Singer Owner July 2002

A Roadster Remodeled

Tony and Noelene Scanlon

G'day fellow Singer Owners,

Noelene and I thought you may like some details relating to the birth of our 4AB Singer Special. Now one year old and over most of its teething troubles. The enclosed photographs are a before and after situation. We thought the car as purchased could do with a little TLC before presenting it to the Dept of main roads for their approval.

The chassis had to be plated back to good health mainly the side members under the back axle and some vertical cracking just behind the front suspension. While I was at it I decided to make it into a two seater and moved the cross bracing and gearbox mount back 12".

I had a set of MGA wheels I was keen to use. They have a much deeper offset than the Singer so I widened the track by 5". The stud spacing too was a problem so the hubs received some major surgery.

Brakes are now four wheel hydraulic with a split system master cylinder. I'm still not completely happy with them so a booster may go in at a later date.

Steering has been converted to rack and pinion with the steering box now behind the front suspension cross member. Steering is as light and positive as most modern cars with power action (a small price to pay).

The gearbox is standard 4AB but the remote shaft has been lengthened by 3".

The differential has a 4.1 ratio which seems about right, but I wouldn't say no to an over drive on a long trip.

I have replaced the 1100cc motor with a 1500cc unit from an SM Saloon and this in turn has had its head replaced by the later twin carb version. Twin 1 1/2" SU side shaft carby's were fitted to fabricated manifolds which had a 1 1/2" down to 1 1/4" taper. The four branch exhaust was bent up from 1 5/8"o.n. tube and run through a 24" long straight through silencer (sounds good). The radiator fan is a 12" electric with thermostatic controlled switch.

Mud guards, running boards and radiator surround are all heavily modified 4AB items. The remainder of the body is home made:- The bonnet is steel with double folding sides, fabricated vents and a near side air scoop. The body tub, fire wall, floors, etc are aluminium mounted on a steel frame.

The door locks, which are operated only from the inside of the car, are of a type designed for use on the boot lids of American cars. They have a very narrow cross section 1 1/2" and they are very suitable for this type of body.

As the windscreen is now more to the rear of the car, it is above a wider section of the chassis and had to be widened by 2".

The interior width of the car in line with the seat back rests is 44 1/2" and 20" wide seats are fitted (all the better for modern sized bums).

Singer Gazelle instruments have been used in a polished timber dash which has a locking glove box.

I decided to tidy up the engine bay by placing the regulator and 10 circuit fuse box in their own compartment in the passenger foot well. That worked out very well.

On our Easter 2001 trip to South Australia our average fuel consumption was 10km per litre over the 5000km return trip. We can sit happily on 100kph on a trip. Top speed as I write is unknown but a reasonable guess would be around the 140-150k mark.

The car was built over a three year period and on the 300 days per year when the sun is shining here is great fun to have.

Kindest regards to all the UK Singer nuts, it would be good to see you all again.