Triumph Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" V8s (Stag and TR8)

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Fugley01
Mike Taylor

(3 posts)

Registered:
02/24/2010 06:29PM

Main British Car:


What's the difference
Posted by: Fugley01
Date: March 06, 2010 07:45PM

I am thinking of picking up a TR6 to work on and keep coming across spitfires. To me they look very similiar, what are the major differences between the two models? Is one better than the other either by design or parts availability? Which one is easier to cram a lot of cubic inches in?

Thanks

Mike Taylor

Thunder bay Ont. Can.


WedgeWorks1
Mike Perkins
Ellicott City, Maryland
(460 posts)

Registered:
07/06/2008 08:07AM

Main British Car:
1980 Triumph TR8 3.5 Litre Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: What's the difference
Posted by: WedgeWorks1
Date: March 07, 2010 09:09AM

Here is the deal between the two cars: TR6 has a 2.5 liter inline six cylinder is wider and longer with more interior room. The Spitfire depending on the year comes with a 1.1-ish liter up to 1.5 liter inline four cylinder and is small and shorter and weigh about 2000lbs or less. The spitfire suspension is matched to the 4 cylinder and a small 2.0 liter inline six cylinder of the GT6. Most of the rear end and suspension are the same between the Spitfire and GT6. The TR6 is more robust and can handle more than the stock 100hp of the 2.5 liter six cylinder. Now here is the shocker…….the TR6 is almost 2 to 3 or even 4 times the cost of a nice Spitfire. Have you thought about a GT6? I think between the three they have the best lines and also no worries about water leaks! Now the parts for a TR6 are also reasonable to expensive. The parts for a spitfire are reasonable but in both cases not everything is available so those “Unobtanium” parts will need some researching but the online communities should be able to help you with anything. A rough spitfire can go for a few $100 bucks up to $5,000 or $6,000 for an excellent one. A TR6 if your lucky for a rough one might be a few $1,000 dollars and have been selling for up to and over $15,000.00 for pristine.


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: What's the difference
Posted by: alana
Date: March 07, 2010 09:14AM

Have you seen the prices for nice GT6s recently?
They are hitting TR6 money and then some. It's jaw dropping...

The nice thing about the 6 is that there are a few performance upgrades - like the R200 and rear axleshafts - that'll take the power from all but the most obscene of engine swaps and are bolt ins. In fact you can buy a new (better) frame for them with the mounts in place for the engine of your choice, so by trading $ for time and picking the engine judiciously, you can turn it into a bolt in swap.

Swapping into a Spit is a lot more work imo. I'll defer to those that have done it, but I'm pretty sure there's a LOT more fabrication involved, even if you were to do everything on either car yourself.

Of course if you can get past the looks, there are a ton of TR7s out there. Cheap, comfortable and an easy swap - the engine bay is wide enough for one thing.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2010 09:22AM by alana.


Fugley01
Mike Taylor

(3 posts)

Registered:
02/24/2010 06:29PM

Main British Car:


Re: What's the difference
Posted by: Fugley01
Date: March 07, 2010 10:37AM

Thanks for the info. I have never seen the two cars side by side so going from memory just doesn't do it. I guess a Stage 1 buick 455 is probably out of the question... at least for a Spitfire. I do have access to a 65 300ci buick motor only the exhaust manifolds are missing.
I have noticed while searching around that turbo charged 4's seem to be a pretty nice alternative to a V8... Any thoughts on a motor / trans combination using a turbo 4.

Thanks again

Mike Taylor


alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: What's the difference
Posted by: alana
Date: March 07, 2010 10:41AM

Mustang 2.3 would be my choice for (relatively) cheap. There's a guy on here with one in a 6 that's putting out very stout numbers iirc. There's also at least one Ecotec conversion going on.

You could do an inline 6 (Supra or Skyline) if you wanted exotic. Check the one on eBay right now as an example, or look for posts by a guy with the handle cr7jdriver (iirc) who has a supra engine going into his car.

I saw a 2.3 in a Spit at Carlisle a couple of years ago. His wasn't turbo'd and he had to notch the frame rails to get it to fit. Other than that I was told it was an easy conversion.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2010 10:43AM by alana.


Fugley01
Mike Taylor

(3 posts)

Registered:
02/24/2010 06:29PM

Main British Car:


Re: What's the difference
Posted by: Fugley01
Date: March 07, 2010 10:50AM

Funny you mention Supra. My brother in-law has an all-trac turbo and that thing really flies. Do you know of any AWD converstions that have been done? I think that would be kind of different.

Mike.


WedgeWorks1
Mike Perkins
Ellicott City, Maryland
(460 posts)

Registered:
07/06/2008 08:07AM

Main British Car:
1980 Triumph TR8 3.5 Litre Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: What's the difference
Posted by: WedgeWorks1
Date: March 07, 2010 11:32AM

Mike-A buick 300! its a heavy motor compared to the 215 but from the get go its 300hp and well over 300ftlbs of torque! Previously mentioned have you thought about a TR7? The engine bay is big enough for a 455 or 454! Talk about cheap with tons of room in a budget! Now for the 4cyl swaps unlimeted combinations and choices! You have so many choices and well I am a TR7&8 guy but the Spitfires and TR6s with a V8 or nonoriginal drivetrain does make for a real fun project! Anything you need to kow about the 7 or 8 drop me a line.



alana
alan atkinson
10567
(232 posts)

Registered:
06/19/2008 08:06PM

Main British Car:
68 TR250 LS2

authors avatar
Re: What's the difference
Posted by: alana
Date: March 07, 2010 02:18PM

No awd afaik. There's probably not enough room for all the stuff under there - these are really narrow cars.
For a non-turbo engine that's relatively inexpensive and fits really nice, there's always this:

[s115.photobucket.com]

This is the way all conversions should be done (imo).
Good luck - let us know what you decide.


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