1967 Sunbeam Alpine engine change

[Charlie Cheap]

Jim, at the risk of bragging, I have been building cars for over 50 years. My 289 powered 32 Ford coupe won its class at the Dallas ISCA show and was featured on the cover of Performance CARS magazine and centerfold story in 1976. Yes, I am old. Dean Spruell the photographer, was shocked I did all work except upholstery. It was also a color article in Street Rodder magazine. I had exceptional teachers who have won national acclaim and international awards. The guy who taught me body/paint did work for the Gas Monkey TV show and Richard Rawlings. His name is Raymond Chovanetz and I have known him since the late 50's. My friend Jimmy K Smith is now in Oklahoma owning the Hot Rod Shop in Sand Springs, where they built a famous Chevy pickup, and his personal 34 tudor was featured in Street Rodder magazine. My present 65 Mustang has won several show awards, not because it is exceptional but it is a "different" six cylinder. Back in the late 80's a millionaire built me a fully equipped 4-bay shop in my backyard so I could build just for him. I did for several years. His 1940 Nash 2 door, chopped 3", no chrome, custom frenched lights, super interior, big inch Ford V8, auto, Air, Cruise, tilt, and more, won 1st in class, best interior and 2nd Peoples Choice at the Ft. Worth show. Now I work on my own 1967 Sunbeam Alpine, and hope I can still do good work. Time will tell...and Paul is a long-time friend also. He once left his T-Bucket at my farm while he went back to Dallas. I drove that fun car for a couple of weeks and it reminded me why I never built one. After a few miles with the Chevy exhaust dumping right next to the driver, you can't hear anything below a grenade detonation. OKAY, that is not intended as bragging, but I understand how it could seem that way. I come from the Dallas housing projects and could not afford to buy a Hot Rod. Thank God I had experts to teach me how to build one.

[Charlie Cheap]

For some reason this Ferrari shot of a car my friend built attached.

[Charlie Cheap]

Okay Jim, now that everyone knows how wonderful I am I will stop repeating myself. I still can't get pictures to post...except the Ferrari my friend Raymond built. I know I mentioned I could not get pictures to post...so I guess I am still repeating myself. Sorry guys, this seems like one of those dreams that keeps repeating. My 9 year old grandson probably knows how to solve my problem, so I'll ask him Monday.

[Tiger2Dan]

The 2.8 V6 FORD is a perfect conversion for the Sunbeam Alpine.  Saw lots of the Tigers in my early years when they first hit the USA Highways.

Became very familiar with the First Series I while stationed in Bermuda 1959-61.  Fell in love with them.

Own 6 at present. Started my first V6 conversion back in 2007.  Bought a jose kit following the crowd, soon learned I wanted to change out some of the design being utilized.  First off was the way the headers stuck out the side of the Alpine and ran along the bottom of the quarter panel.  Prefect for DragRacing, but not ideal for street!  Took me three years to design and find a fabricator to build "Straightbacks" similar to the TIGER Exhaust system.....After completion of that project, I decided to build components to make the conversion a bit "better"...  I offer to the Alpine Community an option to purchase any number of items to make their conversion an easy and positively enjoyable way to modernize their Alpine.

Even offer an Electrical Power Steering (EPS) for those wanting the best in driving experiences:)

Rear Disc Brakes for the Sunbeam now!   Have them installed on my Blue Boy V6.  Testing the modified E-Brake cable as the final step.

Tiger@Dan at Gmail.com  ask for PIC's if interested

Keep'em-on-the-Road

[Charlie Cheap]

I just removed the Alpine rear axle and checked the ratio. It is supposed to be 3.89-1 but I got 2.2-1. I marked the 3rd member input and the drum on one side, then rotated the drum one turn. The input moved 2.2 turns. Did Alpine make a 2.2 to 1 axle? With an A4LD overdrive and lockup converter, plus 14" tires, I'll be doing 150 mph at 3,000 rpm! Just a guess but probably close. Do the Brits figure ratios different? Has math changed since I checked an axle 20 years ago? HELP!

[Spitfire 350]

Did both brake drums turn? I seem to recall that both axles must turn together to keep the spider gears from skewing the outcome.

[88v8]

If it's a stock diff, ie not an lsd, while one wheel rotates forwards, the other wheel will rotate backwards.
If it's an lsd, both wheels will turn forwards.

You have a 4.22.

Other ratios available, 3.70 or 3.89.
If you ever have the chance to make the engine swap, it would pull a 3.70 quite happily.

Ivor

[Charlie Cheap]

Ivor, please explain how 2.2 turns of the input driveshaft (propeller) with one full turn of the wheel drum equals 4.22 ratio. Obviously I am missing something in the math mechanics. My owners manual says I have a 3.89 axle with the factory 1725 engine and 4-speed standard transmission. That was what I used to determine my 14" wheel/tire size and automatic overdrive combination. In Texas 75 MPH is our highway speed, and this combo puts the engine I built, a Ford 2.3 Mustang 4-cylinder, right in the sweet-spot for torque to give maximum economy on trips. Now with a 2.20 axle, I'll be doing 131 MPH at 3,000 RPM but under 1800 at 75. I MUST be missing something because I don't find anything near a 2.20 axle for the Sunbeam Alpine. Turning the input or the drum gives me the same 2.20 number. I have found stamped numbers on the housing but they do not give me any indication as to the axle ratio. My only problem with this axle is my getting rear-ended while entering freeway traffic. My acceleration time from zero to 60 mph could be measured with a calendar.
I tried to attach pix but would not work. IMG_ file.

[mgb260]

Charly, Ivor is correct on available ratios. If your car originally had a overdrive transmission it should be 4.22. If standard 4 speed it should be 3.89. The 3.70 was used in other Sunbeam and Hillman models. This may help you figure it out:


https://shiftsst.com/blog/post/how-to-determine-the-rear-axle-ratio.html

[88v8]

Charlie, when you rotate one wheel, with a non-lsd half the motion is lost in the spiders. Your actual rotation will be 2.11 which is hard to measure.

Acceleration measured with a calendar hoho yes indeed.
I recall when I first had my TR6 with its huge tyres and 3.45 diff the acceleration was glacial, I went to a 3.7 then a 4.11. Choice of rear end transforms the car.

Ivor

[Charlie Cheap]

Ivor, way back many years ago a friend had an early Rolls Royce with righthand steering. I never got use to riding what we call in the US "Shotgun" in the wrong seat. Thankfully both my Alpines were US delivery factory made lefthand drive. If I can figure out how, I will post build pictures.