Curious re v8Conversion
Discussion
It's not cost effective. You could spend hundreds of hours and thousands of pounds on the conversion, and still end up with a car that was not as good as a standard V8, worth lss, and harder to insure. From the financial point of view you're better off putting the money in to trade up to a V8S. Finances aren't always the overriding factor and people do still do conversions, but not because they're sensible.
Okay, how about an alternative? extract the Cologne 2.9V6 and replace with the Cosworth 2.9 V6 found in the Granada? More BHP and torque than a standard 3.5 V8, and about 3 generations more up to date? If i'm not mistaken it'll go straight in on the same box and engine mounts too.....? As far as the insurance is concerned, your still driving a 290S (if you want to bend the truth a little...?)
Is there not an S3 that's had this conversion done?
IanM
Is there not an S3 that's had this conversion done?
IanM
24 valver a little bit of a non-starter on some grounds imo .. hard to get rebuild parts esp the fragile cam chain tensioners and guides, not really as fast as the spec would suggest, great for turboing though (our race car is massively powerful running 24v twin turbo built by boosted ls1 off here, the ONLY man to talk to if you wan 24v stuff doing)
you can do a 3.7 litre bottom end for about 3000 pounds though, add in a cam and /or head work and you have a conversion that looks std and gives massively more hp than the 24 valver
you can do a 3.7 litre bottom end for about 3000 pounds though, add in a cam and /or head work and you have a conversion that looks std and gives massively more hp than the 24 valver
All interesting stuff ,Thanks for the replies.I was asking as I have just bought the TVR and love it, but have a modified V8 which was intended for (and is now definately going into) my MGB.It obvously flashed through my mind about possibly putting it in the S1.5 when the engine eventually goes.Are there any owners around the Manchester area who get together now and again ,or is there somewhere on this site I can find out??
Try your local TVRCC regional group or this might help....
http://mapservices.locaweb.com.br/sho
Longers
http://mapservices.locaweb.com.br/sho
Longers
ianm67 said:
Okay, how about an alternative? extract the Cologne 2.9V6 and replace with the Cosworth 2.9 V6 found in the Granada? More BHP and torque than a standard 3.5 V8, and about 3 generations more up to date? If i'm not mistaken it'll go straight in on the same box and engine mounts too.....? As far as the insurance is concerned, your still driving a 290S (if you want to bend the truth a little...?)
Is there not an S3 that's had this conversion done?
IanM
I've done this conversion to an s2 for Claire and Schnozz and it's a good way to go. Costs went up because a full engine rebuild was done but if you took a chance on a used engine then it's an even more viable conversion AND you could fit forward mounted turbo/s if you wanted 400 plus hp. I haven't heard from them lately about the car but assume the performance is reasonable.
Boosted.
james280779 said:
hey, just out of curiosity, whats the financial damage for a cossie implant by yourself???
I can't really answer that because you aren't being very specific. If you supplied the engine I'd have to remove the old install the new, make a new bespoke shortened loom, provide custom manifolds, relocate the alternator and do some other stuff. So £2k or somewhere in that ballpark.
Boosted.
aquaregia said:
What would be the cost for rebuilding and fitting a new cosworth engine?
If it's new engine it won't need rebuilding but if old then it needs an examination first. Timing chest parts should always be replaced as should the shells and oil pump. Pistons and rings are usually ok. If not then it may as well become a 3.1. A 3.1 forged piston, short motor is £1800. I'm guessing at timing chest parts approaching £600, then there's labour on top. The trick is really to buy a gem of an engine in the first place that doesn't need opening up
Boosted.
james280779 said:
I am looking at buying an old cosworth lump and spending the summer re-building it with a view to fitting it in the winter. any ideas of rough fitting price to an s1?? I understand every tvr is different but a benchmark to aim for would be good.
ta mate
You need manifolds and an alternator relocating kit, assuming your car's the same as an s2 so appx £650. The engine will bolt up on your existing mounts etc.
Boosted.
I may be able to help with regard to fitting a Cosworth lump into an S1, or any other S for that matter, because I have done it.
I am pleased to say the engine totally transforms the car, and its straight line performance, so much so, that I have passed several V8 TVR`s on track days with significantly larger engines. If I had passed one, than you could say it was the driver, but several? I am not sure about a Griffith 500 though, but with a bit of twaeking etc... The V8 sounds great, but is essentially very lazy, and do not put out the power figures TVR quote.
The conversion is baically straightforward, but the two main problem areas are the exhaust and the ECU.
I had a custom header made which cost £500-00 (but is the bollox), and ended up with a bespoke stainless exhaust after the original eventually died a death. This new unique exhaust also improved the whole feel and performance of the car, and gave added ground clearance.
I used an Emerald programable ECU. This was not essential, but it made the wiring a whole lot more simple. A descent car electrician will find it easy to wire in the origninal ford ECU.
Whilst I replaced the engine, I also simplified the cooling system to how it was in the Ford (aluminum Sierra radiator, no swirl pot, and a pressurised header tank), and put some vent holes in the bonnet. I also got rid of the crap mesh from the front of the bonnet, and used a larger mesh. The car now runs fine, without overheating or suffering from fuel vapourisation.
I have the original gearbox, which seems to have survived a fair amount of abuse, but you would say it won`t last forever, but then what does? I also put an LSD in from 4x4 Sierra.
As for the cost and was it worth it? I paid £500-00 for a good known engine with ECU, wiring, and lots of other bits. I guess you could possiby pick this lot up for £300-00, especially if you got the whole car. Someone may be able to help you with a cheaper header and exhaust, but the complete set for me was £950-00. It is hard for me to judge completely, becasue I did quite a lot of other small mods, but I would say you could do it for £1500-00 to £2000-00. I spent nearer £3500-00.
What I have got now, is a unique car (well fairly), that goes like stink. I still have to do work with the suspension set up. Whilst it handles well, it is still TVR ish, and unrefined. The brakes are`nt bad, but I can see me upgrading these at some stage aswell. The car for me was bought as a project (something to tinker with), and it certainly is that.
If all you want, is to get increased performance as cheaply as possible, then I think you are better off buying an S3 and uprating that engine with hotter cams, and some breathing mods. If you want an S1 wolf in sheeps clothing, then the cossie V6 is the way to go. The only problem with the S1 is there are a number details with the basic car, which are just not so good. But I bought my car to modify, do track days, and hoon around in. For this reason, I did not want to spend a lot on a pristine car.
If you need any help, let me know.
I am pleased to say the engine totally transforms the car, and its straight line performance, so much so, that I have passed several V8 TVR`s on track days with significantly larger engines. If I had passed one, than you could say it was the driver, but several? I am not sure about a Griffith 500 though, but with a bit of twaeking etc... The V8 sounds great, but is essentially very lazy, and do not put out the power figures TVR quote.
The conversion is baically straightforward, but the two main problem areas are the exhaust and the ECU.
I had a custom header made which cost £500-00 (but is the bollox), and ended up with a bespoke stainless exhaust after the original eventually died a death. This new unique exhaust also improved the whole feel and performance of the car, and gave added ground clearance.
I used an Emerald programable ECU. This was not essential, but it made the wiring a whole lot more simple. A descent car electrician will find it easy to wire in the origninal ford ECU.
Whilst I replaced the engine, I also simplified the cooling system to how it was in the Ford (aluminum Sierra radiator, no swirl pot, and a pressurised header tank), and put some vent holes in the bonnet. I also got rid of the crap mesh from the front of the bonnet, and used a larger mesh. The car now runs fine, without overheating or suffering from fuel vapourisation.
I have the original gearbox, which seems to have survived a fair amount of abuse, but you would say it won`t last forever, but then what does? I also put an LSD in from 4x4 Sierra.
As for the cost and was it worth it? I paid £500-00 for a good known engine with ECU, wiring, and lots of other bits. I guess you could possiby pick this lot up for £300-00, especially if you got the whole car. Someone may be able to help you with a cheaper header and exhaust, but the complete set for me was £950-00. It is hard for me to judge completely, becasue I did quite a lot of other small mods, but I would say you could do it for £1500-00 to £2000-00. I spent nearer £3500-00.
What I have got now, is a unique car (well fairly), that goes like stink. I still have to do work with the suspension set up. Whilst it handles well, it is still TVR ish, and unrefined. The brakes are`nt bad, but I can see me upgrading these at some stage aswell. The car for me was bought as a project (something to tinker with), and it certainly is that.
If all you want, is to get increased performance as cheaply as possible, then I think you are better off buying an S3 and uprating that engine with hotter cams, and some breathing mods. If you want an S1 wolf in sheeps clothing, then the cossie V6 is the way to go. The only problem with the S1 is there are a number details with the basic car, which are just not so good. But I bought my car to modify, do track days, and hoon around in. For this reason, I did not want to spend a lot on a pristine car.
If you need any help, let me know.
Just another thought. If converting to V8 power, then I believe the S4 and V8S chassis were very slightly wider. Whether this was to accomodate the Rover V8?
Anyhow, if I wanted to put a V8 into an S, it certainly would not be a Rover, but an LS1. But as has been previously said, this would involve a significant number of modifications, which would render the project unviable, unless you wanted to do it out of interest....now there`s a thought, who would suspect an LS1 under the bonnet?
Anyhow, if I wanted to put a V8 into an S, it certainly would not be a Rover, but an LS1. But as has been previously said, this would involve a significant number of modifications, which would render the project unviable, unless you wanted to do it out of interest....now there`s a thought, who would suspect an LS1 under the bonnet?
CTE said:
Just another thought. If converting to V8 power, then I believe the S4 and V8S chassis were very slightly wider. Whether this was to accomodate the Rover V8?
Anyhow, if I wanted to put a V8 into an S, it certainly would not be a Rover, but an LS1. But as has been previously said, this would involve a significant number of modifications, which would render the project unviable, unless you wanted to do it out of interest....now there`s a thought, who would suspect an LS1 under the bonnet?
It won't fit
been there already and the chassis would just twist itself into a corkscrew if you did shoehorn one in somehow. You would need to widen the chassis rails or raise the engine. What you could do is boost a 24v or boost a rv8 from the front. Use a Roterex blower or a turbo. Boosted.
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