TRIUMPH ENGINE CONVERSIONS

[Spit73]

Hi, i have been offered a Spitfire 1500 which i want to buy, power is a little dull in standard form so im looking at an engine upgrade/conversion. After some internet checking im looking at 3 options, any advice or ideas from you would be greatly appreciated.
Option 1 mgcars.org.uk can supply a 5 speed gearbox and Rover K series engine, that goes into Spitfire with min mods, looks good tunable engine but is expensive option.

Option 2 buy a 1.8 20v turbo engine in the form of a complete car like a Volks passat, Audi, Seat etc, which can be had 70k mileage for around £1100 and transfer all needfull into the Spitfire, good tunable engine and most of Spitfire running gear can take up to a maximum of 150hp without converting too much, this engine would be 150bhp in standard form, not too crazy torque.

Option 3 source a SAAB early 2.0 litre16v  turbo engine, this engine was originally derived from Triumph, i quote direct from the 'source' wikipedia ..'''16v turbo engines are easily tunable and highly available. May also fit in Triumph Herald and Triumph Dolomite, which as it is derived from the Triumph Slant-4 engine and bolt it up to the Triumph 5-speed'''.  This would appear to look a good option,

please help!

[Nick Jones]

K series will go but not sure it is a simple conversion to do properly
see:
http://crazyspitfire.blogspot.com/

Saab engines have had very little resemblance to anything Triumph since the late 70s so I'd take anything written about them bolting straight onto Triumph gearboxes which a large pinch of salt.....

I'm not aware of anyone fitting VAG group engines.  Doesn't mean it can't be done.

Ones that are done regularly:
Triumphs own 6 cylinder (on 2 or 2.5 L form) creating a convertible GT6
Ford Zetec 2.0 with Type 9 5 speed.
Vauxhall XE 2.0 with Ford T9 or Vauxhally own 5 speed
Toyota 4 AGE and T50 5 speed
Rover V8 and LT77 5 speed.

Apart from the 6 cylinder conversion, the Ford Zetec is probably the easiest and cheapest to do.

Standard rear end and brakes are marginal at best on any of those if you intend to exploit the extra power to any degree.

Nick

[yogi]

I'd definitely go for the Triumph six. Can't imagine why anyone would look anywhere else. I'm sure the 2.5 can be tuned to produce more than enough power for a Spitfire to handle but more to the point, with a decent exhaust, the sound of the straight six is unbeatable. Power isn't everything, it has to sound good too.

[G.in_Lux]

Or fiddle the 1500?
Should be able to up the power (not to ludicrous levels, obviously).

[Mark Hammond]

1500 definitely not known for its strength, especially when tuned for more bhp.

M.

[Nick Jones]

1218 wrote:

1500 definitely not known for its strength, especially when tuned for more bhp.

M.

'Tis ok if properly built and balanced - provided you don't want to rev it all the time.

Nick

[Toledo Man]

How could you forget Triumph's own slant 4 lumps? (1850, TR7 and Sprint) This has also been done and the Sprint lump in standard from produces just short of 130 bhp. If you go down the Triumph 6 pot route you would be better off dropping you Spit body straight onto a GT6 rolling chassis then you won't have to mess about uprating everything else to cope with the extra power. I'm faily sure the GT6 chassis would cope with a 2.5 lump.