14 replies to this topic

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Here's a great video of BMC testing their vehicles at high speed in the 1950s.

 

Their aim was to cover 20,000 miles at over 60 mph to test the engine bearings.  Great footage of the speedo needles on the larger models reading 80 or 90 whilst overtaking German cars.

 

I wonder what constant revs they were running on the A series vehicles at those speeds.

 

Most Morris Minor drivers barely get over 50 mph these days.

 

 

Here's my brother carrying out a similar test in the early nineties on the way back from Brighton

 

 

His car must have also covered 1000s of miles at those speeds and it was far from new when he got it.

[A-Cell]

We were still carrying out these tests upto the 1990's.
We used a dealership south of Frankfurt as a base. Test drivers worked shifts putting the miles on round the clock. Engineers monitoring the cars and feeding back issues to the factory worked days.
It was used to train young engineers and give them a controlled overseas environment to learn before they were let loose on the itinerant overseas hot and cold environment testing.
The high speed durability was for 50,000 miles. This was doubled to 100,000 miles with introduction of the K series.
The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

[Bobbins]

We were still carrying out these tests upto the 1990's.
We used a dealership south of Frankfurt as a base. Test drivers worked shifts putting the miles on round the clock. Engineers monitoring the cars and feeding back issues to the factory worked days.
It was used to train young engineers and give them a controlled overseas environment to learn before they were let loose on the itinerant overseas hot and cold environment testing.
The high speed durability was for 50,000 miles. This was doubled to 100,000 miles with introduction of the K series.
The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

 

 I wonder how many K-Series achieved 100,000 miles ....

[rich_959]

Depends how many head gaskets were on hand....

[DeadSquare]

That is an Austin Cambridge, which didn't have a A series engine.

 

It could be either an A40 Cambridge with the 1200 engine or an A50 with the 1500 B series engine.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

And what was that engine speed?

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

That is an Austin Cambridge, which didn't have a A series engine.

 

It could be either an A40 Cambridge with the 1200 engine or an A50 with the 1500 B series engine.

Indeed but if you watch the video you'll discover an Austin A30 or 35 and a Morris Minor are featured too.

[DeadSquare]

In the early part of the last century, my Grandfather Shippam bought a Hispano Suisa.

 

This was inspired by them nonchalantly putting it about, that  "In order to average 60 MPH from Paris to Budapest, it is necessary to drive at 100 MPH most of the way".

 

I have often wondered where, on the Chichester/Bognor road, he even managed 50 MPH.

[DeadSquare]

 

The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

And what was that engine speed?

 

A series valve bounce is 6,000 RPM

[A-Cell]

The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

And what was that engine speed?

The Maestro A series produced 68 bhp @ 5800 RPM

[A-Cell]

We were still carrying out these tests upto the 1990's.
We used a dealership south of Frankfurt as a base. Test drivers worked shifts putting the miles on round the clock. Engineers monitoring the cars and feeding back issues to the factory worked days.
It was used to train young engineers and give them a controlled overseas environment to learn before they were let loose on the itinerant overseas hot and cold environment testing.
The high speed durability was for 50,000 miles. This was doubled to 100,000 miles with introduction of the K series.
The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

I wonder how many K-Series achieved 100,000 miles ....

Google is available ;) https://forums.mg-ro...mileage-838337/

Edited by A-Cell, 23 May 2019 - 04:56 PM.

[surfblue]

Love those old pathe bmc films!
Hard to imagine an engine expected to be worn out after 20 - 25k miles at 60 mph!

[Broomer]

We were still carrying out these tests upto the 1990's.
We used a dealership south of Frankfurt as a base. Test drivers worked shifts putting the miles on round the clock. Engineers monitoring the cars and feeding back issues to the factory worked days.
It was used to train young engineers and give them a controlled overseas environment to learn before they were let loose on the itinerant overseas hot and cold environment testing.
The high speed durability was for 50,000 miles. This was doubled to 100,000 miles with introduction of the K series.
The A series in the Mastro was run with the 5th speed blanked off, so it had to be driven in 4th to ensure max engine speed.

 
 I wonder how many K-Series achieved 100,000 miles ....

Depends how many head gaskets were on hand....

Just out of curiosity how many K gaskets have you changed?
Genuine question as in 12 years of mini ownership, 8 of them with a K series I've changed no less than 5 A series head gaskets and a grand total of 0 K series...

[Broomer]

And if any post was going to tempt fate that was it.

[Bobbins]

Had a Freelander (1800K) and it blew its’ headgasket at 40,000 miles.
My Caterham (1900K) has had quite a few but all related to various other rebuilds. It’s heavily modded though and has fixed liners, if the liner heights in the K are corrected it’s pretty bomb proof and is a cracking engine.