> As for weight...I could lift the Alpine engine (w/o head) out of the
>Alpine,
> and set it on a fender before I climbed out....the V-8's even without
>heads
> were very heavy with a thick crank and eight pistons.
>
> I don't think the Buick V8 was lighter than just about any 4 cylinder
>around,
> except for Pontiac Tempest's 194 c.i. slant four ,which was half of the
389 V8.
My info says Tempest slant 4 is 470lbs (yikes!).
>
> My guess was the Alpine engine full up was 180 lbs and the V8's full up
>were
> 300 lbs.
The word on the street is that the MGBV8 swap results in a lighter car.
Figures I have show the Buick 215 at 320lbs and the Leyland 1800 at 335.
The 1800 has a cast head so I wouldn't be surprised if the Alpine mill is a
bit lighter than the Leyland but its not 155lbs lighter. The engine weight
list I have is mostly 'mericun 'arn and some race car motors but there are a
few exotics and imports. The 215 is lighter than some fours on the list and
heavier than others but it isn't one sided.
I'd agree that the 289/302 (at 460lbs) is a nice light, compact package. In
a practical sense the Ford has far greater HP potential because of the
availability and lower cost of performance goodies (at least here in the
States).
Could you retain the Alpine steering, as someone suggested, because the
lighter aluminum engine is not such a liability far forward in the bay?
Those Buick and Rover V8s are pretty long but so are the Fords and Miles got
a Ford to fit by using electric fans in front of the radiator. I think the
only thing for it would be for someone out there to try it and let us all
know how it goes!
Frank Marrone MK I Tiger B9471116
marrone@wco.com 1966 LTD
Series I Alpine (2.3L powered by Ford)
Yamaha Seca 900
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