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flylear45

flylear45

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I want to say hello to you all, and introduce myself.
I'm Jim from Ravenna, OH. I've been into TR's for 20+ years, and had a 69 Spit (my first LBC) many TR250's, 6's and 7's, and a few MGB's to boot. I currently drive a 88 Merkur, after selling my sorely missed 944T. I have a 1976 TR6 with air from North Carolina waiting daily driver restoration, and am restoring a rust-free 1974 TR6 to sell to finance my other cars. A TR250 in pieces also is in the back barn awaiting restoration.

My 'crazy project' is a rust-free 1979 TR7 with no drivetrain I'm going to re-engine for next Fall hopefully. Here's the options I'm considering:

1. I have a rebuilt 1986 5.0 Mustang motor and T5 tranny with Explorer accessories including crank wheel for EDIS ignition suitable for a Megasquirt fuel and spark control. I've test fit it in the bay, and I think I'm gonna have hood issues.... maybe need to put a 'bulge' in it. I have a 8.8 Ford rear with 3:45 gear and Tracloc to take the power after some strengthening of attach points. Anyone done anything with this motor care to advise me?

2. I have several 2.3l 4 cylinder turbo motors with T5 trannies that WILL fit under the hood if I shorten and rotate the upper, or fab a plenum intake. The plus side is an easy 250+ HP, but the motor is heavy (nearly the same weight as a 5.0 with Al heads) and , let's say, less than smooth.

So, there are my options, what do you think? You can't hurt my feelings, so don't hold back! I'm not a fan of the Rover motor, so it's out. Too much $$ for HP, plus I'm at a point where I like to be unique, and the Rover option is too easy.
The motor I'd LIKE to use is the recent Ford Duratec 2.0 or 2.3 with Mazda/Ford 5-speed ala Ranger 2001-. It's 200lbs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif with a 16v dual overhead cam head. I'm waiting for the aftermarket to catch up with it, though.

Let's hear it!

Jim
 
Jim, I can't say I've ever done a swap like your talking about, but I was at a British car show and show a Ford 5.0 in a TR7, so you won't be the first to try it. He did have to put an air scoop in the hood and beef up the whole front end. I talked to the owner very briefly and he did say he loved it and it was fast, but of course he's not going to say it was a pain in the ###. I did not get his name, so I can't turn you on to him. I know this doesn't really help you, but good luck with your project and let us know if it works out.
 
Dude,
I am trying to do the same thing. I've only found hood issues with the distributor, but then I am planning on using a low rise intake and carb. The trans seems to fit very well with a little transmission mount modification. I will have to use TR8 radiator and A/C evap mounts in order to set the radiator back some. I haven't done anything with the front end, so if you come up with some idea's, let me know. Keep in touch. I would like to know how it goes. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hi Jim and welcome. Don't think I have seen your conversion on the TR7 yet, but on a TR6 some years ago. The best I've seen was a Chevy 350 with auto and fuel injection on the TR7 out of a Camero, done by Randy Cox from the Porsche garage in Mooresville,NC (home of some big NASCAR shops). He used the whole drive train and front end. With the fenders flared it looked like it came that way, They could have sold a MILLION!!! Me too. Wayne
 
As long as you've gone over to the darkside why not the 3.8 blower motor from the park ave ultra??? They say its not the same as the regular 3.8(which would bolt in)but it would fill the bill in the HP dept.
MD(mad dog)
 
Welcome!!!
3800V6 is a good torquey motor, but it is heavy and has a plastic intake manifold that is prone to leaks. The supercharger adds a whole 40hp!!! My wife's Olds Intrigue is 0-60 in 7.7 (okay, I replaced the intake, so it's a little faster now) and has the 200hp 3800V6... The Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Regal with the supercharged 3800 actually track test at the same acceleration as the N/A Olds.

If you want to get really wacky, try to figure out a way to put in a 2.2L Dodge/Chrysler TurboIII engine -- that's the Lotus made 16V engine for Spirit R/T and Daytona R/T...224hp. My 150HP TurboI Dodge is good for 0-60in 7.5 through an automatic. Problem -- I think they're all transverse and designed for FWD!

There was a 5.0L MGA at the All-British-Field Meet here in the NW, but I've never seen it run.
 
Thanks for the welcome! Seems like a good group of people here.

mailbox, you and I need to talk and compare notes. I wish the V8 had a rear sump. The front of the motor IS the issue in getting hood clearance.

MDCanaday, I can get my HP goals with the motors I have on my shop floor now, and already have the 5-speed trannies. Since I have a Ford rear also, it simplifies the driveshaft some too. Now if someone had a good cheap Duratec around..Hmmmm.

sammyb, My 8v TurboFord can make 300HP on the stock block, and already is bolted to a hydraulic clutch 5-speed. My Merkur has 175 stock HP with that motor also in a RWD configuration. I also happen to have 4 complete 2.3 motors around /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif The Dodge is a good motor, but I don't have any, and as you say there's the RWD trans issue.

I'll try to keep some fresh photos up on my web site https://home.adelphia.net/~jimmble/index/Page_1x.html as I get going. I've flip-flopped so many times on which of these motors to use, I may not decide until the last minute. Today I'm leaning toward the 2.3 turbo. Especially since I just had to move all my blocks around this weekend! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif


Jim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I agree getting the engine further down in the chassis is key. The split sump oil pan on a lot of 5.0 engines work fairly well. It will just fit over the rack & pinion. I have considered moving the rack back a little bit, but I'm not sure it would help much, might even make lining things up a little harder. If you go with an EFI setup, you are most likely going to have to use a buldge of some sort. One of the old Z28 scoops would look cool in my opinion. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Jim,

You might want to check out this site if you haven't already. British V8
 
Thanks for the link, Tony. I think my website is listed on Dan's site under TR250. I was thinking originally about putting the 2.3T in my parts 250, but then the TR7 came along and.....

Jim
 
Welcome! I love TR7s and have always liked the idea of one with a neat engine swap.

3.8L Buick V6 motor fit well. John's Cars even has a kit. The 3.8L V6 evolved from the Rover V8 (when it was a GM engine) by lopping off two cylinders and making it all iron. The 70s odd-fire ones are duds but all the others have a good aftermarket. The turbo 3.8 in the Grand National would be the wild option. Myself I'd pick the 200hp version from the last couple years of Camaro or Firebird with the T5 manual tranny.

A friend has a TR7 with a Ford Cologne 2.8L V6.
 
I think the 302 will fit under the hood if you go with a low rise intake, and a hugger air cleaner. My boss put a 302 in a 3000 Healy back March and it fit like a charm with those parts.
 
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