Another new member

[kytr6]

I am seriously considering a V-8 swap for my 1975 TR6. I'm the second owner, and I've had the car since 1982. I'm researching possibilities at the moment, and this appears to be a great place to start.

My previous TRs include: 1973 Spitfire, 1980 TR7 convertible, and a 1980 TR8. I also have a 2001 MR2 Spyder, and a 2007 Subaru STi.

I'm in the Louisville, KY area.

[dwtr6v8]

Welcome, Mike!

This is a GREAT site for resources and info, How to's, venders, plus you'll get lots of feed back.

Are you in a local TR Club? Do you have pics? We love pics!

Have you read the section on what V8 options are out there? Since you have had a TR8, I would go with the Ford 302, or 5.0, for a little more HP. Maybe your up for more HP with the GM 350 or LS1, but you're also in for a differential change with more torque.

These are a bunch of fantastic guys and gals, read, listen, evaluate, and then do it your way based on what you want and how you drive!

Anyone out there in the Louisville area or near by to help?

http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/DonWatson.htm

[Bill Young]

Don't know about any TR types near you, but there are some crazy MG guys around. Jim Blackwood's building the project Roadmaster http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/MGB-Roadmaster.htm up in Florence near Cincy. Welcome to this madness of British V8s (or V6, or what ever) .

[kytr6]

Thanks for the welcome. My car was a daily driver for a long time. Over time it became a shelf in the garage (something I swore I'd never let happen). Marriage, kids, motorcycles, and newer sports cars got in the way. An opportunity came my way recently to have a vocational technical school (at a men's prison) work on my car. Initially this was going to be a cosmetic only restoration and I would go over the mechanicals. The car has been sitting long enough to require a complete motor rebuild.

The instructor at the prison asked me if I wanted to do an engine swap (V-6 or V-8). Unbeknownst (is that a word?) to him, I was already leaning that way. I began to poke around the internet a little,  and BAM!!!    I found this site. This is an amazing resource. When this happens, I can visit the car often and check on progress, but all the work is done by inmate students (some of them have lots of experience already, but they time off there sentence for getting education). The work is done under the supervision of staff instructors. I pay for parts, but the labor is free.  I wouldn't have considered this, but I have seen examples of their work and it is outstanding. These guys take pride in their work and they love unusual projects.  As much as I like to work on my cars, it isn't realistic for me to have the time to do this- so I'll let them have a go.

As much as I love the sound of the straight six, there is nothing like the sound of an American V-8 when it's eminating from a British car. I'm leaning towards Ford because the dimensions seem to work better, and there is a historical connection with Ford and British cars.

[dwtr6v8]

I watched a show on Speed once where inmates were doing restoration work on classics cars as part of their rehab. An excellent opportunity for both parties.
I even thought about doing time just to get into the program, but then I would miss out on all the driving fun. (and this forum family)

Check out Dan Master's eval on engines, size, and weight.

http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/DanMasters.htm

I have a Ford 5.0, but don't discount the SBC to quickly or the Buick 215 or 300 for fit.
If I can find it, I'll post the link, but there is a TR6 out there with a Jag V12.
There are a lot of options depending on what your driving habits are, or want to be.

Check out Ken's SBC LT1 and Calvin's LS1( no How to Yet from Calvin as he is building)
Ken Heibert's "How It Was Done" article
Calvin's TR6 as featured here in the forum


(broken link repaired by Moderator)