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Marco512
Marco G

(1 posts)

Registered:
08/05/2013 08:09AM

Main British Car:


Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Marco512
Date: August 06, 2013 04:25AM

Hello. I have a Sunbeam Alpine V and it has a stock engine and manual transmission. I have decided to change the transmission to an automatic as well as the engine to a modern one with 4 cylinders. Could anyone provide me some engine and transmission models recommendations for my car? Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

-Marco


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: August 06, 2013 05:51PM

Consider your transmission choices first. Transmission tunnel width particularly. On the MGB I am not aware of any modern American automatic transmission that will fit without cutting the tunnel. Your Alpine may be the same. The Aisin automatics use a long narrow pan and will fit easily however. You may find others.

If you go with an Aisin (several models to choose from between 4 and 8 speeds) quite a wide spectrum of engines were used with these, from Jeep to Nissan, Toyota, some German makes and others. You will have to do some investigation to find the engine you like best. A ZF transmission may also work and broaden your engine choices but I don't know much about those.

Jim


Bratfink
James Bratby
Indianapolis
(12 posts)

Registered:
09/29/2010 04:05PM

Main British Car:
66 MkIV Singer Vogue Estate 1725 (with Alpine S5 twin carb)

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Bratfink
Date: August 14, 2013 02:15PM

I'll take your old 1725 and stick with overdrive box if you still have it?

What made this decision for you? If you are having trouble keeping it in tune I might be able to point you in the right direction. And there is no way you are having trouble with the box, these were the smoothest shifting nicest transmissions ever made!


Charlie Cheap
Charles Johns
Texas
(27 posts)

Registered:
03/12/2014 07:21PM

Main British Car:
1967 Sunbeam Alpine Ford 2.3 Lima (85 Mustang)

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Charlie Cheap
Date: May 09, 2014 04:11PM

Marco. I am in the process of putting a Ford 2.3 4 cylinder in my series V using the factory C3 automatic. It is fitted in but not mounted just yet. Oil filter and exhaust clearance are problems with the small space but I will work things out. The 2.3 has plenty of speed options, has lots of potential and is bullet-proof...plus Ford made millions of them. If you want to go really fast a turbo can make up to 350HP on the street. Ford built one 20 years ago that made over 600 HP and did 200 mph on a race course. With 4, 5 and 6 speed standard transmissions available plus automatics with overdrive, fuel injection and about 30 mpg stock, why not try to fit one in? I'll take pictures as I progress and post them.


pspeaks
Paul Speaks
Dallas, Texas
(698 posts)

Registered:
07/20/2009 06:40PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: pspeaks
Date: May 10, 2014 08:48PM

CJ, I've walked past both your Sunbeams a hundred times, never look at the engine bay, and know very little about them, unless you are going with through the fender headers which I don't know is an option on a Alpine and I doubt you're considering anyway, exhaust is an issue, but knowing you for almost 60 years have no doubt you'll figure it out. Is a remote oil filter a possibility? Most of us MG guys are pretty much engaged if not already married to one.


Paul


Charlie Cheap
Charles Johns
Texas
(27 posts)

Registered:
03/12/2014 07:21PM

Main British Car:
1967 Sunbeam Alpine Ford 2.3 Lima (85 Mustang)

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Charlie Cheap
Date: May 15, 2014 03:45PM

Paul, the oil filter has been solved with a Chrysler short-type and I got a header flange to build my own exhaust. Will probably be much like an old Chevy rams-horn with all 4 dumping into a square collector then into a 2" round pipe. The water pump is giving me fits as the one that comes on the 85 Mustang is fairly long. When we put 289's in hot rods Ford made many different pumps so maybe they do the same for the 2.3!? I got the Esslinger aluminum intake for a two bbl and a 2100 Ford carb., Accel coil, point dist.(will convert to Petronix), electric fuel pump and "stock" rebuild kit. With 140 cubes, a two barrel on a nice intake, hot ignition, free-breathing exhaust and only about 2600 pounds, it should runnn! I'm guessing about 130/40 hp, which is about 40 over stock and much higher winding.


pspeaks
Paul Speaks
Dallas, Texas
(698 posts)

Registered:
07/20/2009 06:40PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: pspeaks
Date: May 15, 2014 06:52PM

CJ, when my GT was a four cylinder it had headers, a Monza exhaust system, large twin SU carbs, a Kent 715 fast road cam, TRW electronic ignition and though I never had it dyno'ed, I'm sure it put out at least 75 hp; probably the biggest reason I decided to go with the 302....Ok... you know me, it was my personality, but the hp didn't hurt. I'm still a stick shift in a sports car kind of guy, but I had a 2.3 a while back and really liked it.


Paul



Alpine66
James Smith
Atlanta
(2 posts)

Registered:
08/03/2014 02:12PM

Main British Car:
66 Alpine V6 Chevy, injected

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Alpine66
Date: September 04, 2014 07:15PM

I cant speak to other engine changes but the Chevy 60 degree V6 is not for the faint of heart.
Exhaust is a bear.

Trying to figure out how to fab brackets for the mg rack and pinion currently, the alpine cross is nothing but curves.


bashby
Bill Ashby
Colorado, USA
(26 posts)

Registered:
12/18/2009 09:46AM

Main British Car:
1967 Sunbeam Alpine Series V Nissan CA18DET, 1850cc's

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: bashby
Date: September 29, 2014 09:29PM

I have a Nissan CA18DET in my SV Alpine, the only "real" difficulty was the header for the turbocharger (1.8 liter, Dual overhead cams, Electronic engine management. Turbocharged) I have dual exhausts, no inner fender cutting or massaging but it is tight. 2500 pounds, 240RWP. The Nissan KA24DE easily can get 150hp/150lb-ft. Nissan has 5-speeds and automatics with the KA24DE in the '91-'99 240SX.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2014 09:31PM by bashby.


Tiger2Dan
Dan Richardson
Greenwood, SC 29649
(8 posts)

Registered:
02/04/2018 12:16PM

Main British Car:
1967 Sunbeam Alpine Series V ST Colour Code 106 FORD (Cologne) 2.8 V6

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Tiger2Dan
Date: February 04, 2018 04:12PM

My '65 SIV Alpine came with the BorgWarner BW35 Automatic Transmission the tranny tunnel is a bit wider than the manual transmission ones. And an easy fit for the Late Mustang T5 mated to my '77 Ford 60 Degree 2.8 V6.

I designed and built straight back headers similar to the Tiger exhaust system, which fit & function very nicely. I also have a full range of conversion components for converting your Alpine...including A/C and Electric Power steering.

While the clearance is somewhat "tight" along the sides (Headers) it (the engine) fits well. Just need to make it breathe plenty of fresh air:)

Port and Polish the heads and install the 2.9 Valves and then, you are good to go,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2018 02:18PM by Tiger2Dan.


Sidecardoug
Doug Rowe
Northern Nevada
(51 posts)

Registered:
07/04/2012 05:09PM

Main British Car:
1969 TR-6 Ford 302

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: Sidecardoug
Date: October 02, 2018 02:23PM

Has anyone here done a Rover/Buick aluminum V8 swap into an Alpine ?
If so, what were the main challenges ?

Thanks,
Doug


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Sunbeam Alpine V Transmission and Engine Change Suggestions?
Posted by: mgb260
Date: October 03, 2018 05:09PM

There was one on the SAOCA forum a while back. It was a tight fit. It is a little wider than the Ford V8.


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