Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

People tell me that I must slow down now that I am over 80. I suppose, that must have something to do with why it has taken almost a day and a half to take the motor & gearbox out of the car and have the head and sump removed.

Tomorrow I can take the gearbox off and turn the motor over (upside down) so I can remove the crankshaft and then the con-rods and pistons. Until someone can convince me otherwise I suspect the petrol I had to buy at some out of the way service stations during out ten day trip to central New South Wales was a long way from the normal 98/100 octane fuel that the Lagonda usually uses. I had a similar problen several years ago after doing a long trip using out of the way petrol stops. Many have just the one pump and what comes out of the hosepipe is what you get. 

Bj.

12-13-2016

I don't think many of you will have seen these. For what is as standard an 1100cc car and in the case of just a handful 1500cc "specials' considering that these were made in 1934 at a time when Singer Le Mans, MG P types and awhole rash of lesser cars had two main bearing crankshafts said to be made from bent wire, there is no comparison. In my cars engine the connecting rods look remarkably similar to 4.2 Litre XJ Six rods mainly because they are the same. In the past 80+ years there is no record of a crankshaft breaking in a Lagonda Rapier engine.

One look should explain this.

Bernie j.

1 person likes this

Hello Paul

While I would sooner not to have to do it, I quite enjoy taking the engine apart, everything is so nicely made. I suppose in the 35+ years I have owned Lagonda Rapiers I must have rebuilt these engines a dozen or more times and I never complain. All the cars except one, a Drop Head Coupe, have been used in competitive Motor-sport, Circuit racing, Hill Climbs and Sprints, The present one has also done a lot of miles in (high-speed) Touring both in Australia and Europe. While I was driving the single seat racing car it had a engine freshen up about once per year.

Bernie j.