dela

What about MGB GT? You can pick up a sound one for £1500

Ready made engine bay that accepts the Rover V8, and theres plenty of suspsension options and expertise about.

Swap the the wings for wide glass-fibre ones and off you go.

I've been toying (day-dreaming) with this idea recently for exactly the same reasons as you, and quite like the idea of nitrous injection as a V8 mod.


Editted to ad piccy

Dave

[Edited by dela - 5/2/2002 10:51:40 AM]

Squizz

Ok...Time for some more bright ideas.

I love my scoob, but do not want to modify it further, or use it on the track. It's great as a fast, safe, road car.

I used to have a TR7V8 that I've used at Castle Coombe and Goodwood. It now belongs to my Dad, and I may yet get to use it on a track-day this year...But...It's not mine, is it...

I'm feeling the need for another Rover V8 engined, Rear Wheel Drive, sports coupe' to use as a sprint/track-day car. Good as a TR7V8 is, the live rear-axle no longer appeals.

Any ideas?

I've seen conversion kits for fitting Rover V8s into the Porsche 924/944.

Series 2 Mazda RX7 ?

Datsun 240Z ? Is that live rear-axle?

Sorry...I prefer sports/classics, plus the cheaper, the better.

"Make the noise, I live for the noise!" (Eddie Izzard)

Squizz

Couple of piccies of my TR from Castle Coombe...

Cheeky Jim

Squizz,

Have you considered a kit car of some description? A good pal of mine had a Sylva Striker with a Rover V8 up front - by god did that go quickly!

And I am sure there are plenty of Caterham type cars with V8's. Lad who owned the Striker is currently building a Sylva Fury with a TVR V8 up front - should be bloody quick as well!

Jim

MarkCSC

As regards the 924/944 V8
The best bet would be to go for a rover engine as it is light. I thought about doing this last year but money became an issue.

a 3.5 engine you can pick up for anything from £50 - £5000 depending on quality and state of tune
RPI http://www.rpiv8.comdo a rebuilt 3.9 for £1150 ish
The gear box on a 924 will not take the power of a V8 so it need changing for a 924S or a 944 gearbox(944 turbo gearboxes can be picked up for £600). Should be a stratight forward swap.
On top of that you'll need loads of other bits and bobs.
There is a guy called Adie the Throp (don't ask)who will carry out the conversion for about £2000. Below are his prices from last year.

Engine mounts including new rubbers (pair) £140
Engine mounts without rubbers (pair) £85
Gusseted brackets from x-member £45
Adaptor plate including all new bolt's for fitting engine £95
flywheel adapted to take auto drive unit. £180
Sump adapted to fit crossmember/baffled with modified pick up pipe £80
Low level alternator bracket including tensioner/correct fan belt £80
Modified manifold for either 38/40 DGAS or Holly 2/4 barrel £130
Electric Fan to suit conversion £75
Performance Ignition system including Coil, amplifier & fitting £120
Electric water pump kit with adapter plate £155
Electric water pump controller £85
Fuel pump Facet £85
Race damper bottom pulley £120
Stainless Top Radiator Hose with bleed valve £75
Stainless heater hose £20
flywheel made to take manual clutch unit. £220


So for about £5000 you can have a really quick car.
Cheaper option would be to go for a V8 capri. Doesn't handle as well but there are fitting kits available.
There is a company called C-R-A-P conversions that will do it for you http://www.zyworld.com/M_K_Capri_Club/Crap/CRAP.htm

Hope that helps

Mark

Squizz

Ooh, Cheeky!

Well, sort of. There are benefits to those, such as their light weight (improved power/weight). Ease of working on, etc. Some can be picked up cheaply second hand, too.

I like Coupe's though. I guess open top cars scare me. I prefer a good bit of sheet steel around me when hooning around a track. (Or being surrounded by other such maniacs).

I was anticipating a steel monocoque, with some exterior panels being replace by cheaper/lighter fibreglass items (wings, bonnet, boot, etc.). Removing unwanted interior items, etc.

Being a coupe' and retaining the heater (minus any heacy A/C) it would still be useful as a road-car if I needed it...

Squizz

Mark - Excellent stuff, thanks! I'm wary of the Capri idea though. Never been a real fan of that particular car and the handling leaves something to be desired!

Toerag

Opel/Vauxhall manta?
There's a couple of blokes over here that run a V8 escort Mk1 in local hillclimbs and sprints. Someone also had a Renault 5 with a chevy V8 in it at one time!!!

MarkCSC

check out

http://www.renegadehybrids.com Some bonkers US company put small block Chevy V8's in to Porsches.
944's I can understand

but in a 911 it's just plain silly.

Squizz

Hang on chaps - Some of these ideas are good, but a Manta and MK1 escort still don't have Independant Rear Suspension.

As for the Chevy V8 911 !!! It's bad enough having an aluminium block out the back of such a car, but a much heavier cast-iron Chevy item?? DOH! [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Remember the plan - two door coupe', IRS, V8 or room for V8.

"Will it take the weight?!?"

"Yes Charlie..."

Tractor

Buuuuuuuut, MGBs have a live rear axle toooo (crawls back under rock)

dela

you know, I did wonder if they did when I re-read the thread...

what does having a "live rear axle" really mean in driving terms?

dela

father_jack

Nissan 200 or nissan sylvia both indy rear suspension.

Squizz

dela - Great idea. I love the MGB experience, having had the use of one for a while. You're right about a Sebring-Arched version. Gorgeous!

As for the live rear-axle. You can get all kindsa stuff like axle-tramp when doing standing starts. My TR pulled a rear-trailing arm from its socket under torque and resulted in me having a big accident. There are things that can be done like Panhard Rod or Watts Linkage that stop any tendency for lateral movement.

Just fancied something a bit more modern "at the back" that'd include LSD, IRS and disc-brakes as standard.

Squizz

Nissan 200.

Hmmm...

Looking more and more like another TR7V8 or already converted MGB GT V8.

"Shame."

Squizz

Oooh...

Modified MGB GT V8 with Jag IRS!

dela

oh yeah!

twin rear exhausts do it for me.

I still like the idea of a nitrous'd V8, a la this mad bloke who had one in a Sierra...
http://www.dynopower.freeserve.co.uk...ges/sierra.htm

dela

Squizz

But more improtantly, off the same site...

Mandy?!!

Blimey...

Cheeky Jim

Oy Squizz!!

Well, it does entirely depend upon your budget..

but have you seen the Ultima? Might be a bit expensive though - but monocoque I believe with choice of V8 - Or a Kit GT40?

Or An Alfa GTV V6? Good solid car if you can find one?

Or you can get in Classic Car's this month a Ferrari Mondial for £6k with slight rear end damage - whip it's engine out and plonk a V8 in for something slightly different?

Or am I just talking a load of Bollocks?

Jim

Squizz

Cheeky fella - I'd seriously LOVE ( ) an Ultima, or a GT40, or old McLaren replica but they tend to be ever so very expensive.

Ferrari? Naaah...

dela

I had some passenger laps around Silverstone GP in a Lola T70 kit car a few years ago, that has to be my holy grail of V8 + kit.
(This was my first experience of accellaration induced headache)

As you say though Squizz - to do properly these things isn't cheap

dela

Squizz

I used my TR7V8 at a kit-car action day at Castle Coombe. The first time I'd been on track. Blagged my way on coz Grinnall Cars (who did the V8 conversion) were there displaying their Scorpion 3-Wheeler.

Got into a tussle with a lovely Ferrari P4 replica, powered by a renault V6 turbo.

His engine blew...

Oops!

Also had the pleasure of being razzed around in a nut & bolt Jag C-Type replica. So there I am doing 130mph+ , holding onto a chassis rail and calmly considering the fact that it wasn't equipped with seatbelts.