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Re: Engine conversions

To: Michael Marr <mmarr@idcnet.com>
Subject: Re: Engine conversions
From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 16:55:55 -0700
Cc: triumphs@Autox.Team.Net
Organization: Curry Enterprises
References: <002a01bdf951$19a8c500$490cbece@MarrMichael.vancpower.com>
Michael,
Isn't that the same V4 that SAAB appropriated dor their cars in the late
'60's???

Joe

Michael Marr wrote:
> 
> Kind of off the TR thread, but my dream engine swap when I was a young lad
> was to put a Ford 2.0 litre V4 from the Corsair (how many of you in the
> homeland remember THAT motor) into my Morris Minor, so that I would have a
> Morris Minor 2000...
> 
> Never did it, but I dreamed a lot.  I did put an Amal carburettor on my
> side-valve Minor, however, together with a milled and polished head.  Must
> have made at least 27 BHP.  What fun!  Then there was the time that we.....
> 
> (Take me away and give me my Geritol...)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Malcolm Walker <walker05@camosun.bc.ca>
> To: Eric A. Yates <eyates@earth.nwu.edu>
> Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net <spitfires@autox.team.net>;
> triumphs@autox.team.net <triumphs@autox.team.net>
> Date: Friday, October 16, 1998 11:47 AM
> Subject: Re: Engine conversions
> 
> >
> >On Fri, 16 Oct 1998, Eric A. Yates wrote:
> >
> >> 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.
> >
> >You're probably going to get a big rant from DANMAS on this subject.  But
> >here's my small rant for the meantime:
> >
> >Some of us like doing the impossible, or the improbable.  Sometimes it's
> >circumstance- while it is possible to get a small car to "go" by tweaking
> >and massaging the engine, it costs a lot of money and they wear out really
> >quickly.
> >
> >If, in the quest for MORE POWER (arr arr arr), you decide to place a large
> >engine in a small car, then you get a few advantages: more reliability,
> >smoother running, and MORE POWER (arr arr arr).
> >
> >Take my brother's two beaters: an 81 Camaro (w/ 267 V8) and a 74 Ventura
> >(w/ 350 BigBlock V8)  The camaro is smaller and lighter, but guess which
> >one goes faster?  (hint: the ugly one).  He wanted to pop the big block
> >into his Camaro (small block) but we axed that plan as it would require
> >major modification to a car worth less than $1500.  In this case, it's
> >smarter to find someone who already has a big-block Camaro.
> >
> >But with our LBCs, sometimes something unique is required.  I'd love to
> >stick a Lotus 1.8 mill into my Chevette.  Why not buy a lotus?  (big
> >reason: I don't fit in Lotuses).  Also, I'd have a Chevette capable of
> >some pretty wild stuff.  heh heh, heh heh, cool.
> >
> >> 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.
> >
> >Why is it drastic?  Is an engine really that much of the personality of a
> >car?  (Only to the driver, I'd say... and in that case, to each their own)
> >
> >> 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.
> >
> >My favorite conversions are the ones whereby you can't tell it's been
> >done.  No loss, unless you really like gawking at what's under a car hood.
> >
> >-Malcolm
> >* There is a FAQ for this list!  Its temporary home is:
> >http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/walker/triumph/trfaq.htm

-- 
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."

  -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer


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