I am getting mentally prepared to launch my V8 spit project & so far my
differential thoughts have been the ford 9" ..... the alternate being a mopar 8
3/4". The mopar is not as strong, but should handle anything I throw at it & a
lot cheaper to build.
If you want to keep the IRS (I do) either differential will take the mod to
Jag axles. I think Mercedes axels would also work just as well.
BTW, I am hoping for about 350 hp from a ford 289 (I just like those engines &
I've built them before ..... I know the 302 would be a better choice; it's
nostalgia) & a T-5 tranny in a tube frame with a spit tub pinned on.
I figgure this will be about a 3 year project. That gives me about a 3 yr
life expectance after the start of the project. Anything beyond the first lap
at RA will be borrowed time.
Comments from those more knowledgeable???????????? (sane????????) Flame away,
I'm open to any ideas, suggestions or financial contributions..........
In the corner with my nomex on.........
Tom Strange, Classic Autosports Ltd., Appleton, Wi., 920-733-5013
Smith, Brian wrote:
> Being a "reformed" hot rodder, I would try a shortened american rear end. A
> ford 9 inch comes to mind, or perhaps, being from a smaller car, a chevette
> (yech) rear. I think you could probably do without the IRS and mount the
> soild axle to the transverse spring "the way it is". probably would
> compramice handleing a little but....who knows?
>
> Brian H. Smith
> 1959 TR3
> 1972 Spitfire IV
> 1977 TR7
> Lake Charles, LA
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Lindberg, Andrew (MN12) [SMTP:Andrew.Lindberg@Corp.Honeywell.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 10:45 AM
> > To: brian_s@deq.state.la.us; DANMAS@aol.com; Spitfires@Autox.Team.Net
> > Subject: Re: Your Spitfire!!!!
> >
> > In a message dated 98-11-17 13:22:28 EST, brian_s@deq.state.la.us writes:
> >
> > > How a boutthat...and me having a freind that just took possesion of two
> > > rover V-8's. HMMMM, talk about great in a straight line but not worth
> > a
> > > sh*t in a corner.
> >
> > From: DANMAS@aol.com
> > Nay, nay, my friend, it doesn't have to be so! A rover V8 weighs a LOT
> > less
> > than the 6 cylinder used in the GT6 (about 75 pounds), and how bad do they
> > handle? Not bad at all, I would suspect. If done right, a Rover/Spit
> > should
> > handle quite well indeed!
> >
> > FWIW, Peter Cook did a little book on Spitfires and GT6s a few years back.
> > In it, in the GT6 chapter, he devotes about one paragraph to a Rover-V8
> > equipped GT6 that some of the Triumph engineers threw together. The V8
> > was,
> > as Dan says, lighter that the six and no suspension changes were required.
> > It went like stink and didn't have any handling problems.
> >
> > I've always been intrigued by this conversion and talked to Don Schumacher
> > about it last summer at the VTR convention. Don owns a fair number of the
> > aluminum V8s and he said that the six to V8 conversion was relatively easy
> > in a GT6. He then went on to say, however, that it'd tear up the
> > differential in a few weeks. He recommended converting the diff to a
> > Datsun
> > 510 unit, along with associated supension pieces and subframe. This, of
> > course, costs some real money. I believe he said that they had run such a
> > car in some type of race and done quite well. Does anybody have any info
> > on
> > this? Thinking about it now, I can't imagine what it would be eligible
> > for.
> > Others said that an easier (but still not cheap) way to fix the diff
> > inadequacy is with a Qaife (sp?) unit.
> >
> > Still on my list of things to do.
> >
> > -- Andy Lindberg (GT6 in Minnesota)
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