Update on MKB 752 E ( Chassis 123 )

[bobwhittaker]

Out today and put about 150 miles on the car , all on less than a tank of petrol ( I always carry a gallon just in case ) . Ambient temperature aout 15 c just right for driver and car ,no electric fan needed and the engine was pulling like a train considering it's relatively low spec of plus 40 Thou on the bore / Standard cam / !.5 forged rockers / Head ported and chambered but standard valve sizes / 40 DCOE and all put together by me with the basic block/bores/ pistons/rings/ crank/bearingsfrom the donor with nothing more than a full stip and clean and all back together with original components . The modified head came of another engine and was absolutely " Shot " I had hardedned seats fitted , new guides/valves and springs all done by Minisport of Padiham about 8 miles away . They know "A" series engines inside out and It was " Rolling Roaded " at 76 BHP at the flywheel by them after build , not a lot but kept on the boil just about enough . The type 9 gearbox conversion well worth the effort / cost over the midget 4 speed and with the 3.9 diff 14 x 165 tyres gives 22.3 mph / 1000 rpm in fifth gear . The car will cruise rock steady at 4000 rpm all day , you work it out ! ! !
To date I have put some 5500 -- 6000 miles on the car, 2500 with the midget box the rest with the Type 9 . Early days problems were the carbon faced midget clutch release bearing with two total disintegrations in 1800 miles and even a Peter Mays roller conversion wasn't right Type 9 now and no apparent problems .
I have built a variety of kit cars over the last 48 years and even last year I was running a TVR Giffith 500 alongside the XI as well as as a totaly scratch built car I completed in 1990 and still have . None have ever attracted the interest that the XI does from children upto people even older than myself and when told it is a copy of a 59 year old car built using a 47 year old donor vehicle and a 29 year old kit they are even more surprised particularly over " The Lines " of the car . I even had a genuine Porsche 356 FHC owner in his car follow me last Sunday till I finaly pulled over and he could stop and quiz me about the XI .
HAPPY DAYS !! As a final comment there is a " Real One " for sale in Clitheroe aout 6 miles
away £114,000.00

[biggles]

Great stuff!!

Sounds like our stables might be similar, with the crucial difference that my scratch build and my eleven aren't runners, and I sold my TVR (Chimaera) to make room for the XI!!!

Pics of MKB 752E and your scratch build are WAY overdue!!!!

[bobwhittaker]

Another good day Sunday 26 October , about 130 miles , ambient about 14 c and car going really well . Took the cross country route from Kirkby Lonsdale to Carnforth , hardly a vehicle on the road and it's well suited to an Eleven ( Or it could be that the car suits the road )
Met up with Alan Meadows from Carnforth in his early Eleven . This is an absolute little gem of a motorcar in , and I quote ," Dog Knob Red " built to a cracking specification and standard . It runs a 1600cc Fiat Miafiori engine and five speed box , with the engine giving something in the order of 140 BHP . If you ever see it give it a good looking at ! ! ! An enjoyable day . Bob Whittaker