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1800SDi..
Oct 1, 2018 16:02:39 GMT
via mobile
Post by rosieuk on Oct 1, 2018 16:02:39 GMT
An interesting thought.
I have been toying with the idea of a diesel 18/85 (since that's the model I have) and the problem (other than all the diesel gubbins) is lack of power - since the landcrab can in no way be considered lightweight.
I was considering a turbo set up on a standard 1800 sherpa diesel engine but then I thought about the supercharger kits you can get for MGB - how much easier would it be to supercharge a B series diesel than faff around with turbocharging it?
You can get the kits off the shelf - the back side (ie where the carb is) is identical (ports etc) and without all the marinised gubbins there's a fair amount of space. 75-80hp is an attainable goal.
Can anyone see any major drawbacks or problems?
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 1, 2018 23:29:03 GMT
There is one major stumbling block - the 1800 engine block is unique to the Crab and the Princess. Just about everything else can be sourced from the MGB, but no other block will sit on the gearbox.
Other engines have been fitted - somewhere on here is an Oz ute with a very neat Nissan engine conversion, and there is a UK Crab running the engine and transmission from a diesel Montego. They also put that on on springs all round, which, IMO, destroys part of the essence of the car.
I think a bit of context is required. Most of us own the cars as hobby/leisure vehicles, doing a small mileage each year. To do a major conversion or even re-invention of the car cannot be cost effective if it's only doing a few thousand miles a year. The time taken to amortise the cost of a major re-woring of the car would be many years.
I enjoy my two for what they are. They represent a driving experience "of their time", which I enjoyed first time round, and still enjoy now.
Chris.
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Post by dave1800 on Oct 2, 2018 2:51:29 GMT
I agree. In fact the nicest 1800 I drove had a single carb, an earlier cam (5,45,51,21) and a Downton head. It was virtually as quick as the 1800S up to 80mph without any of the carb balancing issues. The engine had loads of low down torque which was a blessing with the slowish gear change and the extra power was easily and safely handled by the braking and handling. BL tried more powerful OHC engines in the classic Mini but found they could not match the A series overall with its low down punch and general drivability. I think a MGB engine can sit on the gearbox, but end-plates may need to be changed? David There is one major stumbling block - the 1800 engine block is unique to the Crab and the Princess. Just about everything else can be sourced from the MGB, but no other block will sit on the gearbox. Other engines have been fitted - somewhere on here is an Oz ute with a very neat Nissan engine conversion, and there is a UK Crab running the engine and transmission from a diesel Montego. They also put that on on springs all round, which, IMO, destroys part of the essence of the car. I think a bit of context is required. Most of us own the cars as hobby/leisure vehicles, doing a small mileage each year. To do a major conversion or even re-invention of the car cannot be cost effective if it's only doing a few thousand miles a year. The time taken to amortise the cost of a major re-woring of the car would be many years. I enjoy my two for what they are. They represent a driving experience "of their time", which I enjoyed first time round, and still enjoy now. Chris. |
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Post by 1800heap on Oct 2, 2018 8:29:28 GMT
I think Chris is right. The oil pickup is cast into the block for the crab but not for the MGB. If you look at the crab sump gasket it is a fair bit different to the MGB. I suppose it could be made to fit!
I am not sure you have the space for a MGB supercharger unless you mod the crab bulkhead.
I have a MGB crossflow head for my crab which I plan to put fuel injection on one day!! You can get a manifold for twin webbers for the head. I was planning on putting twin webber style injection throttle bodies on it. You have to dream I suppose! Many things to work out for this to actually happen though!
Nick
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Post by dave1800 on Oct 2, 2018 9:44:42 GMT
They made a supercharger for the crab in Oz based on the MGB version and there is a road test in one of the Oz publications in the archive section of the website here (sorry I don't have the precise reference to hand) but there's a short note here crab superchargerI think there was a way of sorting out the oil feed if you used a MGB block, but stand to be corrected it could have been a report on using a crab engine for a MGB - memory failure! David I think Chris is right. The oil pickup is cast into the block for the crab but not for the MGB. If you look at the crab sump gasket it is a fair bit different to the MGB. I suppose it could be made to fit! I am not sure you have the space for a MGB supercharger unless you mod the crab bulkhead. I have a MGB crossflow head for my crab which I plan to put fuel injection on one day!! You can get a manifold for twin webbers for the head. I was planning on putting twin webber style injection throttle bodies on it. You have to dream I suppose! Many things to work out for this to actually happen though! Nick |
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1800SDi..
Oct 2, 2018 21:55:21 GMT
via mobile
Post by 1800heap on Oct 2, 2018 21:55:21 GMT
Cool! I wish I had found that site before I decided to get the crossflow head! Since getting the head quite a while ago I have seen some 8nfo saying they have some issues. Hope mine is ok! There you go rosieuk the kit is probably worth more than the car but more power in a bolt on solution! Australians eh!! Nick They made a supercharger for the crab in Oz based on the MGB version and there is a road test in one of the Oz publications in the archive section of the website here (sorry I don't have the precise reference to hand) but there's a short note here crab superchargerI think there was a way of sorting out the oil feed if you used a MGB block, but stand to be corrected it could have been a report on using a crab engine for a MGB - memory failure! David I think Chris is right. The oil pickup is cast into the block for the crab but not for the MGB. If you look at the crab sump gasket it is a fair bit different to the MGB. I suppose it could be made to fit! I am not sure you have the space for a MGB supercharger unless you mod the crab bulkhead. I have a MGB crossflow head for my crab which I plan to put fuel injection on one day!! You can get a manifold for twin webbers for the head. I was planning on putting twin webber style injection throttle bodies on it. You have to dream I suppose! Many things to work out for this to actually happen though! Nick |
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1800SDi..
Oct 10, 2018 15:09:55 GMT
via mobile
Post by rosieuk on Oct 10, 2018 15:09:55 GMT
Interesting info but would it not be possible to get a sherpa motor (with glow plugs), take it to bits and rebuild it using the landcrab block - it might take a little fettling but all the ancillaries should mount easily to the LC block and if they don't brackets & such are easy to make for an engineering shop.
You'd not need a carb in there so the space wouldn't be so much of an issue - then if you had silly money a tuned head - and the supercharger on a fast pulley would give you equal power to the petrol, if not more.
The fuel economy would be much better, especially with a remote power engine heater although the car might be a little heavier - it'd have better torque.
I'd be keeping the car permanently if I was to do this... So it doesn't matter that much but since I don't have £7k at all, let alone that much to spare, it's just a thought exercise really.
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1800SDi..
Oct 10, 2018 15:14:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by rosieuk on Oct 10, 2018 15:14:34 GMT
PS as to a coil sprung 1800/2200/3000 I agree that it's kind of pointless. The ride of the car is so good *because* of the suspension - it'd be like putting a DS on leaf springs and a live axle rear, transverse leaf spring on the front. Sacrilege. Not to mention probably terrifying to drive.
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