Only $10,900! For a rotary spit!
Two weeks ago I had my fourth offer on Nigel-for 10k!-even with the oil
pressure issue of the last 2 days-I'm feelin' good!!!!
Laura
Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
----- Original Message -----
From: Nick Moseley <nmoseley@comsavings.com>
To: <Spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 10:11 AM
Subject: RE: Engine Conversion
>
> I found this on Hemmings.com. Don't know if its the GRM car. But if you
> don't feel like building it, you can buy one....
> 1979 Triumph Spitfire, 180 hp rotary, ported headers, Mikuni, Mags, roll
> bar, Konis, carbon Kevlar brakes, show winner, very quick, very reliable,
no
> regrets, $10,900. Dave Swanson, 281-334-3232 home, 713-608-1008 pager, TX.
> There is a picture, but I could not link to it. If you want to see it,
heres
> the order or find it yourself, just trying to help!):
> www.hemmings.com
> -classified Ads
> -Collector cars
> -collector cars For Sale, click GO
> -check mark Triumph, click Continue
> -click Limit my search to certain models,
> -click Spitfire and then Page down and click Go Search.
>
> The 78 above it with hardtop and engine with overdrive for $600.00 also
> looks intriguing, but TX is a long way away from B.C. (Canada)
>
> NFI
>
> Nick Moseley
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: D.T.Gebhard [mailto:kimkell@decaturnet.com]
> Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 5:41 PM
> To: Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com; Spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Engine Conversion
>
>
>
> Grassroots Motor Sports just recently did a story on
> putting a Mazda Rotary Engine in a Spitfire...Called it
> a RoSpit.
> Dave
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com>
> To: <Spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 9:14 AM
> Subject: Engine Conversion
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
|