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Help with restoration of series 2 Alpine

londoner

londoner

Gold Level Sponsor
Hi After dragging my series 2 Alpine around for about 8 years from storage unit to barn etc I have at last began my restoration. I am friends with the original owners son whos father used the car to race here in New Hampshire during the 60s ( he has great pictures). The car was parked in the barn sometime during 1976 with 9000 on the clock.
The engine was seized so I have removed it from the car and after days of heating oiling and pounding on the one piston that was stuck I managed to remove all the pistons. The stuck piston is toast but the other 3 are in great shape as is the crank shaft. The pistons are dished 4 ring items which appears to be non standard? They are also oversized at .040
The head is a aftermarket job I think? It has AM2 stamped on it. I am looking for any advice regarding rebuilding and buying parts also what to do with the electrical system (replace or try to re-use) How available are decent braking systems and suspension.
Many thanks
 
DanR

DanR

Diamond Level Sponsor
Suggest you contact Rick at Sunbeam Specialists in CA and/ or Curt at Classic Sunbeam New York They are great Guys to help obtain parts.


Here is Ricks:

Rick McLeod
Sunbeam Specialties, Inc.
765 E McGlincy Ln Ste A
Campbell, CA 95008

Phone: (408) 371-1642 Fax: (408) 371-8070

And Curt's: www.classicsunbeam.com
 
Last edited:
R

RootesRacer

Donation Time
londoner said:
Hi After dragging my series 2 Alpine around for about 8 years from storage unit to barn etc I have at last began my restoration. I am friends with the original owners son whos father used the car to race here in New Hampshire during the 60s ( he has great pictures). The car was parked in the barn sometime during 1976 with 9000 on the clock.
The engine was seized so I have removed it from the car and after days of heating oiling and pounding on the one piston that was stuck I managed to remove all the pistons. The stuck piston is toast but the other 3 are in great shape as is the crank shaft. The pistons are dished 4 ring items which appears to be non standard? They are also oversized at .040
The head is a aftermarket job I think? It has AM2 stamped on it. I am looking for any advice regarding rebuilding and buying parts also what to do with the electrical system (replace or try to re-use) How available are decent braking systems and suspension.
Many thanks
Click to expand...

4 ring pistons were OEM probably until the 1725 came out, though Ive seen 4 ring pistons in those too.
40 over means that the engine has been rebuilt at least twice or had a very catastrophic failure at one time. 40 over usually means the end of the road for a motor though 60 thou over pistons have been available.

There are no aftermarket rootes/sunbeam heads. AM2 sounds about like the right casting for 60 to 62 alpines. This is not to say that the head wasnt worked over for flow.
 
M

Mike Armstrong

Bronze Level Sponsor
With it's verifiable racing history and pictures it sounds like you should keep it as original as it was parked, if possible.

Can you post some pictures?
 
londoner

londoner

Gold Level Sponsor
Alpine series 2

Hi thanks for the advice and welcomes. I cleaned the bottom of the head today and found some damage. I am attaching a picture. Do any of you guys know if this head is toast by looking at the damage??
 

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R

RootesRacer

Donation Time
No its not toast.

The engine ate something and it bounced around for a bit in the cylinder.
Looks a bit larger than the normal piece of ring "bits".

Should clean up OK.

Check that the valves arent bent though.
 
P

Paul A

Alpine Registry Curator
Platinum Level Sponsor
londoner said:
Hi thanks for the advice and welcomes. I cleaned the bottom of the head today and found some damage. I am attaching a picture. Do any of you guys know if this head is toast by looking at the damage??
Click to expand...

reminds me of when Ol' Blue swallowed one of the 32/36 air filter mounting plate nuts. Damage to the head, piston and valves was visible, but a skim of the head had things back in order. New valves, new piston/rings. No damage to the cylinder wall. No problems afterward.
 
alpine_64

alpine_64

Donation Time
good news the water passages look good.. and much of the damage could be removed by doing the vizard mod to the chamber... the damage to the edge of the chamber towards the front though might take more than a skim to sort.. and that area is important... might have to weld it up a bit and re-cut little hard to tell with the photo.. but you want the chamber edge to be a clean profile.
 
londoner

londoner

Gold Level Sponsor
Series 2 Alpine

Many thanks for the help. What is a Vizard mod?? I am seeking out a machine shop that I can bring it to. The bottom end of the engine is in great condition, cylinder walls are smooth and the crank looks good too turns nice. I purchased a couple of matching cylinders NOS that came in original made in England box same brand AE as the others. Still having trouble finding rings though??
 
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