Well, as discussed before, I’ve decided to go for the V8 option. I bit the bullet a couple of days ago and won an ebay auction for an engine. I got it home today, and have already started stripping it.
First impressions:
As you’d expect from a £100 ebay engine, it’s looking a little rough:
But apart from the obvious, it looks to be pretty solid. I’ve got as far as removing the manifold and stripping that apart, and so far everything looks fine – just a bit dirty! Of course, the real test will come later, when I pull the heads off. Whatever happens it’ll be having a rebuild anyway, but hopefully I won’t have to replace too much apart from the usual bits.
It also came with a gearbox, but I have no idea what sort it is! the gearknob says it’s a 4 speed, so I doubt it’ll be much good to me. However, I do already have a spare LT77 box for the purpose, so I’m hoping I can at least use the bellhousing from this one. We shall see.
>V8 power then Gary – good luck with the conversion.
You’ll need various other bits and pieces too – like a new subframe I think.
I look forward to seeing you in the car – maybe as you disappear into the distance!
>New subframe, radiator, mounts, propshaft, brakes, suspension… the list goes on. Depending on what I find on the stripdown, the engine itself will probably be the cheapest part of the conversion!
I look forward to seeing you too… in my rear view mirror. 😉
>A Sprint conversion is cheaper in my humble opinion – you don’t need a new subframe and the exhause marries up OK (tho you do need a new exhaust manifold).
The rest of it tho is the same – yes uprated suspension and brakes etc – there’s lots about this on my blog although I do go on about it!