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Burtons never answered my email regards cost and availability of an alloy bell housing to fit my ex-Merkur T9 box to a Kent 1600. Today I slapped the Merkur bell against the back of my newly acquired Kent block. 4 of 6 holes do line up just fine including the two dowels. So only the top pair need to be lowered. Thinking of a couple of ways to fix that. For one I could weld in an aluminum bar lower down where it is needed and then cut away the unneeded uppermost portion of the Merkur bell. Or I could mill away part of the upper bell and fit a simple flat adapter plate up top? This probably has less risk of warping. I've been warned that the Merkur input is longer than the regular "E" box. I measure 1.23" from the end of the crank to the back of the Kent block. Anyone know what that distance would be for a 2.3? If I really do need more depth due to a longer input shaft perhaps a full diameter adapter can be made from flat plate. I have CNC tools, wonder if this would be of use to anyone else once I get it figured out?

Anyone here sharp on Ford Kent 1600 engines? Just bought a core 711M push rod 1600 to build up for my Marcos 1600 GT. In the U.S.A. these are usually found in Formula Ford's with strict limits on what may be done to them. My Marcos is a road car and I have no limits on the build beyond that. So piston size, valves, cam, intake (I already have a twin Weber intake) are all "Free" to be as I like. Looking to make around 125 HP at 5000' elevation. No one local to me has a clue as to how to proceed.

Seems this is the place to be for hot-rod british cars. Also on some other forums but few get into details of older Brit cars and how to improve them without essentially dropping the body on a new chassis. I'm modifying a Triumph GT-6+ with a Buick V6 engine, T5, and custom IRS. Currently looking at Merkur rear suspension components and custom "A" arms. Big project, should be fun. Also restoring a Marcos 1600 GT wood chassis car. Returning it to near original, last engine was a Mazzzzda rotary, and a horrid fit. Finally located a 711M 1600 cross-flow for it. My only major mod is fitting an ex-Merkur T9 trans. Have a few others, '68 El Camino hot rod getting Jag IRS, four speed, HOT engine. 1969 Land-Rover 88" with quaif diff's at both ends, Fairey OD, roll bar, etc. Have taken it all over and back. Been playing with British cars since I was 12, first car I ever bought was a Jag XK-140 MC drop-head. Lost it to flood damage before the restoration was complete, many years ago. Have had about every sort of Triumph, several Jags, Alfa, Morris, MG, Thames, really too many to list. Have done several kit cars, from old 50's "You build it" body shells to Noble P4's. Currently have the molds to the Tatum Crusader, plan to build one with a big bike engine. Have a fairly well equipped machine shop, may make more than one of certain items I need. Main project of the moment is the TR GT-6+. TRIumph + buICK = "Trick-6". Major issues are front and rear suspension redesign.