Rootes Group Cars

Jerry,
Thank you, Sean did a good job. Having driven my Alpine with 251 RWHP and Torques I cannot imagine what 700 RWHP is like on this short coupled car :)
I am still adjusting to having relocated to Albuquerque, the trials and tribulations of wind and dust...
I have installed a Rosewood dash into my Alpine since having tuned.
I am thinking about selling her...





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/2015 01:23PM by bashby.

Bill your car is awesome, why would you want to sell it?
Would you ever get the money you put into it?

Cheers
Byron

Byron,
I am certain not even close to the $$$$$ spent. Convertible is not really suited for Albuquerque, between the wind dust etc. But, I do like her and she is fun, unusual and what I wanted to build (not initially though as I was first considering a TR6 with a Nissan VQ motor..).

It sounds like Albuquerque has a similar climate to Calgary Alberta. We don't get the heat you would get but it is windy and dusty.
Another option you can consider to make the Sunbeam work is get a hardtop. The only caveat is you would then need air conditioning as the interior would get quite toasty. I am not sure if you would have room under the hood for AC.
I am a TR6 guy and they do have large engine bays. TR6's also look really good with the factory hardtop.
If you do go to a TR6 I know it will be built to the same quality as your Sunbeam.

Cheers
Byron

Byron,
Well, we do not have the cold or snow (which I miss) as you do in Calgary. I have the factory steel hardtop for the car but, there is no room under the hood for AC without substantial modifications.
Thanks, I do get a bit carried away, over build, over do...
Regards,
-Bill

Nice picture Bill.
What else is happening?

Cheers
Byron

Thanks Byron, older photo (rear axle is not right) but nice photo. Drove her much more in CO than here in NM the dirt, wind and all... She still is a blast to drive and thinking about finishing her out with side windows, electronic air valve as a light flywheel and no OEM air valve can make returning to idle after a fast lift iffy, remake the fuel cell out of SS with baffles and an in-tank Aeromotive Phantom pump (the external Walbro 225 does the job but, it is very noisy). just $$$$ right?
The paint has weathered the 4-years well a few issues but as she is a driver I am alright with it.
Funny how at first you are shocked with the acceleration then not...
One plus with a turbo I do not really have to worry about breaking the rear-end loose as it takes a little to build boost even with 4.10:1 gears, a light flywheel, cams etc. still have to keep-in-mind that the suspension while "new" is still based on old technology with a "me" rear suspension design...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2016 10:37PM by bashby.

Changed out the rear coil over springs from 275#/in to 175#/in. I think it is much better, not as nervous on the road and easier on my old back.

That is quite a substantial change in spring stiffness.
I think that with these light cars real stiff suspension is good for the race track but is too much for normal driving conditions.
When I first got my TR6 I took it to a local shop to get some work done on it to fix some deficiencies that came up in the inspection report.
This shop went whole hog and replaced the rear springs saying they were old and tired.
They replaced them with up-rated springs that made the rear-end sit too high.
I did not like the look so eventually I cut them down by an inch and the car looked a lot better.
The downside is that they are even stiffer.
My 2003 Honda Civic SIR handles like a dream and does not have super stiff springs.
I think modern technology has enabled the car manufacturers to build good handling cars without having to resort to super stiff spring rates.

Cheers
Byron

Yes, it is. The front was a calculation the rear was a guess...
Bill Guzman sells a coil over kit for the MGB which I think comes with 150#/in, read some online, Mustang forums, z-car forums etc. and decided to go with these; she rides, corners and drives well.

I have put her up for sale on Ebay...
[www.ebay.com]
feel free to ask questions if you are interested.

Bill once this sells are you going to do another car that works better for life in New Mexico?
You should get some decent bids on this car as it it done up so nicely.
Another real good venue for selling cars like this these days is thru Bring a Trailer.

Cheers
Byron

She is on "Bring a Trailer"

She has been sold :( may her new owner enjoy her