Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of all Rootes Group Vehicles
Ford lovers have, for years, been trying to find ways to make the small block (289/302) Ford engines fit into the confines of early vehicle engine compartments without butchering the firewall. The most obvious and often used approach has been to shorten the stock water pump, and while this does work, it leaves the car owner with he distinct disadvantage of not being able to buy an “over-the counter” replacement.
by Bob Pennell When the tanks were removed from the car, there had been no leaks. Upon inspection, there appeared to be only superficial rusting on the bottom. So, I wire brushed and sanded to bare metal, then metal prepped before priming and painting. The interiors were coated thoroughly with Bill Hirsch gas tank sealer, (more…)
by Steve Finberg As much as it surprises most U.S. mechanics, the Limeys painted the insides of our gas tanks! This paint is now starting to flake off (at least on my 3 cars and several others in New England). Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. Everyone with whom I have talked thinks (more…)
from the June 1978 RootesReview In September, 1964, the semi-popular Sunbeam Alpine received a massive dose of performance adrenalin. Under the careful tutelage of Carroll Shelby, the Alpine entered the scene as a conservative, suburban Cobra. Sporting a shiny new, small block 260 cid Ford V-8, the Sunbeam Tiger was born and Americans gobbled them (more…)
Carburetion – Street Driving Modification Most performance increases are accompanied by a compromise somewhere along the line. This modification is probably an exception because (unless you put your foot on it) gas mileage should not change. There are several manifolds available for the Ford 260/289. Most are raised higher than the cast iron manifold that (more…)
by Gary Durborow I would like to tell you about a few do’s and don’ts that I have to explain almost daily to customers at the shop. Each is carried out easily and, although it may cost you more initially, can save you tenfold later. When you change the engine oil, change the oil filter. (more…)
author unknown If you have a dual carb-equipped car such as an Alpine I through III, an Alpine V or an Alpine GT, there might be some fine points you have missed in the course of tune-ups. Dual carbs are no great secret: all they take is some care and TLC. But if you neglect (more…)
by Rich Bakula Within the past year, I successfully completed another project. It was the restoration of my air cleaner’s metal housing which some of the TE/AE United V attendees may have seen and mistaken as original. The original paint was peeling miserably, but I had an excellent sample of original finish. I found a (more…)
by John Logan Sr. in the December 1997 RootesReview If making a major improvement in the driving character of your Tiger takes precedence over originality, consider replacing the Ford four speed top loader with the Borg Warner overdrive T5 five-speed transmission from a 5.0 L Mustang. What are the Advantages? 1. Lower engine RPM If (more…)
by Phil Lindsay In order to better cope with the California gas lines, I have installed an extra gas tank in my Tiger. My additional tank comes from the early series Alpine I or II. The tank is a horizontal unit, which holds approximately 12 gallons and can be mounted in the flat region of (more…)