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Spitfire v-8 in a spitfire

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simpzimmer

simpzimmer

Senior Member
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I ran into a guy at a gas station yesterday eyeballing my Spit' and saying how much he liked the cars. He told me that Spitfires have 2 holes specially cut into the firewall to fit a 280? Ford engine that was released by Shelby. He also told a story about Shelby customizing some Spitfires or something of the sort. Was this guy full of hot air or is there really a story here?
 
There's a guy in Tuscaloosa here that has a pretty green spit, with a cowl induction style hood bulge on it... He told me he had set up to istall a v-8, but the guy that was to help him (and knew how to do it) died before they got on it. He installed a v-6 instead I believe.
 
I would think a 289 would twist a Spit in half. You'd almost have to go tubular frame. There wouldn't be many Triumph parts left on the car when you were done.
 
Look in the classifieds. There's a Spitfire with a 350 chevy. It's been there for a long time.
As for the guy at the gas station. He's full of hot air. Like Simon said, most people think all British cars look alike. The ones who do know a little, usually only repeat "The Prince of Darkness" when they see you looking under the hood. Add them to your prayer list, they don't know what they're missing.
 
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I would think a 289 would twist a Spit in half

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Doubt that. Rear end would break long before that would happen, and a 289 is not that powerful... I installed a SBC in an extremly rusty '74. I wound up scrapping the idea about 1/2 way through due time restraints.(GRM 2005 Challenge, + newborn = car didn't get done) Anyway, by the time I was done bulding the chassis there was not too much Spitfire left. As for the firewall having "special" cutouts, that's a load of bunk. I wound up cutting about 1/3 of the firewall out just to get the motor under the hood. I agree, musta confused it with a Tiger, but they used a big hammer, not cutouts! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Sunbeam 'Tigers' were fitted with two engines;..The early 1964 to 1966 had Ford 260 cube(I owned the 260)(not 280)engines,The later Tigers 1966 to 1967 had Ford 289 cube engines both running structures were designed by 'Shelby'Both had Borg Warner t5 short throw tranny's & a panard rod & a British Salisbury rear-end.I owned one 260 and can testify they are fast!The misinformed gentleman that told you that about v8 Spitfires?It was a flim-flam.,just comfort conversation.I also know that some flim-flammers took a standard Sunbeam 4 & shoved a v8 in & called it an'ALGER'(ALpine tiGER):-O many were sold to unsuspecting Ebayers & taken for a ride,most of those shook apart because the understructure wouldn't hold together..pity. I still don't own one,But my restored Spitfire does just fine,not a super car but a classic British road performer.
 
Ken, I realize you put 'Shelby' in quotes so I'm not trying to correct that statement. Just a bit more clarification. The R&D work for the tiger was done at 'Shelby American' but the actual engineering and design work was carried out by Ken Miles, who as well as being an engineer, was one of Shelby's drivers and I believe was killed during testing of the 'King Cobra'.

At least that was what Carrol Shelby told me (and a bunch of others) at one of the Shleby American Collections holiday get togethers. BTW, for those that do not know. There is a museum of sorts on the North East side of Boulder dedicated to Shelby American history. More info here: https://www.shelbyamericancollection.org/index.html

The museum is always changing the displays as cars rotate in and out. Many of the owners of these cars still vintage race them and are not afraid to mix it up when on the track. Neat place, neat people and the holiday parties allow you to get right up close to legends and rub elbows with them. The list of people that I have not only seen at the events but actually had one on one conversations with include... Carrol Shelby, Phil Hill, Bob Bondurant, Pete Brock, Dave Friedman (team photographer), and the list actually does go on but you get the idea. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BTW, the first Cobra also used the 260 V8. Shelby talked Lee Iaccoca into giving him 289's because the 260 would blow up if you tried to repeatedly rev it past 5k rpm. That was the beginning of the Shelby/Ford relationship.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Hi Shawn;Some of us may not have not known all the particulars,good reading....Just a little correction..The word Shelby wasn't in quotes "" Just some exemplification.It is a little strange though that their isn't MORE emphasis on the Tiger at anything in the fore when Shelby is mentioned,whether on the internet at shows etc?If Shelby had his name on a project i think it should be right up front with the rest of his memorabilia.,Just seems The Tiger was blacklisted somewhere down the line.Thats a feeling i've gathered down through the years.It is also a shame that Chrysler didn't find a way to replace the Ford engines with the 318 v8 that would have been a wild show,I understand the 318 was a little wide & deep to work.Chrysler STILL owns the 'Tiger'name,maybe it'll make a comeback like what i hear BMW's doing with the Triumph name.And you never see a Tiger auctioned at Barrett Jackson,because no one wants to part with the good ones.
 
I think you already sort of nailed it as to why Shelby's name isn't more prominent. The Rootes Group association with Chrysler (though I thought that happened after the initial production of Tigers, somewhere between the MkI's and MkII's, not for sure though). Also because just the development mules were done by Shelby American, they didn't actually do the production vehicles. Also, the Tigers attempts at international sports car racing were abject failures. Especially LeMans. Though they did very well at rallying. Those failures at the 'big show' were huge blackmarks on the Tigers pedigree though the cars are remembered fondly. Cobra's were just another American attempt at European sports car racing until they started winning. With every win the legend grew. Even Carrol admits that the legend is bigger than reality.

Good stuff though.

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And you never see a Tiger auctioned at Barrett Jackson, because no one wants to part with the good ones.


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There must be other reasons... otherwise they'd never be sold....
 
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I know a chap over here in the UK who has successfully put a Rover V8 into his Spit. I've also seen a TVR V8 in a TR7 FHC!!!

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There have been people that have done such a thing. I think the original question was regarding any production specials with V8's in a Spitfire. Even if by an aftermarket company. Like the Cortina Savage (and yes I know that was a 3 litre Essex V6 in the Savage and not a V8).

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
fords or chevs v8's in triumphs
BLASPHEMY!!!!
rob
 
A little off subject, but I believe the two holes were access points to get to the rear sparkplugs on the Tiger..
 
Was just looking at the web site for Triumph Spitfire & GT 6 Magazine. If you go to the site map, there is a section dealing with engine swaps into Spitfires. Seems to be a pretty popular thing to do... I suspect because of the ease of access afforded by the "clamshell" bonnet.
Take care Bob
 
AS always;...ENLIGHTNMENT rules...Maybe WE just brought SOME valued recognition for someone that didn't know.LOVE THOSE LBC's whatever the breed.,LONG LIVE OLD BRITISH IRON.Incidently i was at the post office today with WhiteLightning & an older gentleman drove up beside me with his GIANT new lincoln & he must have talked my leg off about he SSoo remembers his 1957 Tr.His memory opened up like a overipe melon.We relived his Triumphant past and it brought a BIG SMILE.He wanted to know all about the history of mine,Just left him with a good feeling.He must have been in his 80's..Its just sorta common wherever WL goes.
 
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