Triumph Sports Cars

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

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Icekottarinn
S. Markus Johannsson
Reykjavik, Iceland
(35 posts)

Registered:
07/17/2011 07:47PM

Main British Car:
Triumph Spitfire Mark III 1968 1300

Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Icekottarinn
Date: December 10, 2012 08:20AM

Here is my SpitfireBusa 1968:
[www.johannsson.net]


BWA


(344 posts)

Registered:
04/13/2010 08:13PM

Main British Car:


Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: BWA
Date: December 10, 2012 11:44AM

Awesome Markus! The conversion looks really good. What type of transmission came with the motor? Could you post some photos of the engine and transmission before it went into the car?

Cheers
Byron


Icekottarinn
S. Markus Johannsson
Reykjavik, Iceland
(35 posts)

Registered:
07/17/2011 07:47PM

Main British Car:
Triumph Spitfire Mark III 1968 1300

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Icekottarinn
Date: December 10, 2012 03:15PM

Thank you Byron very much.
I used the Hayabusa engine with all, i.e. the transmission as well, on my web side down there is a picture:
"Drive shaft fitted to the Hayabusa engine" there you can see the engine and drive shaft.

But here is a picture of the engine where I am starting to build the engine mont.:
IMG_0006 (Small).JPG

I hope you can see how small the engine+gearbox is. But it was surprising how wide the engine was. I also had a lot of thought on how to turn the engine, but this was in my opinion the best solution. I also did all I could to lower the engine and as far back as possible, this will hopefully give better handling and I did not have to cut a hole in the bonnet!

I hope this answer your question, feel free to ask again for any information.
Markus


BWA


(344 posts)

Registered:
04/13/2010 08:13PM

Main British Car:


Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: BWA
Date: December 10, 2012 08:33PM

From the photo it looks like the transmission is mounted on the side of the engine, If this is the case did you have to offset the engine to one side to get the drive shaft attached?
What sort of horsepower and torque do you expect from this engine?
I was surprised to see that there is a hotrod culture in Iceland. American muscle cars seem to show up in places you would not expect!! I know some European countries are very strict on the modifications you can do to cars.

Cheers
Byron


Icekottarinn
S. Markus Johannsson
Reykjavik, Iceland
(35 posts)

Registered:
07/17/2011 07:47PM

Main British Car:
Triumph Spitfire Mark III 1968 1300

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Icekottarinn
Date: December 11, 2012 11:21AM

You are right Byron, the engine has to heel over to one side as it is a standard Hayabusa engine for the oil pick-up. And because the engine is wide comparing to its size, this mean the driveshaft is not inline with the diff, but it seems to be okay. I just had to make sure the driveshaft was in very good balance and I also had to make some modifications to the body.
This engine is good for 178 hp and 138 Nm, at 9800 rpm the old 1300 cc engine had appr 110 Nm from new, so I hope the diff and axles will hold. Max rev is 11000 rpm, so that is just fun!

When I went to inspection last time, I asked if there would be any problems if I swap the engine for "another 1300 cc engine" the answer was: "No problem." ;)

We have quite a few old modified USA cars here, but after 2007 crisis we have unfortunately sold many abroad.

Cheers
sigurjon


bsa_m21
Martin Rothman
Vancouver, Canada
(216 posts)

Registered:
01/06/2009 11:41AM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7V8 Rover 3.9L

authors avatar
Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: bsa_m21
Date: December 11, 2012 02:32PM

Hi Sigurjon,

You may find you will have troubles with the driveshaft at higher revs. Standard u-joints aren't designed to run at extreme driveshaft angles. This table shows the relative acceptable angles by shaft rpm:

u-joint_angles.jpg

If you do encounter issues, you might try adding a doublecardan joint at one or both ends. This is what the 4x4 crowd does.

doublecardan.JPG
Double Cardan Joint


Great conversion by the way. How about some higher resolution pictures?

Regards,

M.


motek
George Smathers
Spokane, WA
(118 posts)

Registered:
09/12/2009 02:45PM

Main British Car:
1967 Morris Minor (48 hp @ crank!), 1971 TR6 302

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: motek
Date: December 12, 2012 01:20AM

"When I went to inspection last time, I asked if there would be any problems if I swap the engine for "another 1300 cc engine" the answer was: "No problem." ;)


LOL!


George



MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 15, 2012 10:09AM

For those that are not familiar with a Hayabusa (or 'Busa as we call it), it is the world's fastest production motorcycle manufactured by Suzuki. It is capable of speeds near 200mph stock with 150-160 hp. Probably works great in the smaller lighter LBCs such as a Spitfire or Bugeyed Sprite.


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: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 15, 2012 10:23AM

So what did you do about reverse?

Jim


88v8
Ivor Duarte
Gloucestershire UK
(1041 posts)

Registered:
02/11/2010 04:29AM

Main British Car:
1974 Land Rover Lightweight V8

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: 88v8
Date: December 16, 2012 04:28AM

Reverse gear... excellent question lol. The Flintstones....

I think the dif will be OK. It's low-speed torque that destroys diffs.
It will interesting to see what sort of drivability it has. A light flywheel and a not so light car makes hard work for the clutch.

Ivor


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: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 16, 2012 10:48AM

I think there was a mod where they belt a starter motor to the driveshaft, you might want to look into it.

Jim


cowboyra
Cowboy Ray

(26 posts)

Registered:
12/16/2010 09:28AM

Main British Car:


Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: cowboyra
Date: December 16, 2012 03:27PM

They've been building smarts with busa motors for awhile now

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]


Icekottarinn
S. Markus Johannsson
Reykjavik, Iceland
(35 posts)

Registered:
07/17/2011 07:47PM

Main British Car:
Triumph Spitfire Mark III 1968 1300

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Icekottarinn
Date: December 18, 2012 04:23AM

Yes I hope the diff will hold, I just removed the diff , axles and the driveshaft, took it to a special workshop and all reconditioned, new UJ (heavy duty), new bushes etc the driveshaft balanced and back in to the car again. Boy, removing the diff and installing it again, that was not an easy job!

As for the clutch, I did replace the springs with heavy duty ones. They use those in turbo Busas, but if that is not enough I can get springs even stronger, my brother has a turbo Hayabusa and he just bought very stiff/strong adjustable springs, I will go for them if I have any problems. It only takes about 30 min to replace the clutch, which is nice.

As for the "reverse" I am running on "the Flintstone method" for now ;), it is okay as the car is so light, but I will use starter and a sprocket. I have a custom made sprocket placed between the diff and driveshaft. There is some space for the starter by the chassis there, but I have not yet finished this part. I need a lift for this work. This will be done early in the new year. Some motorcycles uses this method like Honda Goldwing so there was no need for me to discover the wheel again. There are others solutions for the reverse, like a small reverse gearbox but they are expensive and in my case there is simply no space for such solutions, and the starter/sprocket solution is fine, many Smarts with Hayabusa engines uses this solution. For those who are interested, the Smart car is heavier then Spitfire, the engine in Smart is very light appr. 80 - 90 kg, the engine in Spitfire is relatively heavy (180 - 200 kg), the cars weighs almost the same in total, so just looking at the car (minus engines) the Spitfire is lighter.


Icekottarinn
S. Markus Johannsson
Reykjavik, Iceland
(35 posts)

Registered:
07/17/2011 07:47PM

Main British Car:
Triumph Spitfire Mark III 1968 1300

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Icekottarinn
Date: May 02, 2014 12:29PM

Video:

On a "out-off-the-way" road outside the city, a little test of the setup:

[www.youtube.com]


kstevusa
kelly stevenson
Southern Middle Tennessee
(985 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 09:37AM

Main British Car:
2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.2L DOHC/ VVT / 6sp. AT

authors avatar
Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: kstevusa
Date: May 02, 2014 01:53PM

Wow, the sound reminds me of the special on TV for 20th anniversity of Aryton Senna life ending crash. The car has a similar rev range to the F1 cars, however maybe a few thousand less :-)



DiDueColpi
Fred Key
West coast - Canada
(1365 posts)

Registered:
05/14/2010 03:06AM

Main British Car:
I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now!

authors avatar
Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: DiDueColpi
Date: May 02, 2014 03:31PM

That's just awesome Markus!
I was in Reykjavik doing winter testing for Volvo back in the 90's.
Met some of the nicest, most friendly people ever.
Even when they got me nice and cozy in a sauna and then made me jump into a frozen river!
Was just wondering though, are you Icelanders born crazy. Or can I learn it if I move there. :)

Cheers
Fred


Icekottarinn
S. Markus Johannsson
Reykjavik, Iceland
(35 posts)

Registered:
07/17/2011 07:47PM

Main British Car:
Triumph Spitfire Mark III 1968 1300

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Icekottarinn
Date: May 02, 2014 05:11PM

Thanks guys.
Kstevusa: I rev the Hayabusa up to 11000 rpm, when going for max. It is really a wonderful feeling for us motorheads and what a engine this is!

DiDueColpi: Thank you very much, I am glad you have met some nice people here like the ones who made you jump into a frozen river ;)
We are probably rather crazy, just look at me, converting a Spitfire to Megabusa, as the first in the World (as far as I know...;)
Hope you will visit our beautiful country again soon.

Cheers,
Markus


88v8
Ivor Duarte
Gloucestershire UK
(1041 posts)

Registered:
02/11/2010 04:29AM

Main British Car:
1974 Land Rover Lightweight V8

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: 88v8
Date: May 03, 2014 04:47AM

Wow! You finished it !!
Well done. So many people give up on their projects.
Hope you have much enjoyment.

Love to see a pic of you reversing - do you wear special shoes?

Ivor


Addicted
Mike Hagadorn
Warren PA
(132 posts)

Registered:
09/27/2013 03:46PM

Main British Car:
1976 TR7 Victory Edition Ford 302

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: Addicted
Date: May 05, 2014 03:45PM

That is fantastic! Congrats.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Triumph Spitfire Mk3 with Hayabusa engine
Posted by: mgb260
Date: May 05, 2014 06:22PM

Very Cool! There is a guy doing a Midget with Bugeye front end on the MGexperience Midget board. I would switch the U joints to Porsche 930 CV joints.


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