Cornwall Austin Seven Club
creating interest in Austin Sevens (1922 - 1939)   

 

Celebrating
the 90th Anniversary
of the Austin Seven
and the 75th Anniversary
of the Austin Big Seven

 

 

Home Page
welcome to our website

About Us
information about our Club

Contacts
our Officers and Committee

Events Diary
our events for the
months ahead

Event Reports
from the last four months

The Kernow Rumble
our 10th Anniversary Rally
July 2010

Member's Cars
a selection of
our active 'Sevens'

Joys of being a 7'er
and a few stories

Do you fancy an
Austin Seven?

advice on buying a 'Seven'

Photo Gallery
of our past activities and 'Sevens' in close up

From the Past
items from 1920/30s magazines

Registration Marks
in the UK from 1903

Help at the roadside
fuel and electrical problems

Austin Seven Journal
advice for Austin Agents
& Service Depots

Technical Articles
our members help you with various tasks.

Technical Advice
from old magazines

Data Pages
info on 'Sevens'

Guide to Parts
and Services

sources of spares etc

Quick Tips
a few handy ideas

Other Articles
of interest, not technical

Austin Seven Books
some of the books available

Visiting Cornwall
if you come our way

A7CA and FBHVC
CA7C is an active supporter

  Links to other
Austin Seven Sites

Website Policy
on advertisements & links

     

 

 

Last updated:
04 February 2012

 

 

 

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Technical Data and Specifications

Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the data is correct, the authors of this site cannot be held responsible for the information.  Specific information is also given in the Austin Motor Co. handbook for each model.  Much more detail can be found in 'The Austin Seven Source Book' by Bryan Purves.  Pub: Haynes Publishing, Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset.   ISBN 0 85429 557 7.

If any 'Seven' enthusiast feels that the data should be corrected, or extended, please contact CA7C

 

Engine Data;    Gearbox Data;    Transmission Data;   
Chassis and Suspension Data;    Electrical Data:    Austin Seven Threads

 

Specifications, Lubrication Chart and Wiring Diagrams
for the following models are available:

The AC Tourer RP SaloonARR Ruby & Variants; CRV & CRW Big Seven.

NB: Handbooks are listed at www.a7ca.org  select Historic Information, then see Documentation > Handbooks, several can be downloaded.

See also: The differences in our ‘Sevens’

 
Engine Data

Engine specification

Bore 2.2" (55.88 mm)  
Stroke 3"   (76.2 mm)  
Capacity - standard 747.5 cc  
Compression Ratio (up to mid 1936) 4.8 : 1  
Compression Ratio (post mid 1936) 6 : 1  
b.h.p. 1922 10 @ 2400 rpm  
b.h.p. 1923 - 1932 10.5 @ 2400 rpm Sports 24 @ 5000 rpm (1930-32)
b.h.p. 1933 - 1934 12 @ 2600 rpm Sports 21 @ 4400 rpm
b.h.p. 1935 13.5 @ 3000 rpm Sports 23 @ 4800 rpm
b.h.p. 1936 16.5 @ 3400 rpm Sports 23 @ 4800 rpm
b.h.p. 1937 17 @ 3800 rpm Sports 23 @ 4800 rpm
     

Timing

Pre 1935 1 7/8" B T D C (20 degrees)
Mk1 Ruby engine   3/4" B T D C at flywheel Points should be just opening.
Firing Order 1 3 4 2  
Contact breaker points 1929 - 1931  0.020" CAV electrics
Contact breaker points 1932 - 1936  0.014" Lucas electrics
Contact breaker points 1936 - 1939  0.012" Lucas electrics
Champion No 7 Sparking Plugs 1922 - 1936 Low compression engine
Champion L10 Sparking Plugs 1936 - 1939 High compression engine
Sparking plug gap 0.018" to 0.020"  
     

Valve clearances

Inlet - standard engine 0.004"  Hot 0.006" Cold
Exhaust - standard engine 0.004  Hot 0.007" to 0.008" Cold
Inlet - sports engine 0.004" to 0.006" Hot 0.008" Cold
Exhaust - sports engine 0.006" to 0.008" Hot 0.010" Cold
     

Big End Bearings - Standard engine not pressure fed

Big end clearance to crank pin  0.001" to 0.002" Optimum clearance
Crank pin out of round  0.003" Preferred maximum
Big end nuts torque around 20 ft. lbs.  
     

Small End Bolts

Small end bolts   Bolt Heads should face off-side of engine
     

Camshaft

End float   0.002"   
     

Lubrication

Normal Oil Pressure - 2 bearing crank up to 5 p.s.i.  
Normal Oil pressure - 3 bearing crank up to 5 p.s.i.  
Oil filter  Gauze in sump Clean every 4000 - 5000 miles
Oil grade S.A.E. 30 or equivalent (avoid detergent oils) in an engine that has not been totally cleaned.
Sump capacity standard engine 4 pints  
Sump capacity sports engine 8 pints  
     

Cooling System

Capacity 9˝ pints approx  
     

Pistons & Rings

Split skirt piston   Split on nearside of engine
Piston to cylinder clearance 0.0015" Split skirt piston 
Piston to cylinder clearance 0.004" Plain skirt piston 
     
Ring Gap 0.003" to 0.006"  
     

 

 

Gearbox Data

Lubrication

Oil grade - standard S.A.E. 40 Engine oil.
Oil grade - sports S.A.E. 50  
Oil capacity 1922 - 1932 2/3 pint  
Oil capacity 1933 - 1939 1˝ pints  
     

 

Transmission Data

Rear Axle

Oil grade - standard 140 grade  
Oil capacity  7/8 pint  
     

 

 

Chassis and Suspension Data

Front Springs

1924-1925 5 leaves 30" bush centres
1926-1929 5 leaves 29 1/4" bush centres
1929-1934 8 leaves 29 1/4" bush centres
     

Rear Springs

1924-1925 6 leaves 23 1/4" hole to bush centres
1926-1934 7 leaves 23 1/8" hole to bush centres
     

 

Electrical Data

Dynamo

1922 - 1928 C.A.V. dynamo Output approximately 5 to 6 amps
1928 Lucas Short dynamo
1929 - 1932 Lucas Longer dynamo
1931 - 1935 Lucas C35A Brushes without leads
1935 - 1939 Lucas C35M Brushes with leads

Distributors

Sept 1928 ? Both Lucas and and alternative fitted
late 1931 Lucas DJ4 manual advance
July 1934 - 1936 Lucas DK4A Auto Advance  3 degrees
July 1936 - 1939 Lucas DK4A Auto Advance  8 degrees

 

 

Austin Seven Threads

The following information has been obtained from a 1932 LWB Box Saloon, variations may have been used by Austin during the production history of the Seven.

Size

Type

TPI

Use

1/4

BSF

26

General Bolts and Setscrews. Engine/ Manifold Studs.

5/16

BSF

22

General Bolts and Setscrews. Engine/ Cylinder Head and Gearbox Studs. Shock Absorber Link Bolts

3/8

BSF

20

Bolts and Setscrews . Wheel Studs. Shock Absorber Link Bolts. Dynamo Spindle Com End. Springs "U" Bolts.

7/16

BSF

18

Dynamo Spindle/Castle Nut. Front Brake Shoe Pivot Pin.

1/2

BSF

16

Steering Swivel Axle/Cross Tube Levers. Brake Pedal Fulcrum Pin. Rear Spring Through Bolts.

1/4

BSW

20

Oil Sump Bolts.

5/16

BSW

18

Studs Crankcase/Bell-housing. Oversize Sump Bolts.

3/8

BSW

16

Studs Bell-housing (Stepped Oversize).

2

BA

31.4

Fittings. Door Hinges Mounting ("A" Post).

3/4

SPECIAL

14

Drain Plugs Gearbox/ Engine/Back Axle and Gearbox Filler Plug.

3/4

BSC ?

20

Steering Cross Tube and Jaws. Plug Top of King Pins.

5/8

SPECIAL

16

Axle Shafts / Radius Arms/Crankshaft (front)

7/8 SPECIAL 12

Crankshaft (rear)

1–1/4

SPECIAL

16

Rear Hub Bearing Retaining Nut. Torque Tube Socket. Screw Cores Engine Block.

1–3/8

SPECIAL

16

Hubs.

3/4

BSC/BSB

26

Gearbox Speedometer Drive Bush and Cable Ends.

3/8

BSC

26

Front and Rear Shock Absorbers Centre Bolt.

7/16

BSC

26

Headlamp Mounting Bolts/Nuts.

1/2

BSC

26

Starter Motor Spindle/Nut. Replacement Front Shock Absorber Centre Bolts.

1/8

BSP

28

Shackle Repair. Grease Plug Hole-Hubs. Grease Nipples Fitting Holes.

1/4

BSP

19

Pipe/Fittings. Brake Rope Guides. Rear Axle Filler Plug. Rear Axle Breather Pipe. Petrol Pipes Unions.

3/8

BSP

19

Speedometer Drive Bush Gearbox.

       

 

These abbreviations have been used.

BA = British Association

BSP = British Standard Pipe

BSB = British Standard Brass

BSW = British Standard Whitworth

BSC = British Standard Cycle

SPECIAL = Whitworth Form Special

BSF = British Standard Fine

TPI = Threads Per Inch

Further information on:

BA, BSW and BSF Drilling and Tapping Data
Spanner Sizes
Wire Gauges
Casting Alloy Shrinkage Allowances
Metric to Imperial Conversion

            go to
http://www.vintageknowledge.co.uk
 produced by Guy Weatherall.

 

This information was collated by Malcolm Watts, Peter Kemp and others, whilst rebuilding their Austin Sevens.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2009 Cornwall Austin Seven Club, M J Watts & D A Castle to whom any questions or comments about this website should be addressed.