I agree with Chris in keeping a Spitfire as original as possible. A
Spitfire with a non-Triumph engine is no longer a Spitfire. Putting a Jap
engine in one (or any other engine for that matter) would be sac religious,
heretical, satanic, WHITCHCRAFT!! :-)
Reid
'79 Spitfire (original owner)
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris De Wet [mailto:DeWetC1@sapo.co.za]
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 11:33 PM
To: 'Michael T. Altomare'; Spitfire News Group
Subject: RE: ENGINE SWAPPING
Importance: High
Michael
Don't know if it's available on your side of the pond , but in South Africa
the most popular swap is with the Nissan ( Datsun ) 1400 . It's supposed to
be a direct swap , but I've never done it , so no exact info available .
I've also seen a Mk3 Spitfire with a TR 7 unit fitted .
Personally I like to keep my cars as original as possible , but have been
known to entertain thoughts of a GT 6 swap . :-)
Best wishes .
Chris de Wet
South Africa
One '56 TR 3 with o/d , two Heralds and four early Spitfires without o/d .
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael T. Altomare [mailto:MTAltomare@Prodigy.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 12:24 AM
To: Spitfire News Group
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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