TVR S2 Automatic conversion

[abercoms]

So, having parked the S2 in the outlaws garage 15 years ago for my retirement project, I now have to move it as house is selling, Id like to put it back on the road but for maximum use I need to convert to automatic as wife can only drive automatic with hand control due to having lost both legs, she would just love to be able to drive it. I see various bits and bobs about conversion on the web but due to location in north scotland we dont have folk onhand that know much, Id need a kit of parts or a known shopping list, does anyone know anyone who has actually done a conversion, any specialist company that could do a kit or in general any ideas on how this could actually be done
ta
dave

[Bercilac]

TVR used to offer auto options for the wedges (280 and V8) but I don't know what (if any) chassis mods were required.

I would be tempted to get the car stripped down and just buy a used auto box (Granada or similar I guess) and see if it will physically fit.

It might also be worth just asking Motability about engineering firms they could recommend. Good luck!

[abercoms]

Thanks for reply, but its specifics I need, Im not an engineer, I dont have any good firms up here that do this sort of resto/engineering work

[phillpot]

A nice idea but realistically after sitting for 15 years it may well need a lot more work (=money) than throwing an auto box in?

Had my S getting on for ten years now and don't recall anyone doing an auto conversion and certainly no "off the self" kit!



The sensible answer is sell it and buy something that is already an auto and maybe with power steering and one or two other "home comforts" ?


.... Alternative S

Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 27th November 16:04

[The Big G]

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

As much as we all like the s, sometimes a easier option is better.

This may be worth a look. As others and yourself have said, no issues completing and the cost of a conversion for the auto gearbox. Hand controls should be easily addded by specialists. That’s before you get onto the costs of getting yours up and running again.

[abercoms]

Sorry guys, didnt say, the drive train was all good, id had the body off and chassis repairs all done with new outriggers etc so it was bodywork and appearance that all needed doing. Its just been left due to pressure of business (every time I sat down to do something to it the phone rang), Id intended doing it in retirement but unfortunately both wifes parents passed this year and the garage has to be sold with the house and im not ready to retire, wife suggested spending her inheritance and doing the S2, id suspect that there woudnt be to many folk wanting to come to north of scotland to pick car up if i sold it even for spares and we have enough other cars
ta
dave

[BIG DUNC]

It sounds like a good project, get stuck in.

I would add, that as someone who has recently recommissioned a car that had sat for 12 years, this will be quite a bit of work, even if it was all good last time it ran.

Good luck and keep us informed of progress.

[v8s4me]

abercoms said:

....... Im not an engineer, I dont have any good firms up here that do this sort of resto/engineering work

Don't even go there.

abercoms said:

..... Id intended doing it in retirement but unfortunately both wifes parents passed this year and the garage has to be sold with the house and im not ready to retire.....

I'm sure it's possible but without lots of time, a decent garage and a barrow full of money it may be another 15 years before you see a result.

Buy something "sensible" that already ticks the boxes and enjoy life

[abercoms]

Hi All
Could we restrict this to helpfull to the point replies,
FYI My daily driver Ford Focus RS MK3, my toy Subaru Impreza 22B, last toy Honda S2000, wife has new Golf GTD on order to replace her Merc so we OK for fun cars day to day, we want something thats different. In the past I have restored umpteen MG's, 2 Lotus 7's, Stag, series 2A land rover, and loads of other stuff, we have owned many fast cars cheap and expensive so I know what Im doing, we actually WANT to keep the TVR its just needing engineering work that is beyond me now, if anyone can give me any constructive help to meet our requirements please post, if not keep your fingers off the keyboard
ta
dave

[phillpot]

Ah, the joys of asking a question on a Forum!

So, to be clear, you don't want to swap it for a n other convertable/sports car?

You don't want to/have the time to do any of the work yourself?

You have lots of money?

I'd suggest, if I may, you approach some one like RT Racing down in Sheffield, they know TVR's inside out and like a challenge, and see if they can offer a "budget" price for the conversion?

Would the lack of power steering be an issue?

[v8s4me]

abercoms said:

Hi All. Could we restrict this to helpfull to the point replies, .... ... if not keep your fingers off the keyboard ....ta dave

Only 6 posts on the Forum and he's getting all Trumpy. Maybe Facebook would be a more helpful forum for you?

As Phillpot suggests, give the 'S' to RT racing plus a blank cheque and I'm sure they'll give you what you want.

The wise man learns from his mistakes; but the really smart man learns from other peoples' mistakes

Edited by v8s4me on Wednesday 28th November 18:58

[GreenV8S]

The other avenue you could explore is to approach local race teams and see whether any of them would be interested in taking it on as an off-season project. In my experience they tend to be quite good at making stuff fit and work, where a more conventional fitter might baulk. If you can find anyone who has been involved in the Tuscan Challenge or TVR Race Championship you may even find they're already familiar with some of the design challenges you'll be facing.

[mike various]

There might be someone whose interested in buying it, it depends on price location and condition. !!

As for some advice what about going on the reliant scimitar forum ?

They used to make the scimitar with these engines in both manual and automatic form so bits will be available.

Try www.scimitarweb..co.uk.

You can join at no cost and they are a friendly bunch of chaps.

Just a thought

Mike

[spitfire4v8]

GreenV8S said:

The other avenue you could explore is to approach local race teams and see whether any of them would be interested in taking it on as an off-season project. In my experience they tend to be quite good at making stuff fit and work, where a more conventional fitter might baulk. If you can find anyone who has been involved in the Tuscan Challenge or TVR Race Championship you may even find they're already familiar with some of the design challenges you'll be facing.

Good move.
Leading on from this you have Dreadnought Garage in Callander .. they're TVR friendly, are no strangers to a bit of bespoke engineering work, run a race team (MG based but they know TVRs inside out too) and being a production car garage too they *may* have seen or fitted hand controls previously.

What you're asking for isn't that difficult in the grand scheme of things .. the auto box conversion will be easy especially if you take a complete engine and box from a running donor so you have the torque converter, shift mechanism, throttle kickdown etc all there. The only sticking point is the physical dimensions of the box. It doesn't even have to be a Ford V6 .. any number of suitable modern-ish car engine/box combinations could be made to fit, space permitting. Mazda MX5 with a turbo would be great! or Jag V6 has been fitted to S series previously as well as loads of kit cars. Bmw?. Think laterally.
I don't know if hand controls have to be of an approved type,but any good fabricator will be able to make something strong enough and capable of doing the job once they've seen and understood how a proper conversion is done.

If both you and your wife are going to get pleasure from the conversion then crack on, sounds great.

best wishes.

Edited by spitfire4v8 on Thursday 29th November 08:04

[DamianS3]

I say go for it.

We know ford did an automatic for the 2.9 so start there if it phyically fits then should be pretty straightforward.

Or buy a granada bob24v with auto gearbox (all of them) etc and do both.?

So engine and gearbox are already mated.

Maybe best to buy whole car then you can upgrade brakes both ends too, have a propshaft and diff spare etc..oh and pedals that may be of use?

Track v road could do this for you, talk to Ian tell him i sent you.

Good luck

Damian S3 Duratec 24v

[Kitchski]

Should be do-able. The Cologne was offered with an auto box in its various guises, and your only real hinderance (besides cost and effort) is the physical space in the tunnel, and whether you have enough or not. Sadly I've never seen an auto box from a Sierra or Granada up close.
Regards the chassis, remember if you chop anything off it (asides from body mounts and the like), then you're landed in the realms of requiring an IVA, should you want the car to be 100% legal. You can anything you want, however.

It's the sort of thing we'd normally get asked to do here at Southways, but you're a long way from us!

[Alan Whitaker]

To fit a Ford auto box or any box you have to widen the chassis and the tub by about 4", it can be done but a lot of work unless you are doing a full body off

[Alan Whitaker]

Found a couple of pictures before and after, you do need to make up some sort of Jig, after 15 years storage there might be other chassis parts to replace

[cb500t]

Is there not a newer auto box that can be 'made' to fit a Cologne engine?

[phillpot]

At this rate it'll be.............

A: the Worlds first automatic S

B: The Worlds most expensive S