I have been off the list for a while now and I am not sure if this thread
has been brought up recently (in the last few months) or not. I apologize,
in advance, if it has.
I am considering an engine swap! Yes, I have some money and I am thinking
about what can be done to make this car (1977 Spit no O/D) MORE of a really
nice daily driver. I am looking for (in the order of importance)
1) reliability
2) ability to cruise at 70 mph on the highway
3) ability to out-accelerate a Geo Metro
So, it seems to me there are 2 (among lesser) possiblilities:
1) Keep 1500 engine (currently WITHOUT O/D) and purchase OD (with newer
gearbox and driveshaft), Rebuild engine, Change thrust washers, Replace
single Zenith (running too rich without any more adjustment left) with
either Weber or Dual-SUs, regrind cam, mill head...etc for (I think) about
$1500-$2000. Aaaahhh!
With this posssibility I still have pesky vapor lock problem to sort out
(possibly replace fuel pump and insulate header pipes with header wrap),
and "questionable" reliability. I MAY be able to out-accelerate a Geo
Metro.
2) Swap the engine with a 5-10 year old foreign (Japanese) pickup truck
or rear-wheel drive engine (100-120 hp maybe).
With this possibility I have "theoretically" MUCH lower maintenance
concerns, major power, and cruising ability. I DEFINITELY will
out-accelerate a Geo Metro (and probably many others). I realize I have
all the I/O to worry about such as: Engine mounting/clearance, Fuel
delivery, Exhaust interfacing, Cooling/Radiator sizing/upgrading,
interfacing the accelerator and clutch cables, interfacing drive shaft,
speedometer interfacing. But none of those sound insurmountable
considering all the benefits I would get. Plus, if the engine/transmission
costs are about $500-700 from a salvage yard, everything else is minimal.
I might have to do this jsut for the cost rationalization!
I know this is the Spitfire list which includes purists, and no-one wants
to see a Spitfire bastardized...BUT I will not destroy the engine and can
put it back in it if I ever want to. Everything I would be doing I would
HOPE could be reversed. After all, all this is because I WANT TO KEEP IT
ON THE ROAD, not in my garage.
So...PLEASE open minded people, what do you think? Would I be making my
life HELL with an engine swap (meaning: after it's 80% done I run into
show stoppers), or will it be the best thing I could ever do under the
circumstances?
Thanks in advance,
John Cousins
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