Eric,
I'm sure you'll get the full range of replies to this one. I would guess it
comes down to the personal relationship we each have with our cars. We love
them for a variety of reasons and know only too well their short comings and
weaknesses. Some of us love the weakness too and consider it part of the cars
"character". Others of us continually dream of how we can improve and create
"the ideal" Triumph.
I know I love the looks and the handling of my TR, as well as the sound and
smoothness of that straight six. I have always wished it had a little more
"umph", and plan on doing some tweaks at engine rebuild time. I enjoy that
engine in the car and plan to keep it that way, however, I am very interested
in the toyota supra 5-speed trans conversion. So I am definitely not into
keeping it traditional, dead stock. If I found another TR6 with a dead engine
I would be interested in a V8 swap (probably the Rover aluminum engine).
Since I don't have another TR6, but instead an MGB GT with a dead engine, I DO
plan to do the Rover V8 swap. The reason: I personally don't like the MG
4-cylinder engine/trans, but I really like the looks and handling of the B-GT.
For what its worth . . . .
Gordon Buck
Sultan, Washington
71 TR6 CC62806
67 MGB GT
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric A. Yates [SMTP:eyates@earth.nwu.edu]
Sent: Friday, October 16, 1998 8:55 AM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Engine conversions
Hi folks,
I have a question about engine conversions: why do people do it? I am
curious as to why folks make changes to something as fundamental to a car's
character as its engine.
I am not a person who places a major priority on originality, but I would
hesitate to make such a drastic change to my car. If I wanted a Triumph
with more power than my Spitfire, I'd get a TR6 or GT6. Probably the TR
since I love top-down driving, but then again, a GT would be a cool
compliment to my Spit. Either way, I'd seek out a car that has the larger
engine rather than wedge one into my current ride.
I think a Spit-6 conversion is not a bad conversion, because for one thing,
the cars are very similar. Secondly, it keeps it "in the family." In other
words, it's a Triumph mill in a Triumph car. It makes sense.
On the other hand, a conversion like sticking a Chevy V8 in a TR6 seems
strange to me. I respect the amount of work and effort that goes into such
a conversion, and it is impressive to see the final product, but I wonder
why the builder didn't start with an American car in the first place to
build his hot rod. That way, the final product retains a certain amount of
the character of the original car.
Let me stress once again that I am not snobby keep-it-original kind of guy
(my Spitfire is far from stock and it's fine with me), so don't flame me if
you've got a killer Ford V8-powered Austin Mini. :)
I thought this would make a good discussion topic. What are your thoughts,
folks?
Eric.
---------------------------------------
Eric A. Yates * eyates@earth.nwu.edu
1978 Spitfire 1500 * FM 71614 U
Chicago, IL USA
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