Discussion
It seems to me one of you chaps is building a car like mine and I should like to find out more about it to add to my list of Meteor engined cars.
After seeing and hearing the Handlye Special in Sussex four years ago I found a Mk 4B Meteor engine in Johannesburg,towed it to Cape Town and built a double ladder frame chassis bolting Jaguar XJ12 suspension,steering and TH 400 gearbox to it.(Rolls Royce and Bentley chassis are not found lying around in SA-they have all been stolen for scrap!)
My car looks similar to the Napier Railton but is bigger having a central driving position and a passenger seat for two behind. The body, in 1930 Brooklands aero-engined style, has been framed up in half inch tube ready for aluminium sheeting to be wheeled and applied.The back-sloping grille is similar to the Napier's and it has a high Bugatti tail.
A step-up gearbox of 1 : 2.77 has been designed and is to be made up now. This gearing of 1 : 2.77 with a diff. ratio of 2.88 : 1 will give a top speed of 212mph on suitably large (22 inch) wheels.Malcolm Campbell achieved 206 mph with 450 hp so I reckon my 650 hp will do the job.I am reconciled to using modern (Aston Martin)tyres as Vintage/Veteran tyres won't stand the pace.
I have done most of the wiring up but have some way to go before I can start the motor which had been cleaned of all its gaskets.I have cut my first of about 20.And then there are the fuel and oil priming pumps to procure and fit.
If anyone has details of the Merlin/Bentley Special built by Jerry Bootsma in Holland I shall be glad to have them.I cannot trace him.My car looks similar to his but is not so low and racy. For those interested in this type of project look up Swiss Hurricane Beat Elsasser to see one that was ordered from Rolls Royce in 1930 with a Hurricane motor by a sporting gentleman and has now been restored by Beat and Ruedi Stoop.
I shall wheel my car out for some photo's shortly and shall post them on the site to stimulate discussion/advice.
Rusty.
After seeing and hearing the Handlye Special in Sussex four years ago I found a Mk 4B Meteor engine in Johannesburg,towed it to Cape Town and built a double ladder frame chassis bolting Jaguar XJ12 suspension,steering and TH 400 gearbox to it.(Rolls Royce and Bentley chassis are not found lying around in SA-they have all been stolen for scrap!)
My car looks similar to the Napier Railton but is bigger having a central driving position and a passenger seat for two behind. The body, in 1930 Brooklands aero-engined style, has been framed up in half inch tube ready for aluminium sheeting to be wheeled and applied.The back-sloping grille is similar to the Napier's and it has a high Bugatti tail.
A step-up gearbox of 1 : 2.77 has been designed and is to be made up now. This gearing of 1 : 2.77 with a diff. ratio of 2.88 : 1 will give a top speed of 212mph on suitably large (22 inch) wheels.Malcolm Campbell achieved 206 mph with 450 hp so I reckon my 650 hp will do the job.I am reconciled to using modern (Aston Martin)tyres as Vintage/Veteran tyres won't stand the pace.
I have done most of the wiring up but have some way to go before I can start the motor which had been cleaned of all its gaskets.I have cut my first of about 20.And then there are the fuel and oil priming pumps to procure and fit.
If anyone has details of the Merlin/Bentley Special built by Jerry Bootsma in Holland I shall be glad to have them.I cannot trace him.My car looks similar to his but is not so low and racy. For those interested in this type of project look up Swiss Hurricane Beat Elsasser to see one that was ordered from Rolls Royce in 1930 with a Hurricane motor by a sporting gentleman and has now been restored by Beat and Ruedi Stoop.
I shall wheel my car out for some photo's shortly and shall post them on the site to stimulate discussion/advice.
Rusty.
Hi there - sounds an interesting project. I look forward to the photos.
Are you aware of this: http://www.ppc-mag.co.uk/blog/charlie-broomfield.h... ?
Are you aware of this: http://www.ppc-mag.co.uk/blog/charlie-broomfield.h... ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIZ_LeaTCDw&pla...
Please PM and I'll fwd you to Jerry and Harry's wherabouts.
Reads like a top project. Where are you located?
Please PM and I'll fwd you to Jerry and Harry's wherabouts.
Reads like a top project. Where are you located?
dinkel said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIZ_LeaTCDw&pla...
Please PM and I'll fwd you to Jerry and Harry's wherabouts.
Reads like a top project. Where are you located?
Many thanks for details of Harry Bootsma and his car.Please PM and I'll fwd you to Jerry and Harry's wherabouts.
Reads like a top project. Where are you located?
I am at Marina da Gama (near Muizenberg) in Cape Town far away from all the help and experience I need!
My e-mail address is j.crowhurst@bissets.com
TEKNOPUG said:
Hi there - sounds an interesting project. I look forward to the photos.
Are you aware of this: http://www.ppc-mag.co.uk/blog/charlie-broomfield.h... ?
Thank you.I had picked up the internet site on Charlie Broomfield's Rover. Although I had put a Chev V8 into my Rover 2600 I should have thought a Meteor engine was a bridge too far!Are you aware of this: http://www.ppc-mag.co.uk/blog/charlie-broomfield.h... ?
Rusty.
Meteor Jaguar said:
What the heck is a PM and how do I do that?
I'm in the colonies you know.
A PM is a personal message. It can be done by clicking on the persons profile on the left hand side of the forum (their username) and sending them a personal email that goes to their own personal email address. When you are on the persons profile, look in the top right hand corner and you will see "email me" and "add me to your mates". Click on "email me" and then type away. It cannot be read by anyone else, just like an email.I'm in the colonies you know.
Hope this helps (HTH)
It is standing a bit high as the two gearboxes and all fluids (400kg) were not in when the photo' was taken a few months ago.
Body almost finished now and maroon Wilton carpets are in. The inside is trimmed with ox-blood vinyl coming up over the cockpit coaming like a WW l aeroplane.
The rear axle thrust rods are still not done.The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed the Jaguar thrust strut hanging down. I shall try to post a photo' of the interior next week.
Rusty
Body almost finished now and maroon Wilton carpets are in. The inside is trimmed with ox-blood vinyl coming up over the cockpit coaming like a WW l aeroplane.
The rear axle thrust rods are still not done.The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed the Jaguar thrust strut hanging down. I shall try to post a photo' of the interior next week.
Rusty
Very interesting project.
Without knowing the engineering in the chassis and suspension your aim of doing 200mph is a very brave one.
Aero becomes very important above 150mph and you may find 650hp is not enough to crack 200. Charlie Broomfield found his Rover hits a wall at 165mph with his Meteor engine. He is supercharging his to get around 1000hp to force the Rover to 200mph.
High speed is not my aim. Pure fun is what I am aiming for.
My project has stalled a bit while I work on other things. I have a meeting on Monday with a firm that I am talking to with a view of manufacturing rocker covers for the Meteor that look more like the Merlin ones and replace the l/h (or both) covers.
Paul
Without knowing the engineering in the chassis and suspension your aim of doing 200mph is a very brave one.
Aero becomes very important above 150mph and you may find 650hp is not enough to crack 200. Charlie Broomfield found his Rover hits a wall at 165mph with his Meteor engine. He is supercharging his to get around 1000hp to force the Rover to 200mph.
High speed is not my aim. Pure fun is what I am aiming for.
My project has stalled a bit while I work on other things. I have a meeting on Monday with a firm that I am talking to with a view of manufacturing rocker covers for the Meteor that look more like the Merlin ones and replace the l/h (or both) covers.
Paul
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