TA Pistons

[Brian Rainbow]

Alan & Victoria, you can still get various oversize TA piston sets from the MG Octagon Car Club at a reasonable price, also Tom Robertson has several sets for sale, he runs a business called Coasting Ltd specialising in supplying brake components, however amongst his stock at Stoneleigh were 6 or 7 sets of new TA pistons in various sizes. He offered them to me at a reasonable price, however I have a new set of plus 20 and plus 40 so didn't take up his offer... The only people who make new TA pistons (to original spec) is some Aussie outfit (J&P I believe), however a set of there pistons were over 240, compared to about 80 from Octagon Car Club... Best wishes, Brian Rainbow Leamington Spa, U.K. TA2551 and PA0777

[Frank O_ The Mountain]

In a message dated 10/23/01 12:14:14 Pacific Daylight Time, brian@brianjrainbow.free-online.co.uk writes: > OCC good resource. JP pistons (http://www.jp.com.au/JPPistons.html) also recommended. I bought a set of SA pistons from them....very favorable prices as Oz $ in the tank relative to US$ !! Terry

[Carlyle Merritt]

I am also going to be in the process of a rebuild of a TA engine - Do you have an aprox cost for that type of conversion? Carlyle Merritt carlyle@merritt-computer.com

----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Grunau cgrunau@pathcom.com> To: Chip Old fold@bcpl.net>; MG-TABC mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:06 PM Subject: RE: [mg-tabc] TA Pistons > The rods and crank are special made for the XPAG engine. I use a special > crankshaft and connecting rods made by Phoenix in England. The crank has > oversize rod journals ( 1.875" diameter ) to accept 5 main bearing MGB > connecting rod bearings and the rods are also oversized with MGB lower ends > and cap bolts. This gives the advantage of a stronger, stiffer crankshaft > and also the use of modern steel backed copper lead with lead indium > precision plated overlay rod bearings. The small end of the rod is full > floating with an 18 mm wrist pin. > Bob Grunau. > > On Tue, 23 Oct 2001, Robert Grunau wrote: > > > XPEG rods are considered too heavy and can result in rod bearing > > failure at high RPM due to increased centrifugal forces. Also the > > wrist pin clamp bolt is considered a weakness. I use a modern full > > floating connecting rod which does away with the little end clamp bolt > > and uses modern cap screws on the lower end. If using a good > > crankshaft, rev limit of the engine is raised to about as high as you > > want to go, at least as far as the rods and crank are concerned. > > Are the rods special-made for the XPAG, or are they adapted from some > modern engine? What's the source? > > -- > Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 > Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E > fold@bcpl.net > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

[Robert Grunau]

I have ordered several sets of XPAG crank and rod assemblies with MGB bearings for race TC engines. These cost 900 GBPounds for the crank, another 600 GBPounds for the rods. TA crank would be slightly more, probably 1000 GBpounds, rods likely the same as XPAG or possibly slightly more. However, the rods would come with replaceable modern shell bearings and are much stronger and this is a definite advantage. Also no need to shop peen, resize or replace bolts on old rods so additional savings here as well. So the bottom line, buying new rods is not quite so expensive when you consider all the expenses of re-using and re-furbishing old rods. If sufficient interest shown, I am prepared to co-ordinate a multiple set purchase. Please let me know off list if interested. Almost forgot, freight would be extra to above estimated costs. Regards, Bob Grunau I am also going to be in the process of a rebuild of a TA engine - Do you have an aprox cost for that type of conversion? Carlyle Merritt carlyle@merritt-computer.com

> The rods and crank are special made for the XPAG engine. I use a special > crankshaft and connecting rods made by Phoenix in England. The crank has > oversize rod journals ( 1.875" diameter ) to accept 5 main bearing MGB > connecting rod bearings and the rods are also oversized with MGB lower

ends

> and cap bolts. This gives the advantage of a stronger, stiffer crankshaft > and also the use of modern steel backed copper lead with lead indium > precision plated overlay rod bearings. The small end of the rod is full > floating with an 18 mm wrist pin. > Bob Grunau. > > On Tue, 23 Oct 2001, Robert Grunau wrote: > > > XPEG rods are considered too heavy and can result in rod bearing > > failure at high RPM due to increased centrifugal forces. Also the > > wrist pin clamp bolt is considered a weakness. I use a modern full > > floating connecting rod which does away with the little end clamp bolt > > and uses modern cap screws on the lower end. If using a good > > crankshaft, rev limit of the engine is raised to about as high as you > > want to go, at least as far as the rods and crank are concerned. > > Are the rods special-made for the XPAG, or are they adapted from some > modern engine? What's the source? > > -- > Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 > Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E > fold@bcpl.net > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Jeff & Merryl Redman]

G'day Chip. I'm with Robert re TF rods. I've seen a number which have let go at the little end. The result looks like a grenade has gone off in the block. Locally we have a firm - ARGO Engineering - builders of bulletproof off-shore racing engines. They can custom make rods for TC's - usually to suit fully-floating gudgeon pins. Just about everyone here running XPA(E)G engines in Historic Racing in Australia swear by them. Alternatively there's Carillo. None of this is cheap. But if things go bang........what then is cheap? Contact me if you want more details Regards Jeff TC3306

----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Old" fold@bcpl.net> To: "MG-TABC" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 11:58 PM Subject: RE: [mg-tabc] TA Pistons > On Tue, 23 Oct 2001, Robert Grunau wrote: > > > XPEG rods are considered too heavy and can result in rod bearing > > failure at high RPM due to increased centrifugal forces. Also the > > wrist pin clamp bolt is considered a weakness. I use a modern full > > floating connecting rod which does away with the little end clamp bolt > > and uses modern cap screws on the lower end. If using a good > > crankshaft, rev limit of the engine is raised to about as high as you > > want to go, at least as far as the rods and crank are concerned. > > Are the rods special-made for the XPAG, or are they adapted from some > modern engine? What's the source? > > -- > Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 > Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E > fold@bcpl.net > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[Monoxidemanor@aol.com]

Dear Morris Mavens: We have rebuilt my original MPJG block to perfection and ordered a counterbalanced crankshaft and billet conrods from Phoenix Crankshafts. We will use TD bearings for the mains and Phoenix uses MGB bearings for the big ends thus getting away from "slinging the babbitt." Phoenix does not provide pistons. They state that the standard rod length is 190 mm and the little ends are 16 mm dia. and bushed for fully floating pin. They will change any rod dimension we wish since they are custom made and balanced. Does anyone have a source for pistons under this set up? Surely someone on the list, or someone they know, is running a similar TA/MPJG setup. Thanks. Kindest regards, Alan Campbell

[joecurto@aol.com]

Try Vegnolia or Arias in California, they make custom forged racing pistons to spec. Joe

[Monoxidemanor@aol.com]

Dear Nuffield Nuts: I recently inquired from the list if anyone knew of a source for pistons for a TA (MPJG engine). The responses I received directed me to have them custom made which would run between $600 - $800 US. I wish to report that Brown & Gammons stated that they can supply a set of AE pistons for 154 pounds or JP pistons for 173 pounds. We are familiar with AE but not JP. Can anyone on the list have any experience with either? Thanks. Yours in happy motoring Alan Campbell Bell Canyon, California

[Skip Kelsey]

Alan: The "JP" pistons are very good quality. I have a lot of my piston stock mfg. by The JP piston Co. in Australia. You wont go wrong with their products. They are on the Web, and easy to find with a search.You will find "MIke" a very nice fellow to deal with. Skip Kelsey.............................................. At 09:46 PM 2/17/02 -0500, Monoxidemanor@aol.com wrote:

>Dear Nuffield Nuts: > >I recently inquired from the list if anyone knew of a source for pistons for >a TA (MPJG engine). The responses I received directed me to have them custom >made which would run between $600 - $800 US. I wish to report that Brown & >Gammons stated that they can supply a set of AE pistons for 154 pounds or JP >pistons for 173 pounds. We are familiar with AE but not JP. Can anyone on the >list have any experience with either? Thanks. > >Yours in happy motoring > >Alan Campbell >Bell Canyon, California > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Dave & Diana Dwyer]

Alan I've just been talking to JP Pistons in Adelaide, South Australia re pistons for a PA engine. Their phone number is 618-8261-7222 (plus your overseas dialout). I'll find out if they have email, etc and advise the list. Regards Dave Dwyer J2, TA, TC