Owning a TR7 and a Spit, I have a little knowledge here... and a LITTLE
knowledge is a dangerous thing!
The *early* TR7 transmission (the 4-speed) is supposedly the same as the
Spitfire 4 speed. Not a good fit for a 2L engine with decent torque and a
heavier car.
The later 5 speed TR7 boxes are the same as TR8's and (I think) some Rovers.
The 5 speed box is not large, takes LOTS of torque well, and requires a
different bellhousing than the 4-speed.
I have a spare 5-speed that I would LOVE to drop in my 4000RPM/75MPH Spit to
bring the revs down! Anybody on the list done this or know anyone who has?
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-spitfires@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-spitfires@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Graham Stretch
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 7:04 AM
To: Michael T. Altomare
Cc: List Spitfires
Subject: Re: ENGINE SWAPPING
Hi Michael
Whether you could find one is a different matter but the 2L TR7 engine would
fit, bolt up to the Spit bell housing or maybe use the TR7 box which is
basically the same, these came with fuel injection for some territories. I
have also seen the 16 valve Dolomite Sprint engine fitted to a Spit though
the first thing the owner did on arrival at the camping weekend was shear
his wheel studs clean off, though he should have been using the bigger studs
and nuts from the Dolomite which are a straight fit in the hubs! I hope to
work out how to fit injection to my Sprint, I was thinking along the lines
of the Bosch K-Jet system from a VW Golf GTI 16V as this should be a
reasonably comparable installation.
Graham.
2500PI MKII
Sprinted Dolomite
2000 MKI
1300 Toledo
1300 front wheel drive
http://members.tripod.co.uk/TriumphIW/index.html
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael T. Altomare <MTAltomare@Prodigy.net>
To: Spitfire News Group <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 11:23 PM
Subject: ENGINE SWAPPING
>
> I have done a lot of web browsing lately, looking for engine swaps
> that
> people have done in the past to their Spitfires. With the exception
> of
> installing a GT6 engine, the only engine swaps that I have found so
> far seem
> rather radical in that they use relatively large engines. They are:
>
> Rover 3.5L V8
> Chevy 350 V8
> Ford 2.8L V6
> Mitsubishi 2000 Turbo
> Ford 302 V8
> Chevy 2.8L V6
> Buick 3.8L V6
>
> I am considering an engine swap, but I want to choose an engine and
> transmission that will allow me to:
> - use a modern, reliable, fuel injected engine with increased power,
> but not enough that I have to change the rear end.
> - use a 5 speed overdrive transmission.
> - use the engine and transmission from a similar sized car so any
> modifications to the car itself will be as small as possible.
> - make the swap completely unnoticeable unless the bonnet is open.
>
> What about the engine and transmission from a Mazda Miata? As
> blasphemous as this might sound, it makes sense. Both cars are about
> the same size and weight. (I've heard rumors that they copied right
> off of a Spitfire). The
> 90-93 1.6L engine puts out 116 HP, and the 94-97 1.8L engine puts out
> 128 HP. I don't have any dimensional or weight information yet, but
> the Miata engine and transmission will certainly be lighter than the
> Triumph 1493
> engine and gearbox.
>
> I don't want to start a war in the newsgroup, but I am looking for
> opinions on this. I also want to find out about other successful
> swaps that I can or should consider.
>
> Michael Altomare
> '77 Spitfire 1500
> Kennesaw, GA
>
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