All this mail about Spit/GT-6 conversions is nice. I really like the
looks of the GT-6, especially the + version (MkII for limeys). I have
owned both spits and GT-6's, of various years, as well as TR-6's and
MGB's of various years.
IMHO, the tastefully executed Spit/GT-6 conversion is a fine car
to drive. Less wind whip than a TR, adequate torque on the freeway, and
a nice sound. The arguments about the handling going down have some
truth, but even with stock suspension parts, the conversion car will
still handle better than an MGB or a TR-6 (in stock form). That's not
too shabby.
For 4 years, I drove my 67 Spit with a hopped-up 1296. Large
main, early head with big valves, Weber then Dual HS-4's, cam, porting, etc.
The GT-6 motor, in stock form, is a more pleasant engine to drive, and
is soooo much smoother.
I have performed three Spit to 6 cyl conversions, and it can
range from a very simple procedure to an exercise in reengineering. If
stock parts (hood, motor, tranny, front susp) from a GT-6 are bolted into
a Spit body of the proper year, the job takes only a weekend. On the
last one I built, I fabbed motor and tranny mounts to retain the spit
hood, and it took only 8 days of labor to complete the whole conversion.
As far as conversions go, It's clean, fairly stock, mostly
respectable, and certainly reversible.
For all intents and purposes, the trannys are the same. The
differentials are even the same part number, so if you don't change the
rear end components, your rearend and u-joint life will range from that
of a spit to that of a gt-6 (which isn't exceptional, but liveable)
I hope this offers some encouragement, I sure have enjoyed the
ones that I've done.
Greg Meboe meboe@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu
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