gow589

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These people make a wiper system I used for both the MGB and Pantera:

https://www.specialtypowerwindows.com/

mgnostic

It looks very similar to the stock wiper system on the Sprites and Midgets. And probably any Austin-Morris of the late fifties and into the sixties. Mechanically it's kind of like a servo and a nyrod.

Combat, I have read that one of the reasons for such prevalent rust in 70's cars is that due to labor problems in Europe a lot of auto manufacturers ended up buying lower quality steel from China. I think the disaster of Mao's "Great Leap Forward" had passed but the Chinese steel was still no great shakes.

combatpigg

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gow.....I made a note about that and said "hmmmmm look at that..!".......as I watched the video about your Pantera.
Finding all the little bits and pieces for that car [like a complete body rubber kit] might be difficult.
The electric windows is a real problem solver compared to dealing with after market window cranks that don't work as good as OEM.

combatpigg

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Makes sense..!

I think a good sheet metal recipe would have some nickle to inhibit rust...like the Model A Fords have.
In the 1970s I've seen some American cars that went totally unprimered / unpainted where most people never look.
In Germany.... car companies couldn't get away with that
They have mandatory annual car inspections
The car is put up on a lift and every inch of it is inspected for any little signs of rust and mechanical issues.
Once a car becomes too far gone to be worth fixing then they'll sell it to an American GI.

gow589

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The Pantera I did upgrade the motor to an after market upgrade. Newer motors are just better that the ones they made in the 60's and early 70's. The MGB however, I don't know if it's on that video but I actually changed the regulator. The 64 regulator is particularly bad. It's made from flat stock that bends the gears so they don't work. I cut out the regulator and welded on a regulator from a 1999 Toyota truck which I got on ebay:

combatpigg

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Nice job with the conversion..!
Funny how the regulator you show looks like it was made in the same place where all the ford / dodge / GM regulators were made too.

combatpigg

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OK here we go...sorry about the annoying buzzing noise from the "yard light" that I forgot to turn off.......

gow589

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You've put a lot of work into that. That's cool. Ever thought of putting road course tires on it and taking it to a road course? BTW, the buzzing of the light was a neat effect; like being in the twilight zone!

combatpigg

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Thanks for the compliments..!
I'll remember to include the "buzzing effect" from now on..!

RICKSTUBBZ

I always love that sweet sound....(the engine, while the light was cool too)
and the Datsun doesn't look too bad either.

combatpigg

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Thanks Rick..!
For those who might be curious about the Blueprint Engines 347....it's a copy of the Ford Motorsports 415 HP Crate Engine...but it sells for much less.
Mine has non-adjustable rockers..which was a huge disappointment when I first discovered that. It wouldn't be a big issue..but the original valve job that came with the engine failed within 7000 miles and I had to take the heads to a local specialist to have then done correctly. Once this happens then I needed to get a rocker arm pedestal shim kit in order to re-establish the proper preload /rocker geometry on the hydraulic lifters.
The engine doesn't like to be revved past 5500 rpm. with the "proprietary" hydraulic roller cam.
The engine has the same basic bore stroke as a .040" bored Mopar 340...but I'm not sure about the rod length.
I wonder if this engine got the same love when Blueprint balanced it .....that my local Balancing Specialist would give it...?
If it was geuine FoMoCo...I wouldn't have these doubts...but you pay for that peace of mind.
It makes great power all the way to 5,500..but you really need to be "on the stick" to keep the first 2 shiftpoints from over-revving.
I need to get the MSD with rev-limiter.
I would not recommend this engine to a serious Weekend Warrior Bracket Racer...but for the way I use it ...it's OK.
I bought the long block engine about 5 years ago for about $4500 and It is shocking to see how much money it goes for now.

gow589

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Engines are fun. I built the nascar engine from a Virgin gm performance block specking all components. 18° aluminum heads, 12.5:1 compression. Even installed piston squirter. You can hear the car from the next town over. Never been in a car like that before. Going over a hill at Road Atlanta, at any speed, it spins the tires if you don't lift. Alot of fun!

combatpigg

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At 12.5 to 1 an engine takes on a special sound...and buckets of water coming out the pipes.
I had to look up what "PISTON SQUIRTERS" are.

gow589

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Gas certainly is not cheap. It's more than doubled in the last 2 years. A lot of new performance engines actually have piston squirters not. I also put an oil accumulator in it. It didn't need it for driving as it's a dry sump but it allows me to start oil pressure before starting the engine. I limited rpm at 7,000 rpm for longevity (hopefully at least some) but I think it would happily go to 9k.

gow589

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mgnostic

You had better have safe search turned on before you google "piston squirter". Back to automotive thoughts, I dimly remember rebuilding an engine for a Suzuki Sidekick and it seems there was an orifice on the rod that points a squirt of oil at the bottom of the piston. I've also dealt with rocker pedestal shims in a 948 cc Austin A series engine. Even with adjustable rocker arms you need the shims to maintain the correct geometry if you skim the heads or engine deck. It entertains me to see how much of the stuff I learned from ford and Chevy V8s applies to the little British engines.

combatpigg

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WOW..!!
Look at the mandrel bends in those frame rails and what looks like a massive anti-roll bar and a very stout looking steering box ..
I love seeing the Old SBC hasn't been totally replaced..
Pre oilers....my guess is they are standard with some really expensive industrial engines...?
How many guys does it take to remove the body...?

gow589

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It's actually an Accusump Acumulator. I close the valve when the engine is running and open it before I start. You can see it in the bottom of the photo. The car came from the Natmus museum at the Auborn Auction. It had been in the basement when it flooded and was very crusty. The body was cut off in 100 pieces and the new body hand formed piece by piece. This video shows the process:

gow589

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The fun part was, I had never done anything like that before! I was a virgin in the process! The end of the video was the first time on a track. The furthest I had driven the car was from the trailer to tech inspection!

combatpigg

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I had the same thought about what that search might return.....
Now gather around for my amazing engine story...about a 351W on a Friday Night at the 1/4 mile track [Bremerton Raceway]
At the end of another typical 13 second 105 mph run a puff of black smoke came out the hood of my 3400 pound Falcon Ranchero.
Shortly afterwards the engine started locking up and I barely made it back to the pit area before the engine totally seized.
The oil on the dipstick looked like metalflake paint.
I planned on calling AAA towing if this ever happened..but I still needed to get the car off the race track property before making the call. Problem is my "crew" was stuck in traffic after working overtime at his job.
A couple hours passed and as darkness settled I gave the starter a try..AND IT STARTED but it sounded like a rock crusher. I couldn't believe my luck and made a bee line to the exit..!
At first I thought I'd just drive to the freeway on ramp and park it..but my curiosity was too great So I kept going.
In overdrive the car was going 50 mph at about 1700 rpm IIRC.
Any way the miles just kept rolling by as I passed by Tacoma, Seattle, Everett and finally Arlington..but the biggest test was to see if THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD would make it up the hill to my house.
It seemed to really struggle but it made it all the way into the barn..HA HA..!
120 miles home.... 2 rods that shared the same journal had no bearing material left on them and were totally black and blue from all the heat.
Next day the Machinist let me know that 351s don't like as much timing as I was running..[he raced 351s for many years on oval track]

combatpigg

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That was a very cool look at the restoration..!
That's one part of the business that would keep those shops busy in between doing brand new builds.

gow589

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If I did it again, I would buy a later model already done. Nascars are cheap! Had a local classic car auction. A track ready big block car when for about 7K!

combatpigg

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WOW..!!
You can't even buy 1/2 a new Big Block crate engine for that ...lol

gow589

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exactly!

combatpigg

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Next time you hear someone say..."I buy ARFs because I don't have any time to build a kit and most kits are too much work".......show him this project ......