LCGB Forums

Been away from here for months so hello again.
Just sold RB , it was a bit crazy.
After an easy ride , haven't bought anything yet but this is what I think I would like .

Imola 198 , 58/116 crank, sx200 box , 30 phbh , variotronic , decent box pipe .

Does this sound like it would work ? Would it pull fourth ? Thank you

Why the Imola kit, John? It seems like it might be as racey as your old RB.

If you want a smooth ride there are other “big” small-block options, like RT198, Casa 200 or even a couple of 186 choices. I am thinking something with piston port induction and perhaps only two transferswould give you what you request.

Discuss.....

I'm not sure why the imola Martin , it's just that holty rates them ( well the 186 ) not sure of the 198 , I rode one of his at the weekend a ser1 with a gori ( bit loud ) but it was beautiful with loads of punch .

For a Smooth Ride have a look at the GT kits 186 small block and 240 larger block can run both with box pipes and have a bit of punch

I want to cruise at 65 , get up hills and through wind , without RB drama .
I have bare small block casings , and want to get it right ,please suggest the set up I need , and I will dance at your wedding

John'65 wrote:I want to cruise at 65 , get up hills and through wind , without RB drama .
I have bare small block casings , and want to get it right ,please suggest the set up I need , and I will dance at your wedding

To late I’m already married unfortunately

Toddy wrote:For a Smooth Ride have a look at the GT kits 186 small block and 240 larger block can run both with box pipes and have a bit of punch

I'd second that. My GT186 went best with 30mm dellorto and bgm clubman, although I suspect 28mm would have been just as good but maybe a little better mid range and fuel consumption.

Initially I over-geared mine with 4.8 final drive, but went far better when I changed to 5.1.

The ancillotti and 25mm phbl I had at first didn't suit me either, but were nice and smooth for town pootling. Only made 9.5bhp in this guise.

Hey John, stop dicking around and join the big boys. TS1 all day, everyday!

Super x

I like dicking around , ts1s are for benders , and what ever I build , I will catch you , especially if you don't do something about your tiny tank x

RB's can be quite torquey, versatile cylinder kits, all depends on what running gear/pipe/ignition and how you set the cylinder up,

dickie wrote:

Toddy wrote:For a Smooth Ride have a look at the GT kits 186 small block and 240 larger block can run both with box pipes and have a bit of punch

I'd second that. My GT186 went best with 30mm dellorto and bgm clubman, although I suspect 28mm would have been just as good but maybe a little better mid range and fuel consumption.

Initially I over-geared mine with 4.8 final drive, but went far better when I changed to 5.1.

The ancillotti and 25mm phbl I had at first didn't suit me either, but were nice and smooth for town pootling. Only made 9.5bhp in this guise.

If John’s Clubman is, say, an early MB/bgm Clubman, a GT 186 should pull 4.82 and produce around 16 or 17bhp with a decent clutch and ignition. Mine easily pulls 4.9 but didn’t like 4.6. I run a PHBH30 too. The only issue he will have will be a sizeable packer but I have run a 115 conrod on mine and it is very smooth. I recently replaced the original conrod and replaced it with the same RD400 115mm.

If John wants a smooth powerful engine, without noticeable powerbands, I would recommend the GT186. I have never ridden an Imola so can’t comment on that.

Storkfoot wrote:

dickie wrote:

Toddy wrote:For a Smooth Ride have a look at the GT kits 186 small block and 240 larger block can run both with box pipes and have a bit of punch

I'd second that. My GT186 went best with 30mm dellorto and bgm clubman, although I suspect 28mm would have been just as good but maybe a little better mid range and fuel consumption.

Initially I over-geared mine with 4.8 final drive, but went far better when I changed to 5.1.

The ancillotti and 25mm phbl I had at first didn't suit me either, but were nice and smooth for town pootling. Only made 9.5bhp in this guise.

If John’s Clubman is, say, an early MB/bgm Clubman, a GT 186 should pull 4.82 and produce around 16 or 17bhp with a decent clutch and ignition. Mine easily pulls 4.9 but didn’t like 4.6. I run a PHBH30 too. The only issue he will have will be a sizeable packer but I have run a 115 conrod on mine and it is very smooth. I recently replaced the original conrod and replaced it with the same RD400 115mm.

If John wants a smooth powerful engine, without noticeable powerbands, I would recommend the GT186. I have never ridden an Imola so can’t comment on that.

Mine only made 14bhp with bgm v3 and phbh30. I thought I'd set it up badly but I checked it over and over and it was right. Then Chris sturgess tuned it and Darrell Taylor modified the head. Then it made 18bhp. Was lovely to ride.

Anyway I'm wondering if you used a porcupine head or something else?

Mine is a standard porcupine head.

On the point about wanting to cruise at 65mph, whilst the GT186 will hold that speed, mine is more comfortable cruising at a touch under 60 which it held for mile after mile going to Adria in 2017.

You should have kept the rb and put a quattrini on it, loads of torque and with the right pipe power kicks in at low revs