coming rotisserie build!

Also news on the engine, the continuing search of 5 speeds, and Floor-o-rama are all coming up!

Keep On Keepin' On