Let me say this about that:
A brand new 375 HP Ford 302 will cost you about $4,000, complete, and weighs
35 pounds LESS than the stock TR6 engine.
A Ford 302 with a T5 transmission weighs about 50 pounds less than a TR6
engine with an OD tranny.
A Ford 302 is smaller than the BOP/Rover engine, and only weighs about 60
pounds more.
375 HP from a BOP/Rover will cost an arm, a leg, and a small portion of your
torso.
375 HP in a TR6 gives 6.7 pounds per HP.
To offset 60 pounds at 6.7 lb/hp, it only takes an extra 8.9 HP.
You can buy parts for a Ford engine anywhere; parts for the BOP/Rover are
harder to find.
No way on earth would I use a BOP/Rover when I could use a Ford 302.
For most of us, for most of our driving, a 300HP/302ci engine will be a lot
more fun to drive than a 300HP/151ci engine. And a lot more reliable.
For most of us, for most of our driving, low end torque is more satisfying
than high end horsepower.
Large displacement normally aspirated engines usually give you more low end
torque than small displacement forced induction engines.
Installing a Ford 302 into a TR6 is a LOT easier than installing a modern,
computer controlled, turbocharged 4 or 6 cylinder engine.
Stuffing a V8, any V8, into a TR6 is not all that hard to do. Well within the
capability of anyone with the requisite skills for restoring one.
I had the use, for about a month in February, of a 330HP Chevy 350 powered
TR6, with a Ford 9" rear. Guaranteed, you would not be at all unhappy with
the handling - it was better than stock! And the Chevy engine weighs about
60 pounds more than the TR6 engine. The only really noticible difference
between that car and my stock TR6 was that incredible kick in the back side
when you hit the go-fast pedal. It's addictive.
If I weren't spending all my time publishing the V8 newsletter, maintaining
the British V8 website, answering e-mail requests for help on electrical and
engine swap matters, and trying to write electrical repair manuals, I might
someday get my own Ford 302/TR6 finished!
The name of the game is "HAVE FUN - DO WHAT YOU WANT!"
Have fun, do what you want!
Dan Masters
Alcoa, Tennessee
Triumph TR 250 - TR6 Electrical Maintenance Handbook:
http://members.aol.com/danmas6/
Stuffing a V8 into a small British sports car:
http://www.BritishV8.org/swaps
British V8 Newsletter:
http://www.BritishV8.org/
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