Author Topic: Dent's crazy custom project - 1952 Austin A40 Somerset 'Special' (Read 16078 times)

Arthur Dent · « **Reply #40 on:** January 28, 2022, 12:43:18 pm »

Oh no I didn't take it as a dig at all. I am sure some old hot rodder will be grumpy about the all the foreign bits. This will be more of a cruiser. Even with 3x the stock hp likely most minivans will still be faster. Its probably well within the safety margin of the MG suspension. As for our colour maybe a British Racing Green? We'll see.

JohnnyMac · « **Reply #41 on:** January 28, 2022, 12:46:38 pm »

Quote from: Arthur Dent on January 28, 2022, 12:13:45 pm

22! Thanks guys. When do I get to quit my job and call myself an influencer?

Maybe I will do another video this weekend if I can mount the MG axle.

You got another subscriber. I think you need to up your hair and tattoo game before you can be considered an influencer.

BWII · « **Reply #42 on:** January 28, 2022, 01:20:47 pm »

Quote from: Arthur Dent on January 28, 2022, 11:18:25 am

Time to start up a YouTube channel for all the world to follow along with? I did but never really had a camera person. Plus I don't really know what I am doing. Just doing it and making it up as I go so it takes a while. I do have some videos though and apparently 20 subscribers. I'll post the A40s below but https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJ8x5qUMiPW-lh7OP-xRYQ

Well...I don't think you need to know 100% of what you're doing. Plenty of 1 person operations out there. Like this guy. Or this guy. Or this guy. Or this guy.

OK so really only the first guy, and mostly the 2nd guy. The other 2 use their SO's for camera duty a lot. But, you don't need a whole crew - not until you get to Throttle House levels of production quality.

As soon as I sign in to Google I'm going to subscribe too!

Also, I think the 4 banger Corolla engine's a good fit. With a manual, the thing will be a hoot. As much as we all love V8's you'll get so much more smiles per gallon that at $1.40+/l it might make the enjoyment all that much...more! Instead of a 1 day a weekend car, it can become a DD. Even if only 3 seasons.

Firm · « **Reply #43 on:** January 28, 2022, 01:56:49 pm »

I am very impressed with the body work - looks much better, and still flows very well IMO. Very much a British 'business man's coupe', and that's pretty cool. Good call on the engine, I think it'll be a good fit, personality wise, for what you're doing here.

Serniter · « **Reply #44 on:** January 28, 2022, 02:27:55 pm »

Quote from: Arthur Dent on January 28, 2022, 12:43:18 pm

Oh no I didn't take it as a dig at all. I am sure some old hot rodder will be grumpy about the all the foreign bits. This will be more of a cruiser. Even with 3x the stock hp likely most minivans will still be faster. Its probably well within the safety margin of the MG suspension. As for our colour maybe a British Racing Green? We'll see.

You get my vote for British Racing Green!

Gurgie · « **Reply #45 on:** January 28, 2022, 02:29:22 pm »

What a great project!!

What about adding a turbo to the engine? Or some old school porting & polishing of the head?

A supercharged motor from a R53 Mini would have gave you lots of get up & go, but then lotsa fab needed to make it work in a rear drive configuration.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

KD · « **Reply #46 on:** January 28, 2022, 03:05:46 pm »

27

Flathead screws!

blur911 · « **Reply #47 on:** January 28, 2022, 03:06:21 pm »

I was thinking a Gold Wing 1800 would be a cool donor motor for something light like this.
I have no idea about cost or packaging, but it probably wouldn't be cheap or easy.

Dante · « **Reply #48 on:** January 28, 2022, 03:31:55 pm »

What a cool project! Keep those videos coming as the work progresses.

+1 for color

28 subscribers now...

draghon · « **Reply #49 on:** January 28, 2022, 03:40:01 pm »

tpl · « **Reply #50 on:** January 28, 2022, 04:25:30 pm »

I last travelled in an A40 Somerset in December 1965. My boss (about to be ex) gave me, my girlfriend( about to be ex) my cat(lived for some years ) and all my possessions a lift from Brighton to my parents place for Xmas 65.

By early January 1966 I was a fresh young trainee in the computer programming business and girlfriend was no longer.

Bubba · « **Reply #51 on:** January 28, 2022, 05:26:02 pm »

Quote from: Firm on January 28, 2022, 01:56:49 pm

I am very impressed with the body work - looks much better, and still flows very well IMO. Very much a British 'business man's coupe', and that's pretty cool. Good call on the engine, I think it'll be a good fit, personality wise, for what you're doing here.

A 7/8ths version of one of these Plymouths.

Arthur Dent · « **Reply #52 on:** January 28, 2022, 05:37:31 pm »

My SO has no interest in being my camera person. I think I just heard her rolling her eyes.

I could drag one of the kids in or acquire a stand.

The body work turned out pretty well I think for someone who has never done this before.

I thought about a Goldwing engine (or similar big bike engine) but reading the very vague regulations around this I don't think I could get it through a "fallen out of registration system" inspection with a bike engine. Having a finished car I can't register would be heart breaking.

The engine could be swapped out later if I felt the need. The 2.2L Toyota will have plenty torque to haul around the 2,200 lbs or so.

Thanks for the Youtube adds - only 9,971 subscribers away from the juicy influencer gravy train now! The on the other hand almost 50% growth in one day sounds mighty impressive.

me_2 · « **Reply #53 on:** January 28, 2022, 05:43:13 pm »

Quote from: Bubba on January 27, 2022, 11:15:23 pm

Quote from: Firm on January 27, 2022, 10:29:34 pm
Amazing, I can't believe how solid that shell is. Can't wait to see what you do with it, particularly engine choice. I feel like an MGB motor or similar just wouldn't be exciting enough; maybe Miata or Toyota power? Or a little GM 2.8L, those seem to wedge into narrow british engine bays pretty well?

Buick V6.

It reminds me something I posted before, about a V6 project when I was young .... that never came to fruition.
https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=99251.msg1293664#msg1293664

My fist Saturn was dark green https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=105195.msg1468577#msg1468577

Quote from: Bubba on January 28, 2022, 05:26:02 pm

Quote from: Firm on January 28, 2022, 01:56:49 pm
I am very impressed with the body work - looks much better, and still flows very well IMO. Very much a British 'business man's coupe', and that's pretty cool. Good call on the engine, I think it'll be a good fit, personality wise, for what you're doing here.

A 7/8ths version of one of these Plymouths.

I second that (if not too late into the process)

30!

Fobroader · « **Reply #54 on:** January 28, 2022, 06:41:08 pm »

Make that 31 subs on the youtubes

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Blueprint · « **Reply #55 on:** January 28, 2022, 09:58:45 pm »

32!

And I called it right with the LBC comment on the diff drop

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #56 on:** January 29, 2022, 12:21:52 am »

34! Looks like the same Weber I had on the B2000

Blueprint · « **Reply #57 on:** January 29, 2022, 06:56:46 pm »

The early YT commenters who expected a full restoration may be in for a surprise

Nice welder work !

Arthur Dent · « **Reply #58 on:** February 28, 2022, 12:55:57 am »

Springs cleaned up and painted.

How to move and manipulate the heavy axle by yourself? How about a sketchy setup?

Lines up on one side but I am going to need new perches just half an inch over.

Seafoam · « **Reply #59 on:** February 28, 2022, 01:43:46 pm »

Now that you have those springs all cleaned up and painted they clash with the rest of the underside.

Any thoughts of cleaning up those areas as well ? Is there rust thru ? or can you POR-15 it ?