Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Axle Weights, MOG Vette, +8+

I took my '87 Plus 8 with the Bill Fink LS2 conversion to a truck stop and weighed it. With about 10 gallons of fuel (2/3 tank) and my 200# in the driver seat, the front axle registered 1140 pounds and the rear axle 1420 pounds. Total gross weight 2560 pounds. Without my 200 pounds, is that 2360 not about 400 pounds heavier than a stock Plus 8?

While we're talking +8+, does anybody know how to keep from baking one's feet once that engine is warmed up? Holy moley! I parked the car about 15 minutes ago and my feet are still throbbing.

Should I be concerned about cracking sounds when I hit a road irregularity at highway speed?

The Bill Fink conversion is wearing some 5-spoke alloy wheels. Previous owner had them powder coated black. I would so prefer the have the original Plus 8 style of wheel on this thing for the sake of dignity. Not sure of bolt patterns. The hub caps say "Team Dynamics." The rims have cast-in "England Rim," and "7JX16 CH." 5-bolt wheel. Tire sizes are 205/55 R16 front and 225/50 ZR16 rear. The car is running a Camaro axle (I presume narrowed), so perhaps it's a Chevy bolt pattern?

God, I love that ridiculous car!

Just a thought.....I drove around for ages toasting my toes before I realised I had the heater control to max.....

That's pretty funny, Peter. When I picked mine up in Vermont, I drove it all the way (in summer) to Colorado with the heat on max. Mine has the heat control knob hidden under the dash. I never even thought to look for one. That trip was a killer. I've since found that under the bonnet I can close the heat valve fully, even though it doesn't quite stroke all the way using the knob under the dash. Regardless, that 400 HP power plant makes things mighty toasty right through the firewall. Maybe if I run the fan without heat and with the top off, it might help. With the top on, however, the heat seems to have nowhere to go except into me, the unwilling vessel.

John, insulate you footwells, bulkhead and transmission tunnel with a heat insulation mat such as Dynamat or Agriemach product, great improvement on my +8

May be worth fitting some bonnet (hood) catch extenders to the rear bonnet catches if not already done.
They will leave the bonnet looking slightly odd, as the rear of the bonnet will sit out by an inch or so, allowing some underbonnet heat to escape.

My first visit to the U.S. was to Vermont in 1972. Didn't drive all the way to Colorado, but I visited Colorado Springs in 1996. We drove up Pike's Peak and got a flat tyre (rental car) on the way down. We went back the following year with some friends, and the exact same thing happened. Maybe it was my driving or just bad luck, or the road has improved since then.

did the same when i collected my plus 4 two hour drive home on a very hot day foot was burning did not know heater was on full !


Les

Any chance of some pictures under the hood of your Bill Fink special, I am a little in of you these are amazing machines. Dennis has one on the market here.

I just tough it out in my Plus 8 , in your climate I would consider putting a couple of those flip open vents in like the old cars had.

Mine is 2,072 Lbs dry.

About the cracking sound has the front suspension been greased lately.

Mine is 2090 lbs or 950 kilos wet with no driver or passenger. Surprised yours is not less than that Richard?


I too have a have a heat build up problem, which I have mitigated in several different ways:-

1 Fit an aluminium radiator with more water capacity

2 Fit bonnet extensions catches to allow heat to eascape from the under bonnet area.

3 Fit a fan override switch and use it to keep the temperature down before it reaches the 90s C

4 Do a complete engine and radiator flush (esp if the car has been standing for a while) to ensure that the cooling passages are not impeded by solids.

5 Use heat insulation beneath the leather upholstery and seal the gear lever and hand brake lever better.

Good luck

Just checked again Andy, it's quoted as 940Kgs but does not state dry (that was me) .. It is a page borrowed from BHM's site.

Just looked in my handbook and it states 940Kg (2,068lbs) with tools and petrol. I don't imagine it includes the lightweight alloys it's a pretty generic handbook I think.