Anybody had experience of fitting a Vitesse straight six into a "standard" chassis?

measure it, though i suspect a straight six might be too long for a standard chassis....

Ned.

You can always lengthen the engine bay It's not much work

Things can always be "made" to fit lol

Daddo,

Are you planning to use the Vitesse swing axle rear suspension too?

Not sure about the rest of it yet. It's a toss up between resoring the Vitesse or using it for a Locost, with the Locost in front at the moment.
Whilt the rear axle/suspension never gave me any trouble I have not seen many favourable reports about it.
I would want to use as much as possible of the old Triumph to stick with the principle of a cheapish fun car.

Thanks for replies.

Do it !!!! Locost will be more fun

The quality of the suspension at the rear depends upon the age of the vitesse. The later ones (can't remember when the change was) used a much improved design.

I used to have a Herald with swing axle suspension - great fun if you were expecting the tail slides it could generate, otentially scary when they were unexpected!

If the Vitesse is a convertible I would say restore it, if a saloon, remake it as a convertible, or turn it into a locost.

i thought of using a dolomite as a donor at one stage. The historical nature made it interesting.

I didnt cos

1. its 1960s engineering when a sierra type would be 80s (!)

2. older engines are not that powerful.


I wonder if the effort of making the inline 6 from the vitesse fit is worth the effort if a 'boring' sierra engine has same or more power.........

nicely nostalgic tho.


atb

steve


ps - passed my test in a herald 12/50 that me and two mates did up from a 30 quid MOT failure.


also had a dolly sprint once - 128bhp from that would be reasonable in a locost.

[Edited on 31/7/03 by stephen_gusterson]

I'm starting with a GT6, but avoiding a complete chassis design/build because to use what I have is more "Lo Cost" than the tubular alternative (see http://www.carcentric.com/StraightSix.htm if you're curious).

Can you tell me the wheelbase of the Vitesse? I know it has additional perimeter chassis members, but not much about how it differs from my post-Rotoflex (swing spring, like a Spitfire 1500) GT6.

quote:

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Originally posted by carcentric
I'm starting with a GT6, but avoiding a complete chassis design/build because to use what I have is more "Lo Cost" than the tubular alternative (see http://www.carcentric.com/StraightSix.htm if you're curious).

Can you tell me the wheelbase of the Vitesse? I know it has additional perimeter chassis members, but not much about how it differs from my post-Rotoflex (swing spring, like a Spitfire 1500) GT6.

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The Vitesse wheelbase is 7ft 7.5inches whilst GT6 is shown as 6ft 11inches. Both have front track of 4ft 1inch, rear of 4ft.
My MK2 - 2litre has the transverse leaf spring and rotoflex couplings.

Until I get the body off I am not sure exactly how bad the chassis is.

If it becomes a Locost I am not too bothered about the extra weight and 60's engineering but reckon it would look good with the bonnet open.

A remote control to open the bonnet in traffic would be good.

Daddo

that straight six is a HEAVY motor. About the same as a Ford small block V8

Daddo -
. . . and nothing sounds as nice as an inline six!

Have you thought about how to fasten cycle wings/fenders to the front uprights on the GT6? There's no "backing plate" to fasten to, just that inch wide vertical link and the steering arm. Perhaps the bolts that hold the caliper on could serve an additional duty?

Arthur -
. . . the 2.0 Triumph six weighs 110 MORE than a Rover/Buick V8, but if you already have one, it's "free." Can't beat that.