Gallery

THE ENGINE IS A SEALION BY THE LATE EDGAR T. WESTBURY MARINE DESIGN WHICH FIRST APPEARED IN THE "MODEL ENGINEER" JAN. 1959. THIS IS A 30CC SPUR GEAR DRIVEN SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM, FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE OF THE SEAL CLASS. WATER COOLED 4 STROKE PETROL WITH A "HOTSPOT MANIFOLD", OIL FORCED FED. OIL AND WATER PUMPS ARE SKEW GEAR DRIVEN.
THE "THORTEC SEALION" IS MODIFIED FOR ROAD USE WITH A ENLARGED SUMP, CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH, HAND CRANK AND PRESSURIZED RADIATOR. REAR BEARING IS FITTED WITH A OIL SEAL, CAM SHAFT IS FITTED WITH FORCED FED OIL RAIL. PLUS OTHER SMALL MOD'S INCLUDING STAINLESS STEEL VALVE SEATS, "TELLTALE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND FUEL FILTER BOWL

5/17/2008
I bet you thought you would not hear this word "EUREKA"!
Saturday 11.45 am BST 17th May 2008 after 8 years of blood sweat and tears, she ran freely for 3 seconds on glow-plugs, It shook the house my son and I are in a state of euphoria!

I HAVE ALL BUT COMPLETED MY SEALION JUST A FEW GLITCHES, WHICH I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH. NO 1. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS SETTING MY CARB. UP, IT EITHER "FLOODS" OR I GET NOTHING THROUGH IT, I ALWAYS THOUGHT 1-1 1/2 TURNS FROM THE CLOSED POSITION IS THE STARTING POINT, AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

I THINK I MAY HAVE FOUND A PROBLEM, IT MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM HOWEVER IT NEEDS ADDRESSING FIRST, HAVING TAKEN THE HEAD OFF I CHECKED FOR CYLINDER COMPRESSION AND THAT WAS OKAY, I THEN CHECKED THE HEAD BY INSERTING A PLASTIC TUBE INTO THE MANIFOLD AND BLOWING BY MOUTH AND I FOUND LACK OF SEAL IN THE VALVE SEATS! REMEMBERING LAST YEAR I FITTED STAINLESS STEEL 45* VALVE SEATS, SO I COULD USE UNLEADED PETROL, WHICH NOW NEED GRINDING IN?

I HAVE FINISHED AND RE BUILT THE ENGINE, 2 VALVES THIS MORNING TOOK 1 1/2 HOURS TO DO!

8/26/2006 I HAVE BEEN BUSY MAKING A NEW HEAD, AS I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD ONE LOW COMPRESSION. COULD YOU PLEASE POST IT WITH THE OTHERS, YOU WILL SEE THAT I HAVE REDUCED THE DEPTH AND RELOCATED THE SPARK PLUG HOLE, THUS INCREASING THE COMPRESSION RATIO.

3/17/2007

I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING MY SEALION WITH NEW 3 RING PISTONS, AT THE MOMENT I AM GETTING 40-45 PSI PER CYLINDER.

3/19/2007 I THOUGHT THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOMEONE, MY METHOD OF MAKING PISTONS FROM THE PLANS OF THE SEALION BY THE LATE EDGAR T. WESTBURY. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS METHOD IT IS THE FACT THAT YOU CAN "FETTLE" THE PISTON AFTER YOU THINK YOU HAVE FINISHED IT!

3/25/2007 THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I HAVE REBUILT MY SEALION AND HAVE REACH THAT "ILLUSIVE MAGICAL" 50 PSI REQUIREMENT. THIS MORNING I FILLED IT UP METHANOL AND GAVE IT A SWING AND GUEST WHAT I GOT A "POP" OUT OF IT BUT NO DURATION, WHICH PROVES I AM GETTING THERE. I NEED TO SIT BACK NOW AND SEE WHERE I GO NEXT? MY GOAL IS TO RUN IT ON PETROL WITH LONG DURATION, LIKE YOU I THINK IT NEEDS RUNNING AND "FETTLING" ? YOU DON'T GET MUCH RUNNING TIME ON A TANK FULL OF METHANOL!

Mike has a web site www.mikethorpemodels.co.uk that has more engine details and other models.