1275 Engine Tear Down for Barn Sprite Number Five

Today I take apart the 1275cc A-Series engine that is going into Barn Sprite #5. It has been sitting around for years outside the car on the ground. What will I find out about it when I take it apart?
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This Week With Cars - Episode 0332
#austinhealey #barnfind #classiccars

[@48920jeff]

Nice step by step. Can’t wait to see how the machining goes.

[@paulhall170]

Indeed, I can't wait to see a set of nice shiny bores, and a nice shiny head!

[@markdamm7715]

More updates on the Sprite. Thanks

[@stevepringle2295]

More please 😊

[@andrewclarke3744]

I love your programme and the respect you give to the lovely little bug-eyes. Thank-you.

[@johnoldonekanole602]

YES. More on the rebuild please, very cool.

[@Bigbluevwvan]

The A series is a fantastic engine i have always loved working on them we just got a 1958 Austin A35 that was sat since 1968 running like a dream with the 948cc in it

[@frglee]

Amazing to think the introduction of the BMC 'A' series engine was in 1951 - 72 years ago, and they were still being made up until 23 years back. Many are still in service in a large range of classic cars, and as is demonstrated here, they are well worth restoring and rebuilding, with all parts still available. In the UK many car mechanics cut their teeth on these engines in schools and colleges.

[@jimringo2569]

Thanks again Steve, total entertainment.

[@maxtheSax8]

Yes let's see this through to completion 👍🏼

[@aaronwilson1519]

Yes, more!

[@mundanestuff]

I like these videos, even if they're repeats because they demystify the engine. I need to rebuild three. The more of these types of videos you produce, the more excited I get to rebuild them. (Inherited my dad's 59 bugeye race car, and his 58 bugeye road car, both need lots of work, and bought a 59 bugeye road car at an estate auction that is a completed chassis, plus several engines, transmissions (including a Datsun 5 speed!) Differentials and almost everything needed to finish the 59, plus my dad's horde of parts included at least 8 transmissions, a dozen blocks and a few complete engines all that means I have work to do like rebuilding engines.)

[@markmurphy3578]

I’m enjoying this series. Keep it coming please!

[@peteredwards9147]

It would be great to see more on this rebuild and car up and running

[@fepatton]

I love these videos! I've gotten as far as buying the Haines guide for the Sprite/Midget, but I still have this fantasy of rebuilding one in my retirement. I would definitely need your videos as a reference! 🙂

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

Can’t get enough of this kind of stuff. I would love to have my own workshop and be able to do this kind of thing. Must be so satisfying to revive an old engine like this back to original working condition (probably better than original after the care and attention you put into such a rebuild!).

[@wandrinyew]

1275cc near and dear to my heart. Mine was in a '67 MG Midget MkII. Oil pressure was maxed on the guage because of paraffin in the oil return lines.

[@geraldharkness8830]

brilliant engine tear down

[@jlwilliams]

That wasn't nearly as scary as I had expected! Side note: Nice to see the GT6 up on the lift; hope that means it will be getting some video coverage soon!

[@bladerunner6282]

yes! ...more please.

[@Simon-ry1lw]

I really like these hands on video 👍

[@100CupsColombia]

Wonderfully compact example of British engineering! So funny that parallel twins are back in motorcycles Triumph and Norton were right all along!

[@makelikeatree1696]

I really enjoy engine tear down and rebuilds.

[@nadenolam8368]

Dang, wish I could see all your cars in person some day

[@johnclayden1670]

Fascinating as ever Steve: if only I'd had your knowledge when I was running around in Midgets and MGB's all those years ago .....

[@davidnelson6893]

Yes those are cool

[@tomk4199]

Looking forward to seeing this engine rebuilt to running along with barn sprite 5!

[@stephennickles7389]

You make it look so easy

[@MrDunky48]

This is where you are best at videos. I really enjoy watching you work on something older than you! My Dad always had firms cars so only did simple things like putting a drop of oil in the SU carb. He also used to top up the battery with distilled water, something none of us need to think about now. But that green rocker cover is so familiar, albeit a long time ago. I also had a very competent friend who worked in the Bank with me but did what you are doing on other people’s cars to earn extra money! He learned it from his Dad as I assume you did? His Dad was headmaster of a small school in England. Engineering is not limited to blue collar workers.

[@rogerkrey]

I would like to see more on this engine rebuild

[@sarahmccuen7251]

Looks optimistic

[@stephenricketts7764]

Always satisfying to watch an engine being stripped. I think it will be salvageable so that is good. I wonder if someone just dropped the sump oil filter when they removed it before then just put it back on? I cannot think of any other reason for it to be damaged like that. Thanks for another great video Steve. 👍👍

[@heckmacbuff]

These videos are just not long enough!

[@shauntvr4312]

Great video thanks 😊

[@fishaussie9112]

🇦🇺I enjoyed the tear down video

[@eggy1962]

Take the bore to 1360cc stage two head, nice webber carb…and you got a flyer A series, i drove a mini done like this …wow it flew……one caution was it broke a couple of crank pulleys.

[@craigwiest772]

Really enjoyed your video. What is your long term engine storage recommendation? What would you recommend for an engine that last ran 35 years ago?

[@jeffr0]

Can you have different size bores? Say, bore out the 2 bad ones and hone the two good ones?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

You can but that would unbalance the engine and is not a good idea for a long lasting engine. Dirt track racers do this to their race motors so that if someone claims it after the race they get a motor with different pistons in it.

[@GeraldMcCunn]

I have stripped down and rebuilt lots of these engines and always followed the rules religiously. I get the need for keeping the rods, pistons, bearings and valves in their correct position but why the push-rods? Any anomaly at either end would indicate a serious problem and the need for replacement but I have NEVER seen such an anomaly and yet there they always sit in holes through cardboard on the bench.Tappets wear to match cams, of course, but push-rods? What disaster have I been averting?

[@shakey2634]

Will you install sintered steel valve seats when you do the head?

[@MH-wg6bz]

too bad no one thought to fog the cylinders like you would on an outboard

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Probably would have been alright with just some tape over the holes in the head. Doesn’t take much to go a long way in preserving an engine.

[@stevefamfive]

These types of videos really are your sweet spot in video production.

[@parrotraiser6541]

Scruffy, but should be revivable.