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What V8???



Because that's 7 grand for an engine with no ECU, starter motor, flywheel, accessory drive.....
You can add another:
That leaves you in the same sort of place you'd be with a decent scrapyard pullout, but all new, a snip at £15k
 
  Listerine & Poledo
Well, if there's an old SRT Chrysler V8 in a scrapper somewhere, you're sorted, because you'll get all of that at stealer-rates
 
This is the issue. In the US, you'll pick up a 5.3 vortec engine for $800 (iron blocked LS effectively) but once you import it here it's thousands again.

Many cheap jap and Euro v8s available here, but no good manual options.

Tbh most scrappers know what they have and when american vehicles do come up, the engines dont go cheap.
 
  Listerine & Poledo
How about a broken Holden / Vauxhall?

They're still LS1 / LS3 (?) and with manual options.

Monaros are about as popular as herpes in Europe because not-German
 
Yes and no
There were only ever about 700 in the UK (peak in 2008) and 560 of those are still taxed as of last year. The remaining 140 could be SORNed or broken
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=monaro&commit=Search
They have a bit of a cult following and you wont buy a complete car for less than 7k. Cheaper than importing an LS1 and T56 perhaps, but still expensive and at that point, personally, I'd just drive the monaro...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Vaux...293469?hash=item2a845cb09d:g:v7UAAOSwurZZNpS1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-VAUX...161899?hash=item33d0c8f0eb:g:HeQAAOSwyLlXoxSZ

Given the OP was commenting on the cost of adaptor plates etc, I suspect he's in the same camp as me, looking for a drop in engine and box package for a couple of grand, rather than 7. Unless you intend tuning and need scope for 500bhp, the monaro engine is a bloody expensive way to make 50bhp more than the Euro engines.
 

Jaff.

ClioSport Club Member
It's not sonkuchbthe cost of the plates and flywheels etc. Although yes it can add up. It's the f**king about with making the things fit if there's no off the shelf option
 
  Westy. MX5
Also the land Rover/Discovery V8s are easily fitted with manual boxes. The Kit car industry thrive on these conversions in 7 type cars.
 
  172 Cup
You'll never get a V8 in the front of a hatchback and go RWD without having to seriously modify the firewall and floor.. I'd be surprised if you were left with any room for pedals tbh!

If your plan is to stick it in the back then that's a bit more realistic, but as someone who *just* managed to squeeze an F4R in the back of a 205 I think you'll have a tough job there, too.

Stick this in the back of a KA. If a job's worth doing.. :cool:

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/80509/judd-av-indycar-race-winning-engine-cart-raha
 

Jaff.

ClioSport Club Member
You'll never get a V8 in the front of a hatchback and go RWD without having to seriously modify the firewall and floor.. I'd be surprised if you were left with any room for pedals tbh!

If your plan is to stick it in the back then that's a bit more realistic, but as someone who *just* managed to squeeze an F4R in the back of a 205 I think you'll have a tough job there, too.

Stick this in the back of a KA. If a job's worth doing.. :cool:

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/80509/judd-av-indycar-race-winning-engine-cart-raha

What’s life without a challenge?

I know full well what will be involved and I’d much rather a FR setup.
I could be swayed towards a MR setup if I’m seriously struggling for engines and boxes
 
  172 Cup
What’s life without a challenge?

I know full well what will be involved and I’d much rather a FR setup.
I could be swayed towards a MR setup if I’m seriously struggling for engines and boxes

With the utmost respect I don't think you really appreciate the challenge you'll face.. I had a Duratec literally under the windscreen of a 205 but even with everything else pretty much painted to the back of the car I still struggled to get past 50% weight distribution, and the space required for that relatively skinny engine & box meant very little room for my feet - with a V8 you've got no chance. You need a steering rack somewhere too, and I strongly doubt you'll get a V8 around it without having the engine sit at a ridiculous angle, poking out the bonnet, or so far forwards / backwards in the car that it ruins either the handling or the interior space (or both).

If you're doing this in a little car then go MR and save yourself some bother. Yes, getting a transaxle could be expensive, but compared to the money you'll sink into trying to shoe-horn a big block under a little bonnet it's worth every extra penny.
 
Ford engine and box I believe. Considered fairly crap for an american engine, but better than most of what we have here. Fairly rare cars but certainly a decent option if you can find one.

Also the land Rover/Discovery V8s are easily fitted with manual boxes. The Kit car industry thrive on these conversions in 7 type cars.
The issue is that the early carb fed motors are utter junk for power and the later 4.0/4.6 engines have massive issued with liners and still only make ~200bhp. Also easy to fit manual boxes is playing things down a little, you either use an LT77 which is old now, or a T5 with a bellhousing which is bloody expensive, or an R380 without the transfer case I believe which is workable, if industrial.

With the utmost respect I don't think you really appreciate the challenge you'll face.. I had a Duratec literally under the windscreen of a 205 but even with everything else pretty much painted to the back of the car I still struggled to get past 50% weight distribution, and the space required for that relatively skinny engine & box meant very little room for my feet - with a V8 you've got no chance. You need a steering rack somewhere too, and I strongly doubt you'll get a V8 around it without having the engine sit at a ridiculous angle, poking out the bonnet, or so far forwards / backwards in the car that it ruins either the handling or the interior space (or both).

If you're doing this in a little car then go MR and save yourself some bother. Yes, getting a transaxle could be expensive, but compared to the money you'll sink into trying to shoe-horn a big block under a little bonnet it's worth every extra penny.

Depends how you do it tbh.

https://passionford.com/forum/resto...jects/215761-cosworth-ka-2015-what-to-do.html

The Ka has the same wheelbase as a Mk2 escort.

Sure, I agree that major metalwork mods are required, but a lot of modern 'small' hatchbacks are actually quite large and a lot of the V8s being discussed arent as large as you'd think. A BMW v8 into an E30 is quite common, and there have been a few LS engined mk2 escorts and MX5s, it's really not a size issue, it's all packaging.
 
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Jaff.

ClioSport Club Member
With the utmost respect I don't think you really appreciate the challenge you'll face.. I had a Duratec literally under the windscreen of a 205 but even with everything else pretty much painted to the back of the car I still struggled to get past 50% weight distribution, and the space required for that relatively skinny engine & box meant very little room for my feet - with a V8 you've got no chance. You need a steering rack somewhere too, and I strongly doubt you'll get a V8 around it without having the engine sit at a ridiculous angle, poking out the bonnet, or so far forwards / backwards in the car that it ruins either the handling or the interior space (or both).

If you're doing this in a little car then go MR and save yourself some bother. Yes, getting a transaxle could be expensive, but compared to the money you'll sink into trying to shoe-horn a big block under a little bonnet it's worth every extra penny.

Thanks for the concern but I’m sure I’ll manage. I’m not bothered about time or money, my Megane is proof of that. I have plenty of skills to complete the work and a clever head along with some clever mates to work out any problems.

I’ll move the seat and steering wheel back, I’ll move the steering rack, I’ll cut the floor and bulkhead out and re weld it back in a better place it really doesn’t bother me.

FR focus mk1 v8 seems to have been done before anyway so it can’t be that difficult.
 

Jaff.

ClioSport Club Member
Yeah that’s what I was referring to. I’d much rather do the work myself though

That mg v8 is an option though, I thought it’d be the rover engine though?
 
  dan's cast offs.
i'd stop looking at power figures if you're sticking a v8 in a light weight car for a start.

years ago we did a rover v8 on carbs in a triumph dolomite and it seriously went like stink. 2.3 v6 cologne engine in a mk2 escort, again went like stink and did a 2.8v6 cologne engine in an SS1 scimitar and that was insane to say the least!!

the escort was jacked up on the back end and if you shifted flat out from 1st to 2nd you could get the front wheels about a foot off the ground!!

also why not look at porsche, alfa, volvo rear transaxles as well.
 

Jaff.

ClioSport Club Member
i'd stop looking at power figures if you're sticking a v8 in a light weight car for a start.

years ago we did a rover v8 on carbs in a triumph dolomite and it seriously went like stink. 2.3 v6 cologne engine in a mk2 escort, again went like stink and did a 2.8v6 cologne engine in an SS1 scimitar and that was insane to say the least!!

the escort was jacked up on the back end and if you shifted flat out from 1st to 2nd you could get the front wheels about a foot off the ground!!

also why not look at porsche, alfa, volvo rear transaxles as well.

I’m not hung up on power tbh but if a 4ish litre v8 that’s available can do 250+ bhp why bother with something that’s struggling to make 200?
I’ve not looked at axles yet tbh, I’m struggling enough finishing the right engine and box combo lol
 
Yeah that’s what I was referring to. I’d much rather do the work myself though

That mg v8 is an option though, I thought it’d be the rover engine though?
http://www.mgownersclub.co.uk/mg-guides/mg-zt-t-260

i'd stop looking at power figures if you're sticking a v8 in a light weight car for a start.

years ago we did a rover v8 on carbs in a triumph dolomite and it seriously went like stink. 2.3 v6 cologne engine in a mk2 escort, again went like stink and did a 2.8v6 cologne engine in an SS1 scimitar and that was insane to say the least!!

the escort was jacked up on the back end and if you shifted flat out from 1st to 2nd you could get the front wheels about a foot off the ground!!

also why not look at porsche, alfa, volvo rear transaxles as well.

Ah, nostalgia. First of all, those cars are MUCH lighter than even a focus and secondly, no, they werent fast.

The 2.3 cologne engine maxed out at 125bhp. Even the 2.8 was only 160, and the rover on carbs not much more. Quick in their day, sure! Now, somewhat pedestrian compared to even modern Diesels.

I used to run a 110bhp Nova which was great, until I was getting outpaced by mondeo man in his diesel, with 130bhp available from almost idle.

Porsche transaxles are hideously expensive which is why many kit builders used renault units. Alfa transaxles were fitted to stuff like the alfasud, with a 1.7l flat 4. They're rare and not particularly suitable I wouldnt imagine. The more modern stuff is all FWD and transverse. Volvo havent done one I dont think, unless you mean the transaxle in the 340, which is of course front engined with a bellhousing and torque tube and again, not very suitable.

nowadays, 200bhp/tonne as about the start of "performance" and sadly that means a rover engine in a 1 tonne car, or a better engine.
 
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Oh, another thing to throw into the mix is to consider your diff alongside your gearbox.

It's all very easy to decide to use a BMW V8 with a BMW box, but BMW historically used very low final drive ratios (2.8-3.15) https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1899286-School-me-on-e39-diffs

On the other hand, the MX5 for instance which has very nice rear suspension, was 4.1

Most cars are around 3.5-3.9.

Makes a big difference and needs careful consideration if it's all going to work together. Of course you can just use the diff which goes with the box, but then you need new driveshafts
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
😂

Got carried away looking at what a V8 E30 might cost and decided that an E90 M3 is cheaper and better.

Lol. I have an E30 touring that will get my 330's engine, box etc at some point.

Not a well documented conversion of late, but I figure with both donor cars, and a bit of patience it can't be rocket science
 
Even the V8 conversion is fairly trivial as proper conversions go, but decent 2 door E30 shells start from 2 grand now in bog spec trim. You'll spend the same again sourcing and painting bumpers and trim. You then need your engine and box, ideally wrapped in a donor car which is a similar sum. Mounts, radiator, all the small conversion parts like bits of hose that mount up to hundreds and then you'd want to upgrade to the bigger LSD and shafts, larger front struts from a 325 for brakes, some springs and dampers and then the usual back catalogue of bushes, balljoints etc for the whole car,
 
  PH2 172
Jag made some decent engines, but sadly all auto only.

I found this, which if true, opens up the options on using a Jag V8.

There was a manual version of the S-Type diesel, which used the ZF S6-53 transmission, which is rated to 600Nm.
The bellhousing of the 2.7L diesel is the same as the 4.2L AJV8, and a couple of such conversions have been done in the UK.
 
  172 Cup
Thanks for the concern but I’m sure I’ll manage. I’m not bothered about time or money, my Megane is proof of that. I have plenty of skills to complete the work and a clever head along with some clever mates to work out any problems.

I’ll move the seat and steering wheel back, I’ll move the steering rack, I’ll cut the floor and bulkhead out and re weld it back in a better place it really doesn’t bother me.

FR focus mk1 v8 seems to have been done before anyway so it can’t be that difficult.

Haha OK I'll await your build thread and follow with interest. *popcorn emojis*
 

Jaff.

ClioSport Club Member
Did the build thread you lot are too hard to please.

May do a YouTube series though, make some dosh off it too then.

If those chimps at bad obsession can do it so can I
 
I found this, which if true, opens up the options on using a Jag V8.

There was a manual version of the S-Type diesel, which used the ZF S6-53 transmission, which is rated to 600Nm.
The bellhousing of the 2.7L diesel is the same as the 4.2L AJV8, and a couple of such conversions have been done in the UK.
Very interesting if true.
Just need to sort a flywheel for it.
 


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