Purely hypothetical.....well sort of . If you happened to have a nice V8 motor lying around the workshop, what would you stick it in? It has to be a production car, no kits etc

Here's the story so far.... Few years back i picked up said V8 for not a lot of money, considering the spec... All Alloy, fairly compact quad cam, 400bhp and dry sumped as standard....It's currently covered in dust in a dark corner, patiently waiting for a new home.

Originally after being inspired by a PPC article on HOE 1D i dreamed of shoe horning it into a Lotus Europa with an upside down porker box.... then switched thoughts to something a bit more modern such as a Lotus Esprit with the same engine/box combo.... then got all retro again and considered tube framing a Morris minor traveller with the engine up front mated to RWD box....more time passed, then recently i saw a VX220 on VX220.org with a transverse rover V8 mated to a FWD Transaxle.... and thought once again turned to the poor forlorn V8.

The VX220 really appeals, modern, cheapish for what you're geting, and unlike some i love the looks. downside is , i'm not sure if the engine will fit, or if i can find a suitable box that will take the torque.

Considering some of the unusual projects being built by LB members i thought i'd throw it open to the floor!

All comments welcome, even daft ones

Hillman Imp Thats what i would like to do
Jacko

Always fancied a V8 Moggie Minor

That'd sort the Drum & Basssss boys out in their Corsas & Puntos

I want to build an LS1 powered RX7. The last shape before they went to RX8. You can pick up a very tidy car with a dead rotary for around £1500, and there's a place in the States that sells a complete conversion kit for LS series. There's a kit for the LT1 too if I remember correct, but if you're doing it, may as well do it properly, eh?

Chris

put it in my pickup

Fiat 126...

Something I've always fancied doing is moulding a fibreglass body off a Capri, not sure if I would go Mk1 or Mk2, maybe with Jag mechanicals, big arches moulded in to suit, spaceframe chassis (or even a ready made Cobra chassis), body mounted quite low, and a nice engine. Lovely

New fiat 500 or 200SX

[Edited on 27/1/11 by CRAIGR]

Europa ............ but it has to be a certain one, don't know if its series 1 or 2 (did they do more?) or something else. Some of them i think are fab and others are a bit 'urgh'.

if not that ....... what about a mk1 escort?

Datsun 280z? its got plenty of room in its engine bay.

last shape rx7 if you want to something great everyday and want an easy build

lotus esprit if you want something really awesome but don't mind some pain

fit it in a dolomite sprint. Keep the multi gauge dash but fit new modern gauges. Roll cage and bucket seats.

put it in a transit van, i've put a few cossies in transits but really fancy fitting a v8 in a transit.

Remember the Astra touring car from GT3, 4 and 5? That's got a V8 in it

stick it in a bike.......................


CEB ...................

Coffee table,

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Originally posted by steve m
Coffee table,

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Granada any shape or a Scorpio.

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Originally posted by perksy
Always fancied a V8 Moggie Minor

That'd sort the Drum & Basssss boys out in their Corsas & Puntos

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Volvo 240 saloon sleeper, engine bay is big enough for a small planet

aaawwwwwwwwwwww yeeeaaaaa


or strip is down, slam it. Either way you'd win @ life



[Edited on 27/1/11 by Benzine]

What about an old MG? Perhaps a TR4?

Although if you want something a little cheaper, what about something like an Audi 100. Should be nice and comfortable + confuse / raise a few eyebrows when you decide to overtake.

A quad cam v8 would be excellent for a MX-5.

Or in a small german sedan, A4/3-series/C-class.

E30 BMW.....

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=800098

Take a look at www.tazracing.co.uk for some good examples of V8's installed in Fiat126's as well as some other quality motors. I used to live next door to the owner of the Orange 126, awesome motor! ;-)

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Originally posted by Wadders
The VX220 really appeals, modern, cheapish for what you're geting, and unlike some i love the looks. downside is , i'm not sure if the engine will fit, or if i can find a suitable box that will take the torque.

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Here's an idea .....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojE9gCuUE7E

Vauxhall Omega is the same chassis as the new camero and the manaro, so would be easy to fit 350 chevy in one of them and have some fun.

Vauxhall Shuvitt, Talbot Sunbeam, Rover P6/SD1, Cortina Mk 3, Granada Mk 1 or 2 etc etc

ATB

Simon

Corsa van

youtube something called, the Volvette.

How about someones donor sierra?

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Originally posted by ettore bugatti
A quad cam v8 would be excellent for a MX-5.

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Lexus V8

^^^ Holy cr*p!

Some good suggestions so far!, shows what a diverse and sick bunch we are`on LB

The Mx5 pic highlights the width issues of quad cam V8's though....wouldnt fancy working on that god knows what he's done with the headers

V8 chainsaw was ace, it actually worked, unlike clarkesons half arsed attempt with the food mixer

Keep em coming

I was going to mention the issue of fitting quad cam V8s to a lot of cars but the pic below is usually the best way to illustrate. Doesn't stop peeps though of course especially as you have the engine already. I did consider just space framing the car from the firewall forward and might still come back to this one day. No space problems then!

I was looking at RX7s (FB, FC & FD), 924s, 944s & 968s, AE86 Corolla, 200sx, Datsuns etc. Obviously I went for the RX7 due to the availability of the fitting kits for the LSx engines.

Might be worth mentioning that the RX7s make good choices as the centre line of the rotary is higher than a 4 stroker so the tunnels are especially big and fit the bulky T56 box I've got with room for my hands around it!

The 924, 944 & 968 route means you have the transaxle and just then need to adapt the prop to the engine. For the LS engines you can use parts from the Corvette as it also has a transaxle.

Mhh interesting stuff, only downside i can see is the weight of the cars listed. Not a problem with the chevy engine i guess
but mines only a baby V8 with limited tuning potential, lighter would be good.

Does anyone have definitive dimensions for a rover V8? i keep finding conflicting numbers on the net. Its really the width across
the widest bit that i'm after (outer bottom edge of cam cover to the opposite cover)

I love the RX7/LS combination btw, it makes perfect sense.

Al.



]Originally posted by bimbleuk
Might be worth mentioning that the RX7s make good choices as the centre line of the rotary is higher than a 4 stroker so the tunnels are especially big and fit the bulky T56 box I've got with room for my hands around it!

The 924, 944 & 968 route means you have the transaxle and just then need to adapt the prop to the engine. For the LS engines you can use parts from the Corvette as it also has a transaxle.

From www.boostperformance.co.uk

The Corvette LS1 engine measures approximately 25.25" long (Rover V8 is 27.5", LS1 overall height is 24-25" (Rover V8 is 25.5" plus the carb and air filter or efi plenum, 29-30" or more), LS1 width across the cylinder heads is 20.5" (Rover V8 is 20". With the T56 6 speed gearbox fitted the LS1 is some 3" shorter than a Rover V8 with a standard 5 speed gearbox. If you wish to purchase a custom hand built, fully blueprinted engine to any specification feel free to call me. We also overhaul and rebuild standard engines with a few miles on them useing approved GM tooling.

I just put a tape measure across mine as best I could (lots of hoses in the way) and came up with about 49cm. However your exhaust manifolds will project beyond this as there ports are very close to the max width.

Just for reference the basic LS engine is around 180kg but the T56 adds a fairly sinificant 60kg to this. My RX7 is currently 1180 kgs with a potential 100 kgs to remove using lighter panels, glass etc.

My engine was recently dyno'd at 415 BHP but I guess crucially 400 lbs ft of torque. I'm not looking to add much more to that as it's already pretty rapid. From what I've seen it's get quite hard to get a modern monocoque car much below say 900 kgs unless it's quite small/flimsy or partially framed.

A sick part of me is quite tempted to swap the RV8 in my Fury for an LS1

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Originally posted by scudderfish
A sick part of me is quite tempted to swap the RV8 in my Fury for an LS1

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What engine are we talking about? BMW 3.0 v8 (M60B30)?

It's the 4.2 from a maserati quattroporte


Originally posted by ettore bugatti
What engine are we talking about? BMW 3.0 v8 (M60B30)?

Reliant Kitten would be a real sleeper.

WOW!

With that knowledge I would be tempted to do an Alfa-Romeo 75 or Maserati Biturbo, just to keep it in the family (apperently important for Italians).


Or an Iveco Daily

'Iveco Daily' funniest suggestion so far!!



Originally posted by ettore bugatti
WOW!

With that knowledge I would be tempted to do an Alfa-Romeo 75 or Maserati Biturbo, just to keep it in the family (apperently important for Italians).


Or an Iveco Daily

mini pickup? in the rear carrage space

or just a mini? or a mini van? fiat 126 would be cool, reliant kitten, scimitar? maybe a triumph of some sort? or you could go with the executive car look with a massive engine, if yo ucan afford/ find one, didnt lancia make a bmw m5 rival?

Yes, the Lancia Thema 8.32 with a detuned Ferrari 328 engine (215hp) driving the front wheels. Fast saloon in its day, but nowhere near a M5 or 500E.

Still, it has a great interior and dashboard.

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Originally posted by Kwik
mini pickup? in the rear carrage space

or just a mini? or a mini van? fiat 126 would be cool, reliant kitten, scimitar? maybe a triumph of some sort? or you could go with the executive car look with a massive engine, if yo ucan afford/ find one, didnt lancia make a bmw m5 rival?

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id say a trike myself, or the van. Mind, it wouldnt do your fuel bills much good. But i figure, if you are going to spend a fortune on petrol, you may as well make it tax deductable (and maybe vat too)?

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Originally posted by iank
Something like this...

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