Waynne the admin here and I would like to personally extend a sincere welcome to
TorqueCars. I apologise for the delay in responding; I've had a really busy period recently, but I believe I've caught up now.
What's your budget and what are you aiming for?
I'm certain you'll fit right in, and I'm looking forward to talking cars with you.
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Hi Wayne,
to answer your questions.....
1. Budget..... don't really have one, that said i picked up a good 1991 RR 6.75L V8 for USD1100 on EBay last year, i paid NZ$500 for the Super Snipe with a blown Gearbox..... prompting the conversion.
I do most of the work (Fabrication and Machining) myself, so the budget is time more than actual $, however i expect i will need to spend a bit on Custom Pistons to get the CR up to a healthy 10:1 on this engine as the USA RR V8's are only 8.5:1 ...... looking at well under NZ$10k all in for the finished build.
2. Finished Car will be set up for Street Strip racing, but will be very much a Sleeper, with only the bigger wheels and exhaust giving anything away.
3. What modifications have you previously made......
I have done quite a few engine/transmission/suspension transplants and modifications (porting, CR, piston swaps etc) in the past, both for myself and for friends...... off the top of my head:
-1955 Morris Minor: Marina Van 1300 (1275) Engine and 1100 Van G/box and Drums with booster, lowered 4"
-1961 Mini: Roof Chop (Convertible) and 1330 motor
-1965 MG1100: 1380 motor (86hp at the wheels) and Allegro Disc brake conversion
-1962 Morris Minor Van with Ford 1500 (1740cc) Cortina Motor, (1600 crank, 160 thou OS pistons, hot cam, ported, 11:1 CR), Twin 40mm Sidies, Celica 5spd Box, Escort Diff, Sway-bar, CF Bedford Shocks lowered 4" ..... top speed was 180kph, and averaged at 31MPG (imperial), was set up for touring with a 78L fuel tank, but still did a 16.7 sec on the Drag Strip
-1965 Hillman Super Minx: Converted 4 Door to 2 door Convertible, fitted Triumph 2.5 PI motor and trans (because we had one)
-1965 Mini Race Car (Pre 65 club): 1380 Engine, 45mm sidie, 12.5:1 CR, adjustable suspension, etc Dyno'ed up at 94hp at the wheels at 6000rpm, but pulled to 8500rpm on the track .... 0-100kph was 5.5 seconds
-1965 MG1100: Morris 1800 Engine and Trans conversion into modified Subframe..... to comply with the (1995) Pre 65 Racing regulations after they banned the use of non Cooper S 1275 blocks in Minis. (the common 1300 (1275) block came out in 1969)
-1983 Rover VDP EFI: actually used the original Block and Heads, but my friendly engine recon man fitted a Leyland P76 Crank and Ford 263 V8 pistons to give 4.5L ... Cam'ed and ported, it made around 300hp, however ate Diff's and Celica 5spd, Gearboxes at the rate of 3 in 2 years...... so the car was retired from a daily driver in 2004 and the engine is still awaiting transplant into my MGB project with a Jag Rear End.
-1961 Bedford J2 Bus: Nissan TD42 Turbo Diesel, Intercooler ..... aiming for 250hp .... unfinished house bus project.