Re: A couple of Rootes questions

What timing chain adjuster? ;-)

True, but not all engines run in the same direction, so others must manage it.

All in all, more expensive [1] than just adding one more transfer gear, as placing the gearbox in the sump means you need a gear-train anyway - to get the power down to the gearbox IYSWIM.

It was the Tilling-Stevens plant the TS3 engine was produced there I think and the PB van

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This is true but I am told it was at the request of Lord Rootees Interesting the Imp Sport rides 2 inches lower than the MK1 and didn't have problems with C & U regs.

Bigger engines were possible laying aside the wet liner 998 and other much bigger engines built for racing the Sunbeam 930 used the more or less same block with bigger cast in liners and a longer stroke version were built and tested in various protypes (including Avengers).

The real problem was Chrysler refused to invest in new castings. In its original form the Imp engines was detuned for insurance reasons, even in the early 70s when the sprt cam was fitted to meet emmission requirements the carb venturi was reduced in dia to bring power back down to the original level.

Power outputs were

Intresting to note the 875 Imp Sport and 932cc Sunbeam engine were as almost powerfull as the A seies in a the Mini 1275GT

Strangly build actual quality was pretty good although we did come across a case of industrial sabotage on one new Imp --- a production plug deliberately insertetd into an oil gallery. The real quality problems came from a lack of willingness to invest in cures for problems they knew how to fix.

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Yes the key difference was the block the Coventry Climax was sand cast with a conventional block face -- the Imp used an open deck design not disimilar to the Renault 16 and Rover K series.