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Wonder if the motor and trans would fit without butchering much sheet metal so it could be returned to stock? The thought occured to me since I have a running 4A motor(car needs complete resto) and a Spifire that needs a motor. Some other questions are with this hypothetical swap: Does the 4 motor weigh that much more than a 1500? Does this throw off the weight balance of the car ie. front heavy...seems to me the "British V8" guys are always stuffing large motors in their Spits. Are heavy duty springs and shocks necessary? A GT6 hood would take care of engine height. Mmmmmnnn!
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Spitfire Purists will Cringe:TR4A motor in a Spitfire?
- Thread starter karls59tr
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Anything can be done, but....
It would take a fair bit of butchering, probably almost as much so for the gearbox as for the engine.
I do believe the wet liner is much heavier, but I don't know that it's any heavier than the Triumph six. But yes, it would change the balance for the worse (as does the GT6 swap).
You would definitely need GT6 or better springs...and at least front brakes.
In summary, I wouldn't recommend it unless you've a Spitfire that's already so far gone as to be otherwise not economically "restored"!
It would take a fair bit of butchering, probably almost as much so for the gearbox as for the engine.
I do believe the wet liner is much heavier, but I don't know that it's any heavier than the Triumph six. But yes, it would change the balance for the worse (as does the GT6 swap).
You would definitely need GT6 or better springs...and at least front brakes.
In summary, I wouldn't recommend it unless you've a Spitfire that's already so far gone as to be otherwise not economically "restored"!
I had considered a GT6 engine if one could be found locally. So the GT6 swap changes the balance for the worse! I thought the GT6 and Spitfire were closely enough related that it wouldn't be much of an issue but I'm just learning about these cars. Is there really that much difference weightwise between the 4cyl and 6 to throw the handling off? Is it a pretty straightforward swap to put GT6 springs and front brakes into a Spitfire? Are any major modifications required to install a GT6 motor in a Spitfire?
Marvin Gruber
Yoda
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Spit sixes are usually a GT6 with a spitfire tub. As Andy said, a lot more work to put the GT6 motor in the Spitfire.
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In a typical Spitfire, virtually all of the engine sits behind the front axle "center line"; with the six -- a good 200 lbs. or more heavier, it's pretty much a matter of the front two cylinders being forward of that center line.
As Marvin notes, the "best/easiest" way to make a "Spitfire 6" is to perform necessary modifications to a Spitfire tub to drop it onto a rolling, complete GT6 chassis!
As Marvin notes, the "best/easiest" way to make a "Spitfire 6" is to perform necessary modifications to a Spitfire tub to drop it onto a rolling, complete GT6 chassis!
HerronScott
Darth Vader
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Plus not doing it hopefully keeps a TR4A whole. 
Scott
Scott
Pretty easy to put the six in a Spitfire, the frames are mostly the same. Although the bigger brakes and heavier springs are desireable, they are not necessary,but the car would nose dive under braking without them...
You would need the GT6 front uprights, they aren't the same as the Spit.
Unless you want the GT6 rotoflex rear suspension, you can use everything on the spit chassis, just modify the radiator brackets.
You would need the GT6 front uprights, they aren't the same as the Spit.
Unless you want the GT6 rotoflex rear suspension, you can use everything on the spit chassis, just modify the radiator brackets.
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Quite a bit of info about Spits and GT6 at this site by Tegler. Teglerizer
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Right! Essentially, to "upgrade" to the GT6 brakes, one simply replaces everything between the upper and lower A-arms. GT6s had larger calipers (Girling Type 16 as found also in TR6) and rotors (9.7" v. 9" for Spitfire), and a beefier spindle and bearings. Also, the GT6 engine requires a different front suspension turret (the part that bolts to the chassis). Oh, and to compensate for the heavier engine, the GT6 also had a "slower" steering rack, etc., etc., etc.Don_R said:
As I said before, to make a "GT6 convertible" out of a Spitfire, it's usually easier to modify the Spitfire body as needed to drop onto a complete GT6 chassis with bonnet.