June 2001

The premiere event for Tigers East / Alpines East every year is the United. It is held at various venues around the East and Central parts of the US. This year it is in St. Louis for the first time. It promises to be one hack of an event, as they all are. Concours, autocross, tech sessions, banquet, camaraderie at the hospitality suite … all with the local color of the Mid West. We will also have some unique St. Louis tours and visits to local points of interest. It is on October 4-7, 2001. Be sure to mark your calendar and register early. More information is available on our website (TEAE.org) under the Events tab. The location is a bit far for some of us, but don't let that discourage you. Drive that Sunbeam and see you in St. Louis.

Also coming up is the Annual Chesapeake Region Crab Feast on Saturday, 8 September. It will be at the ten-acre waterfront property of our Regional Rep and Board Member, Tom Calvert. There is plenty of room for the cars and other activities and overnight camping as well. If you haven't tried crab this way, fresh out of the steamer, you need to. It is one good time!

Progress on the 347 stroker motor and 5-speed installation has been going well. I took a bit of time off to go on a motorcycle tour from Boston to Key West …. but that is another story. Only a couple of glitches in an otherwise smooth installation. The first problem was that the engine builder installed a main cap girdle to make the bottom end stronger and an oil pan with a windage tray. Both good things. Unfortunately, even though I had told him a number of times that the Tiger had a front dipstick, these parts were designed for a side dipstick. Hence, the dipstick hit the girdle and windage tray. Off came the oil pan and a little machine work made a pathway for the oil dipstick to be able to actually make it to the oil! 

I transferred the water pump, intake manifold, distributor and ancillary pieces to the stroker off of the old 302, added a new clutch and mated up the new 5-speed. I then took the opportunity to rebuild the brake and clutch master cylinders, the brake booster and the clutch slave cylinder. I have also been working on the steering assemblies to see why I have a "sticky" section of the steering just off center. Everything appears fine except the steering u-joints are a bit tight, so new ones are coming.
I have always had an electric fan to augment the cooling at idle. I got a great tip from John Webber about mounting the fan on brackets that bolt to the threaded holes next to each of the four radiator/shroud mounting holes. Previously, the fan was mounted directly to the front of the radiator. What a great idea and it makes taking the radiator out much easier.

As of the writing of this column, the engine and trans are in the car awaiting the installation of the carbs, headers, generator, starter, radiator, and the connecting of the fuel, electrics, exhaust, speedo, etc. The first drive is close at hand. By the way, have I mentioned that the 302 is for sale?

There are a bunch of Sunbeam and other British car events coming up. Be there!