Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
IMO, there isn't room for the rest of the things that will matter in a Spitfire. I am not saying it can't be done, but it would be a clever trick if it can.
You need room for a intercooler, then more room for the turbo unit, all the plumbing, and a total new exhaust.
Actually, there's room for all of that, as a lot of people put in turbo 4 cyls in them. Quite a few peopel put small block V8s in them, as well.
The air dam's kind of hacked up on this example (I'm sure you could do a much better job):
But under the hood is a turbo 2.3 liter Ford:
This one has a little bit of bulge in the hood:
Because under the hood is a V8:
That's the Buick/Olds/Rover aluminum V8 that actually weighs the same as the stock cast iron 4 cyl.
Point is, a 1.6 or 1.9 liter VW turbodiesel is going to fit easily.
First time I have seen rads and intercoolers laid down reversed from say a Xk 140 jag. The jag had the bottom of it's rad forward alot from the top.
That 3rd pic from the bottom up has the air filter in a dicey spot huh? Just engough room to turn the ft wheels hard left.
I recall the L Jet air flow meter well from Volvo. Can't ID that engine though. You say it is a Ford engine 2.3 so that must be right.
And yeah I would have made a more rounded air dam.
I wonder what the red and green cars are in pic 1? Remind me of Sunbeams, but I can't be sure.
I wonder how the spline wheel adpaters hold up? The perhaps are modified somehow. I can't see the tiny splines taking all that much added power/torque. I still have a 'Thor' knock off hammer and a wrench. I foget what the wrench fit, but think it might have been for a B-100 or a 3000 mdl Austin Healy.
A lot of guys are using new uprights on Spitfires and MGs to put modern brakes and modern wheels on the cars (and often to get rid of the old lever shocks). My buddy has a GT6 (which is the 6 cyl fastback, fixed roof version of the Spitfire) that has a Ford 289 V8 and a Ford rear end now, so he modded the front suspension to take Mustang II brakes (not the entire MII suspension, liek the hot rodders do, however).
Again, the point is swaps with much more powerful, much larger engines are common in these cars (and MGBs, Midgets, etc). A TDi is barely a blip on the radar screen of what's possible to do cheaply.
I have a line on a 1956 Ratheon B&W TV. It would be a good project compared to a Triumph Spitfire. With an engine swap and a front to back restoration, you then have a $25,000 vehicle that has no collectible value and might, just might be worth $6000. It will not handle any better than the roller skate it was in 1970 and you will need a kidney belt to drive it to the next town. Of course, if you had your first successful date in this particular car, go for it. Otherwise, start with something that will have been worth doing at the end of the project.
I have a line on a 1956 Ratheon B&W TV. It would be a good project compared to a Triumph Spitfire. With an engine swap and a front to back restoration, you then have a $25,000 vehicle that has no collectible value and might, just might be worth $6000. It will not handle any better than the roller skate it was in 1970 and you will need a kidney belt to drive it to the next town. Of course, if you had your first successful date in this particular car, go for it. Otherwise, start with something that will have been worth doing at the end of the project.
Even though I've liked a lot of your posts, I'm beginning to think you're not really very knowledgeable when it comes to things that aren't Jeeps in the midwest.
I'd like to see some evidence of the wide range of vehicles you've built as projects/customer cars to get some perspective on where your opinion actually comes from.
Even though I've liked a lot of your posts, I'm beginning to think you're not really very knowledgeable when it comes to things that aren't Jeeps in the midwest.
I'd like to see some evidence of the wide range of vehicles you've built as projects/customer cars to get some perspective on where your opinion actually comes from.
I question your need to personalize this matter. I'm not qualifying myself to you. The project sucks. Anyone who would waste time on it makes a mistake. If you stick to that, I'll be nice to you. If not, I can do that too.
First, go back and re-read the thread. You will see that I never suggested that a Cummins or any other motor be swapped into the Spitfire. I was responding to a turn in the discussion toward other diesel swaps. I wouldn't put anything in a Spitfire. And, I wouldn't swap any diesel into a roadster. Would you? As a drop dead perfectly restored original vehicle it isn't worth anything much. With a 75 hp TDI in it, its scrap value. Perfectly restored and running maybe 6000-8000.
Why don't you see if you can find something about my posts denigrating this project that you disagree with.
Do you think a Spitfire is a good classic British roadster to start with? Do you think a motor swap makes sense? Make your best argument instead of trying to disqualify me.
EDIT:
Here is a frame off restoration on Ebay today with a Buy it Now price of $9000 and no offers. With an engine swap the car might be worth half that - in perfect condition.
I hadn't heard the word Heralds for 40 years maybe more concering anything not a newspaper. I had forgotten lever shocks and even rebuilding them.
I thought that shock set up looked odd too, but with that kinda time you might see why I forgot what stock was.
Wilson some novelty goes with some things, of no value at all. My whole life seems to be based on that since I like the trinkets I have, while not a one is worth anything.
My yami bike that came off a scrap heap in a auto salvage yard isn't worth a thing in terms of $$$, but I still have a good time with it, riding or working.
I got a 4 bolt main chevy 350 engine, and if I had a sports car body layin around, after reading this I just might have at droppin it in for grins. It's a dime a dozen engine, but a pretty good one, with lots of options, and I have a spare hotter cam too.
I would rather drop it in a rust free oldest as I can get 4x4 truck body, but haven't looked since jingle is so darn tight these days. The oldest possible body style might save me 10 bucks registering it.
I can see working up a project that no one else has just to have it. Or something that means something to me if no one else. I think my Mercedes Unimog fits that bill. I just didn't appreciate being personally attacked because I ridiculed a silly project that deserved ridicule. The Unimog doesn't make any sense either but when people point that out to me, I just agree with them and ask if they want a ride. They always want a ride.
Oh yeah that's right Wilson, that unimog is a junker, no use fer it or anything like it. I mean who needs a slow rock crawer anyway?
When you gonna drop that off over here any way ;D
With a rig like that I would 'Be the Man' plowing in winter. That rig is my first choice next is a 1949 Dodge Power wagon with 16:1 rear reduction and a wicked big winch.
Both could have saw boxes and gun racks galore. My idea of heaven in winter.
Oh yeah that's right Wilson, that unimog is a junker, no use fer it or anything like it. I mean who needs a slow rock crawer anyway?
When you gonna drop that off over here any way ;D
With a rig like that I would 'Be the Man' plowing in winter. That rig is my first choice next is a 1949 Dodge Power wagon with 16:1 rear reduction and a wicked big winch.
Both could have saw boxes and gun racks galore. My idea of heaven in winter.
If my sons don't come over and help me with the patio furniture I'll put you in my will instead of them.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
