TR7 LexusV8 conversion

Started by Dan B, August 26, 2013, 08:45:07 AM

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MGBV8

In my TF?  May still go with a TD 1250 that I have. The original TF 1500 is long gone.
Carl

waterbucket

If you look under drivetrain issues you will see that I am attempting to fit a 4.6 dohc modular engine in an MGB and have had a trial fitting without exhaust headers and it will fit. Whether I will manage to get headers to fit in the tight space  that is left is another matter!
The engine weighs 440 lbs (200kg) it is 235/8 inches long 28 inches wide and 28 inches high. I have mated it to a T5 gearbox using a 302 bellousing with the dowel holes drilled out to 16mm. My engine is a new 1999 Cobra with 320 bhp.
 The mk VIII engine is the same dimensions except it is only 24 inches high.
I also looked at fitting the lexus engine but decided it was just too wide at the sump and with cheap modular engines in the UK decided to give it a try.

Dan B

Here is a pic of the motor mounts we will be using.
motor mounts.jpg

MGBV8

Hmm, those look like an improvement over what we use in the BV8 conversions. Wonder if they are close enough to work.
Carl

Dan B


Dan B

New radiator just arrived yesterday. Tentative plans for next work weekend at Jim's is Oct.12-14.  I get Columbus Day as a holiday.  
summit radiator.jpg

BlownMGB-V8

I think that will work OK. Let's check with Steve (and Carl). We can do a little work on the race car too.

Jim

Dan B

Poly Subframe bush set from Woody.
poly subframe bush set.jpg

Dan B

The poly subframe bushes came from Woody yesterday.
poly subframe bush set.jpg

BlownMGB-V8

What's left, strut parts and maybe some exhaust couplers?

Jim

BlownMGB-V8

Dan B posting here.  I wrote this post on Jim's computer and he was already logged in.

It has been an intense weekend working on the TR7 so far.  I have pictures to post, but am writing this from Jim's laptop so I will need to put those up later.  Immense thanks to Jim for all his hard work and expertise.  He fabricated awesome engine mounts to allow for a clean shot for the steering shaft.  Also thanks to Carl for coming up on Saturday and lending a "calibrated eye"

The australians said this engine looks like it grew there, and they are right!  I think a Toyota engineer must have used a TR7 for a mule or something.  The oil sump fits right in the recess in the subframe and there is a depression in the front of the pan to clear the steering rack.  The plenum exactly fits in the stock TR7 hood bulge.

Today we are going to modify the tranny crossmember to accept a Supra transmission mount, then put the car in the barn until the next trip.
'

BlownMGB-V8

Dan is headed home, might as well add my two cents in. The fit of this engine in this car is nothing short of amazing. The only thing more you could possibly wish for is a little more clearance  for the hood latch and maybe some more room for the fan, but those are pretty minor concerns as the TR7 uses two pusher fans normally.

Now to recap, this is the 1UZ out of a Lexus 400SC (or Soarer). Other Lexi are equipped differently and will not fit as easily.
So the stock tubular exhausts work just fine. In fact there is just about 5/8" between the frame rail and the end of the closest stud on each side where the down pipes bolt on. The shifter is about 1/2" back from the front edge of the stock hole and has a rearward bend so the knob sits in about the same place. The pan just clears the rear of the subframe. The block just clears the firewall and the A/C lines. the pan sits (in this install) about 1/2" above the steering rack so the mounts can sag better than 1/4" and still have plenty of clearance. And the hood closes on it with probably about 1/2" clearance all around, at least that's what it looked like at the points where we checked it with clay, though we will look at it again later. There is interference with the stock plastic elbow that comes out of the throttle body and turns forward, and we softened the top of it with a heat gun and pressed it down with the hood. Not a satisfactory solution yet, but it could be used and possibly gotten to look OK but an aluminum 90* bend and tube might be better. There appears to be room enough for the radiator (2" aluminum Griffith from Summit) and a slimline fan of some type, we will know more when the radiator is in.

We did space the sub frame down 1" in accordance with accepted practice, using hockey pucks for spacers and these will be fitted with spacer tubes as well. This does not change the ride height and is reputed to improve anti-dive characteristics. Costs about $20 for pucks and long bolts. We used the stock passenger side block mount for the engine mounts and adapted the Rover engine mount to it by making a custom nut. Rectangular and square tubing was welded to the subframe to complete the mount. On the driver's side due to the steering shaft we duplicated the Lexus block mount in steel, relocating the stud hole outboard and forward. It may be possible to switch sides with the mounts and get it to work but we didn't try that.

Basically, this engine in the TR7 looks like it grew there. I think Dan is going to be very happy with the end result, and I think a lot of people will be surprised to see it. I don't know what he will end up doing with the OEM stuff on top of the engine but as it sits now the average person looking under the hood *might* notice the Lexus logo but other than that would just think they were looking at any other late model car.

Jim

Dan B

Here is a shot of the custom nut made to attach Rover motor mounts to the 1UZ
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Dan B

The SC400 engine getting ready to move into position on Saturday night. We spent the day prepping the subframe and working on motor mounts.  
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Next step, position the engine under the car

Dan B


Dan B

Ready to lower the car.  I videoed a little of the car going down, but had to put the camera down to help
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Dan B

Here we see the car after it has been lowered onto the subframe.  We bolted up the subframe with spacers, tied the tail of the transmission up, and lifted it all back up in the air on Jim's lift.  It sure is great to have a brother with such cool tools.
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Dan B

Here is what it looked like when before fine tuning positioning.  The hood closed flush.
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Dan B

First positioning of the shifter. It ended up closer to the front of the hole.
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Notice how nicely everything fits!
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Dan B

Unmodified TR7 subframe, except we cut the motor mount off the top.  The 1UZ sump just fits.
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Dan B

The start of the right side motor mount fabrication
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The engine is blocked to the proper height and clearance for oil filter, steering rack
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and header flanges:
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danmas

That's going to be awesome!  Can't wait to see it.

Dan B

Jim shows off his crazy-mad fabrication skills:
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Dan B

Drivers side motor mount from the rear on the last post.  Here it is from the front.
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Dan B

We used a stock Supra mount for the transmission and Jim modified the TR7 crossmember.
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