Poll MRT1TRD’s engine conversion or originality

[MRT1TRD]

Build thread here 

https://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/91618-mrt1trd-buys-a-car-sight-unseen-to-drive-the-length-of-nz/#comment-2730897

I found why the fuel gauge does not work, terminal was left off

[Nominal]

7 minutes ago, MRT1TRD said:

Build thread here 

https://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/91618-mrt1trd-buys-a-car-sight-unseen-to-drive-the-length-of-nz/#comment-2730897

I found why the fuel gauge does not work, terminal was left off

Is it british?

[Nominal]

15 minutes ago, Nominal said:

Is it british?

Triumph perhaps?

[RUNAMUCK]

I see the wiper motor bears the mark of the beast......

[VitesseEFI]

Was going to say definitely something BL but maybe not Triumph…. And now the cat is out of the bag….

Plenty of scope for suffering & regret but not really worse than anything else from that era. Hopefully not fall-apart rusty at least?

[rusty360]

My missus always wanted one of those.

[MRT1TRD]

7 hours ago, rusty360 said:

My missus always wanted one of those.

You’re welcome to buy this one for more than I brought it, now currently stuck in New Plymouth due to the river crossing cancellation 

[yoeddynz]

I love these. So small and such a nice shape. I'd love to muck about with an early chrome bumper gt.  I remember the petroleum transfer technician at the gas station along the road from our house used to have one and as a kid I thought it was so cool. 

[anglia4]

pffft, who needs an expensive long euro-plate to fill the gap.

[Sunbeam]

5 stud MGB? FAKE NEWS!

[yoeddynz]

Is that an original bmc racing airlight low resistance diff centre you've installed in there? 

[MRT1TRD]

That is what it felt like driving it, On my maiden drive of it I had to pull over and check the wheels were secure. Then researched it later to what causes that much diff play

[MRT1TRD]

Since this has finally left me stranded and needing a tow I was wanting to do a Poll on what should be the future of this junk

My sort of plan was since it didn’t sell cheap by November was to make it a track/road car with a plan of pre ‘78 spec build and leave engine power improvements till after I had completed a few races 

Option 1 spec A - Keep going with my plan but Rewire car and fit duel fuel pumps for race reliability 

spec B - Fuel injection - would not be pre ‘78 but there’s plenty other classes or just club sport events could add a ___charger easily to make more power cheaper than trying to make the forklift engine rev

Option 2 engine conversion - what engine + expected cost + how much time spent building not driving 

examples 

MX5 B6 + $3-4k + a few months 

MGB V8 replica + $3-4k (tho manual gearbox may be hard to find) + a few months 

LS the world + $5-7k + 6-12 months (would be eligible for mainland muscle cars but they might change their rules once I apply)

K series Honda would be cool but probably too costly once you start talking gearboxes, turbos, and link ecus

I have to keep in mind that if I plan spend more than $10 k in total I would be better off buying a already existing track/road car 

[Sunbeam]

Do you want to keep it road legal?  If not, I favour option 2 (e) Ford smallblock (302) surprisingly compact and eleventy times more tuning potential than Rover V8. Obtain engine and gearbag from vomit spec mustang wreck from ‘Murica. Probably need beefier diff though.

However, suspension and braking upgrades will punish your wallet as much or more than engine shenanigans.

In fact, fit supercharger and be happy.

Merry Christmas, yours uselessly

Sunbeam

[mjrstar]

3s & j160 for ease of install

I like the idea of a miniature e type, so would probably find a nice 2 litre straight 6 and put it on itbs it would be worse than the 3s option but cool because straight 6.

[MRT1TRD]

29 minutes ago, mjrstar said:

3s & j160 for ease of install

I like the idea of a miniature e type, so would probably find a nice 2 litre straight 6 and put it on itbs it would be worse than the 3s option but cool because straight 6.

I do love a straight 6 after enjoying a decade driving a ta22 celica with a 1GGE

it was not faster than a 2tg but sounded better 

[bigfoot]

I have seen 2 with 1uz swaps, v8 but easier  to find and not english

[igor]

Also much lighter than @Sunbeam's suggestion but arguably not as cool.

[Tiger Tamer]

Another engine which gets overlooked is the GM 3.8 ecotech. They are a good smooth engine that make good power and are economical. Plenty you can do with them and probably cheap to buy. Downside is they are all cast iron and a bit wider than a SBF. Theres probably a Qauife lsd diff unit you can get for the MG diff housing. 

 

[Dudley]

Rwd 1nz