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Re: Engine conversions

To: "Eric A. Yates" <eyates@earth.nwu.edu>
Subject: Re: Engine conversions
From: "James H. Davis, Jr." <jhdavis@fiac.net>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 10:28:31 -0400
Cc: spitfires@Autox.Team.Net, triumphs@Autox.Team.Net
References: <3.0.32.19981016105510.006a1a20@antarctica.earth.nwu.edu>
Eric,
I think that if one likes the TR body but prefers American V8 power and
refinement and wants to combine the two, fine with me!
Jim Davis
Fortson, GA
CF38690UO
CF37325U

Eric A. Yates wrote:

> 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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