The revival of 650143R, 1970 with TS.

[Richard48Y]

I have sent an Email to CatCams seeking basic operating range and shipping cost.
Hope to hear from them soon.
They have other parts that may be useful as well.
They list a US outlet but that company appears to only be doing BMW parts.
Yah, patience, not my strong suit these days. 

[Richard48Y]

My S2 is clearly due for restoration.
Found the right side outer U-Joint to be loose.
Going to take it to the bare frame and back.
Hoping the buyer for my TR6 project car comes through this week.

[BDA]

Good choice to go frame up, Too many of these cars were butchered before we get to them. It's a lot of work but you'll know everything has been taken care of and it will be done to your satisfaction.

[Richard48Y]

There are too many critical items I fear may be about to become NLA.
Not having much luck with purchase enquiries as several emails are going unanswered. 
Not assuming free shipping from anyone, so do need a full quote before purchase.

[Richard48Y]

Cat Cams answered.
"You can expect a 2500-6500rpm powerband with #5500525".

This is for a TS head engine and twin 40 DCOE's, headers.
I know lower red-line means longer life all else being equal.
Salv Sacco suggest this cam will get me to 125 HP with good low-end torque.
But I still wonder if I might be happier with the next step up?

Not planning to do much if any city traffic, but an occasional Hill-Climb is hoped for.
I know original was only 87 HP, so I suppose 125 HP should be plenty.
But I know I am as greedy for HP as anyone else.
Anyone here have an about 125 HP Renault powered car?
Sufficient power for fast road/occasional light competition?

[jbcollier]

I have about a 130 hp crossflow and my Volvo wagon will kick its ass every time.  Don't get me wrong but be realistic.  You aren't going to be cleaning the clocks of any moms hauling half the soccer team in their 300hp German/Japanese wunderkind SUVs.  Build an engine that is enjoyable on the street and keep some low down torque.

[Richard48Y]

Of course not for strait-line acceleration.
More interested in coming out of the corner and maybe not having to shift as often due to higher RPM band.

So soccer mom's aside, how is 130 HP to drive?

[GavinT]

If my hill climb experience is anything to go by, the appalling gap between 2nd and 3rd gears is much more important than a few extra revs.
My car was perhaps 120HP on a good day and the launch at start meant you couldn't take your hand off the gearstick before 2nd was needed.

On a track, it get's the power down so well, the main issue is to ensure you have a plan to get around the guy in front of you on the grid when the flag drops.
With that said, I recall starting alongside a mate with his 1860cc Alpine A110 on slicks and he made me look like I was standing still.

[jbcollier]

It's fun.  0-60 in the high 7s/low 8s.  In other words, 60s quick and enjoyable on the road.  Absolutely brilliant on the highway.  With there still being low down torque, it just romps up hills.

You have, however, spotted the fly in the ointment: the transaxle ratios.  336/352 have a hole between 2nd and 3rd.  395, one between 3rd and 4th.  365 have nicely spaced ratios but are hard to find.  I'm presently building a 352/395/365 hybrid that I hope will work well.  Spacing 1-2-3-4 should be sweet with 5th being an OD.  Even better, it will have a 3.56 final drive rather than the 5 spd's usual 3.78.

[GavinT]

That sounds like the 'Goldilocks' gearbox, JB.
I'll be looking forward to your review.

[Richard48Y]

"The power-band of 5500526 will be around 2800-6800rpm".
Decisions, decisions.
Power-band from 2800, but will it pull away from a level stop decently at less?
Looking like 77.8mm pistons at 10.5 or 11 to 1.
Aluminum TS head and 4,000' home altitude so might get away with the 11-1?
Still looking for someone to bore my cylinders.

Ordering a RS fuel tank unless shipping is just too much.
Then the question becomes where to fit the battery.
I keep seeing mention of 'The odyssey battery" but not sure what battery that actually refers to.
I am familiar with a Honda Odyssey Motorcycle/Quad, would it be that very small battery?
I do not want to put the battery up front again.

[BDA]

I think I would choose the #5500525 cam. I think you'll enjoy the low end torque more than the top end horsepower since you'd be able to use it more. I don't know much about hill climbs but I wouldn't think the 300 rpm difference in peak power would make that much difference since you only intend to occasionally participate in them.

Just my 2¢.

[Richard48Y]

OKAY, at least I may have found a shop to bore my sleeves.
http://qande.com/site/
They are in Anaheim CA.
$100.00+ each. 
Part of that is a tooling charge.
Anyone else need Renault sleeves bored?
Additional sets should be cheaper as the tooling will already be made.

[Richard48Y]

Sleeves cleaned up nicely.
They still have a blue finish in the water jacket area.
Looking at them I do not see an obvious reason to not just put the top side down for boring?
That would seem to obviate the need for special tooling.
Almost tempted to just do it myself but lack confidence in getting a smooth enough finish from my old vertical mill.

[GavinT]

Power-band from 2800, but will it pull away from a level stop decently at less?

We're only guessing but I doubt there'd be a problem.
My tame crossflow had a mountain more torque that the original 1470cc engine.

I do not want to put the battery up front again.

Lots of people mount the battery in the space forward of the tail light.

Looking at them I do not see an obvious reason to not just put the top side down for boring?

I'd wait till your pistons arrive before boring the sleeves. No point risking doing it twice.

I'd have thought for the cost of the boring job ($400), you could probably get a set of new liners.
Was there an offer of liners with your new pistons? They're usually available as a matched set.

Machine shops are often wary of boring wet liners and particularly if they're to be done without being installed in the block with a strain plate, which is fair enough.
Apparently, the motorcycle guys are more confident doing single liners as one might expect, though I've not been down that road.