supercharger

[les]

There's what looks like a nice Shorrocks on ebay---item 351252794634, I know there has been some interest here in the past. Not inexpensive though!

[bmcecosse]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351252794634? ... 26_rdc%3D1
And so very much more desirable when they list all the part numbers..... I suppose it will 'always' be worth that money - as long as it doesn't seize !!

[irmscher]

Sold today for £1860 + £25 postage someone must be insane

[Chipper]

Indeed. That sort of money could buy you a better engine to begin with, or even a whole faster car!

[philthehill]

I do not know about insane more like a person who knows that the value will only keep going up.
If you start adding up the cost of the parts to improve the power of a normally aspirated engine whilst retaining reliability you will not get much change out of £1.86k.

[tysonn]

Phil while I arent in any way questioning your knowledge can you explain what the supercharger can do vs nearly 2 grand spent getting a similar amount of power/reliability in other ways?
Mick

[Chipper]

Well, it will make an interesting whine for a start...

[philthehill]

Mick
Whilst you may be able to buy a bigger engine say 1275cc it will not put out as much power throughout the rev range as it would if the Shorrocks CB75 super charger was fitted.
The supercharger as you know will fill the combustion chamber more completely than a normally aspirated engine at all revs and the more you can get into the cylinder the bigger the bang and the bigger the bang the more power generated.
A basic 1275cc engine in unknown condition will cost these days in the region of £250 - £350. If it is a MG Midget especially a standard bore thick flange 1275cc Midget block - the block will fetch a minimum of £250 (I have just sold one for £280) not withstanding the rest of the parts. Midget engines in good condition are in the region of £500 - £700 dependent upon condition.
These are a selection of the minimum parts I would expect to fit to a normally aspirated engine to increase its power and keep its reliability:-
Road/Rally head - Mini Spares MSE6........................£640.00.
Camshaft 286 - Mini Spares...................................£184.00
Cam followers - Mini Spares.................................. £13.04
Duplex - Mini Spares...........................................£28.86
HIF38 SU carb - 'e' bay currently.............................£40.00
Inlet manifold - 'e' bay currently.............................£15.00
LCB ex manifold - 'e' bay currently...........................£92.00
Uprated clutch...................................................£150.00
Distributer to suit camshaft....................................£60.00
Gaskets and consumables.......................................£30.00
Those are the parts that spring to mind and of course it may need shells, rings ect and so on to keep it reliable.
The cost soon start to add up.
You may be able to get the parts off 'e' bay cheaper but unless you know the quality you may be buying a pup.
A de-compression plate to reduce the overall compression may be needed if the supercharger is fitted as too much pressure is as bad as not enough pressure.
Fitting a supercharger is an easy way to gain instant power but the engine must be able to withstand the extra cylinder charging and that is where the reliability comes into it.
When I worked in the BMC garage we supplied a new 970S Mini Cooper fitted with CB75 supercharger. Whilst the power was superb it was not that reliable so the supercharger was soon removed.
Regarding the w(h)ine mines a red.
Phil

[panky]

I just love the idea of a Shorrocks

[tysonn]

Cheers Phil.Wow thats some list!

[bmcecosse]

Indeed - but many of these parts will also be needed with a supercharger...if you want reliability. It's very much less expensive to use a modern supercharger (eg Eaton) if that's the way you decide to go..

[Chipper]

Indeed, and why not go for one of the BMW K100 twin-cam motorbike heads while you're at it - you can buy a kit on E-bay for under £250:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-cylinder ... 1481153431

[philthehill]

Maurice
I think that the missing key word is 'from'.
Phi

[Longdog]

I used to have a Shorrocks supercharged 1275 convertible and it was a joy to drive. The low down torque was impressive and as you wound up the revs it was like there were two engines running under the bonnet. It surprised a good many modern cars as it went sailing by I guess that is the price you have to pay for rarity, 20 years or so ago I paid £650.00 for mine so it probably isn't that far off classic car inflation, which of course has nothing to do with ordinary inflation.