Climax Engine (was: Re: fergussen history) (no audi content)

[quinn@hns.com]

Various people wrote:

>>> This engine has a history as long and proud as the I5.  I think it was
>>> originally developed for fork-lift trucks.  I used to work on the
>>> performance versions quite a lot in my 'first' mechanical career - the
>>> 'second' being entirely devoted to I5s.
>
>> Wrong answer there Phil the Coventry-Climax engine was designed as a
Water
>> pump engine for fighting fires during WWII.
>
>Yes, so Dave posted.  It certainly _was_ used in fork lift trucks,
>though, because I did a head rebuild on one in the 1960s.

Also used in 850/875cc versions in the Hillman Imp (& Sunbeam etc
equivs).  Funny, I always thought the engine was originally a
1.5 litre V8, cut in half for the Imp.  I was suprised to hear of
a 2.5 litre 4 cyl version (ealier in this thread).  I did a top-end
overhaul of my mum's Imp when I was a teenager and I wouldn't have
thought there was enough block to bore-out THAT much (must've used
a heavier block casting).  The car only had 40-50K miles on it when
I took the head off (about 8yrs old) but it was coked-up a WHOLE
bunch.  Took me ages to 'chip' it all off & had to re-grind the
valves (by hand) to boot.

Pretty neat engine though.  OHV, all-aluminium, solid (shim) valve
adjusters, etc.

-Mark Quinn