john banks

1. Monaro

Anything else lighter or with good handling?

Just dreaming really, but bought a very interesting US magazine on holiday "Engine Masters" that had some stunning SBC build ups Talk about choosing your engine before you choose your car, but the dyno plots, and the torque delivery on some of the turbo or supercharged ones.... and the prices of the bits

NotoriousREV

Go for a bog standard looking Carlton or Senator or, if you can find one, an Opel Monza. Alternatively, you can get kits to install them into various Jags and, for some odd reason, Volvo's

Prices are ridiculously cheap. I remember years ago when I was building my 1430 Mini engine that a full set of 8 SBC forged pistons was about the same price as the 4 x 74mm Omega pistons for the A-series

MarkCSC

Porsche 944

These guys have been doing it in the US for years http://www.renegadehybrids.com/main.htm

NotoriousREV

Two words: Monster Miata

Translation: MX-5 with V8 power

fatscoobyfella

Early toyota starlet..seen a Chevy V8 in one,was a wide bodied thunder saloon i think..

Awesome!!!

bobfrog1

I'd put one in the back of a Ford KA

les1

having been a a Drag Racer for many years I've seen them in lots of different things, Opel Monza's/Manta's, MkII Escorts, Capri's, Calibra's, and in stuff that ain't worth mentioning, you could fit 'em in almost anything, its a compact light unit, however, not that easy, as back axles and liberal cuttiing is required. I suppose the Omega or the few remaining cars that are/were RWD would be the best bet, but nothing strong enough axlewise that will last on a std car.
Most people discount the SBC or most of the V8's as slow lumbering no rev non multivalve thirsty powerplants, thirsty maybe? but anything that makes real power uses fuel, you've not lived until you've driven a properly set up hi-po V8, believe me, and we ain't touched on N20 yet......its just a shame that fuel prices are what they are.......long live MUSCLE!

Mmmmm

How about just buy one of those bargain MG V8's

nice ford v8 with loads of cheap tuning bits

RyanWRX13

I've seen one in a Ford Sapphire cosworth look-a-like and also in a neighbours DACS Cobra kit car. Sounds awesome and goes like stink-fibreglass body, very lightweight.....mmm very nice.

Cheers Paul.

NotoriousREV

I can't stop thinkng about a V8 944

Damn you, Mark Champion, damn you!

Let's see, £2k for a ****ter 944, £5k for a built LS1. I wonder how much the kit is?

Carl2

Morris Minor, or fiat 126. Seen them both done

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Range Rovers are quite an easy conversion (Overfinch) Or is that too big?

Ideally need a Torqueflite transmission...the manual and ZF auto's just can't cope.

Import a Ford Falcon from oz....get an old school 80's jobby...MKII Granada look-a-like

Smallblock Chevy coversions are also quite popular on Jag SeriesIII XJ6's (although you'll need to cut a hole in the bonnet )

Anything else would need major fettling to fit. But if you handy with the Mig welder, you can fit it in pretty much anything. Smallblock RWD in a mini will fit. But it will stick out the front a bit...and you'll need to find a new home for the radiator

2000STI7

lightweight v8:
http://www.beardmorebros.co.uk/websi...ant_kitten.htm

hades

Ultima (spider or GTR). Definitely light (most of the small block ones come in around or just under the tonne). Definitely good handling. Happily accepts all manner of V8's, but I believe the small block is one of the popular choices. What more could you ask?

Also, one with 600bhp ish V8 (think it's a small block Chevvy, but don't quote me) presently holds the 0-100-0 record, IIRC. I've seen the video, it's certainly quite nippy .

RON

What about an E30 beemer....

MooseRacer

Fantastic!

les1

thats it....now your talking Hot Rodding, real stuff!, forget your M5's/ferrari's, anything, we were blowing then away 20yrs ago!......with Yank chassis......m8 runs a CCSE Capri on the road (now and again!).....709ci, Big Block chevy based motor, 1100bhp N/A 1500bhp w/N20, best 1/4 9.00 at 155mph without squirt and (treads), docile as hell, tick over no probs, just gotta blow on the pedal, no more......all these soft toys become insignificant.

Pavlo

Capri, fast on straights, crap on bends.

v8voodoo

LOL -- Nice to see this thread, I'm currently rebuilding a Big Block Chevy to go in my 59 Chevy pick up truck, fairly standard rebuild, parts costing about £400 shipped form the states (how cheap????!!??), all machine work £300, output should be around 425-450hp with around 450-500lb/ft torque. Trouble is truck weighs in as a bit of a heavyweight.

The SBC can be stuffed into anything ya like as long as you've got the engineering skills, they're smaler than a Rover V8, but a goddly bit heavier. I've always fancied a MKIV Cortina sleeper running a nice healthy SBChevy.

Nige.
Any other rodders /drag racers on here who are also into Scoobs?

les1

err.....it wasn't built to go around corners....does it quite well when on the 20 mile cruise actually.

what would scooby do

Fishersportscars' Fury used to be able to take many engines - rover V8 included - so maybe a SBC would fit..

I think it would upset its ability to corner somewhat!

Sprint Chief

Early Jag XJS V12? Pros: can be made to handle, plenty of space up front, strong rear axle, very cheap especially if you can find a good one with a cracked block (they do that a lot I've heard) since you don't need the motor

Cons: Still quite big and heavy, may be difficult to find one without tinworm problems!

Or how about a TR8 for the "why the hell would anyone want to do that" appeal

dnb

A "cheap" 4 litre TVR Griffith or Chimera? They weigh about 1000kg as standard.

The LS1 is apparently quite easy to fit.

madou

LS1 in E36 coupe

http://www.vorshlag.com/ls1bmw1.asp

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Off topic...but I had to mention the headers shown on that site...



:

Nice tic tacs on this page too:

http://www.vorshlag.com/E36ProjectBook.asp

Cabinet Enforcer

You can fit a ford V8 into a focus, kit is circa $5k, not including engine or axle. Apparently the engine bay still has room for a turbo on each side

hades

Not been done yet, AFAIK. The Fury does suffer a bit from the weight of a V8 - I recall overtaking a rover V8 engined one on a track day in my brother's 2 litre zetec Fury - I wasn't quicker in a straight line, but comfortably did him on exit speed from the corners every time. I'd like to think that was also down to my fantastic driving skills, but I very much doubt it.

Having said that, it's all based around the Sylva chassis (Jeremy Edward's designed, IIRC). I'm sure someone did manage to get a Griffith 500 engine into a Sylva Striker once. They do certainly benefit from good handling and light weight (brother's Fury is ~550kg, I have come across a ~360kg lightened, fireblade engined striker)

micared

Wouldn't waste time/money fitting the V8 to any of the Jags mentioned....first thing you'll be doing is replacing the floorpan where the rear axle's ripped it out.....they do this as standard! Radius arms and V mounts on the back axle just fall to bits regularly as a matter of course. Serious surgery required to stop a more powerful one from doing this.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, the radius arm mounts are bit prone to the old tin worm

Granby

iTrader: (5)

I was thinking about that before i got a Scooby, tons of tuning gear available

Should read, fast on straights, fun on bends