Nick Jones Posted November 11, 2023 Author Share Posted November 11, 2023 There was a Suzuki plot at one point. It got dumped as 1. We couldn’t find a G13B at half sensible money (cult engine these days). 2. We did get a Jimny M13A and ‘box, but although the box is still quite compact the engine, though light, is pretty big. We did quite a bit of work, but there were some serious packaging challenges to be overcome and in the end it was going to be only a little more powerful than the Triumph lump. Then he discovered what John B’s scrapyard Sigma engine was giving horsepower-wise….. Suzuki stuff got sold on to a guy building some sort of trials special. Biggest effort so far has been converting the MX-5 box to fit the Ford engine. And rebuilding the bloody Sigma engine - didn’t get as lucky as John He’s on the exhaust manifold now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiTurbo228 Posted November 11, 2023 Share Posted November 11, 2023 Ah gotcha. I was thinking because I read over on RR that you can fit the Jimny gearbox to the PSA TU4 from Saxos and 106s, which are cracking engines. They're a little tall mind, so not sure how they'd fit in a Spitfire... Bit late now I suppose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted November 11, 2023 Author Share Posted November 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, BiTurbo228 said: RR that you can fit the Jimny gearbox to the PSA TU4 from Saxos and 106s, which are cracking engines. Yes. Saw that. The “conversion” arrangements were a bit, err, rough ‘n ready though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 One of the great advantages of the Sigma or Zetec SE is its weight, 80kg, all alloy and producing 100bhp in the Focus. The disadvantage may be that the exhaust is on the right hand side which could interfere with the steering shaft. I'm sure that Chris will overcome all the difficulties and he will end up with a car, the performance of which will blow his socks off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted December 10, 2023 Author Share Posted December 10, 2023 So…. Something bad happened to the Triumph gearbox. 3rd gear suddenly got really noisy under load. Reckon that’ll be the oilite-bush-spigot-bearing bodge we did crying enough. It’s lasted about 12k. So that forced some action….. Old lump coming out. It weighs 151 kgs. Old and new side by side New going in for the first time. First of many one suspects. It weighs 119kg. Fits in the hole, though rather snug in places induction arrangements are under review….. rearmost TB wants to occupy space already claimed by the bulkhead. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 Great to see the conversion moving forward and a 32kg weight saving right where it matters most is terrific news. This car is going to be mega on the road and on the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 Great work! Neat conversion, Looking like it belongs there, almost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 Following on from the weight saving offered by the Sigma, how about Chris uses his metal shaping skills to save more weight by making some aluminium panels in the bonnet? Inner and outer wings would be a good start. The more weight that can be lost up front, the better the car will turn in. If you have an old bonnet or could source one from Tavistock Steve, it could be used as a hammerform like Mr Brough did when building his D Type. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 Good to see movement on this Nick, even if it was raher forced on you. Should make a very nice combo. PS. did you pair get a job lot of grey paint at some point in your lives? John, that is a very impressive project. The lad is obvious very skilled. But if weight saving is the objective then how about a bit of carbon fibre goodness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 5 minutes ago, Escadrille Ecosse said: Good to see movement on this Nick, even if it was raher forced on you. Should make a very nice combo. PS. did you pair get a job lot of grey paint at some point in your lives? John, that is a very impressive project. The lad is obvious very skilled. But if weight saving is the objective then how about a bit of carbon fibre goodness? Do you reckon a sub-700kg road going Spitfire is achievable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 13 minutes ago, John Bonnett said: Do you reckon a sub-700kg road going Spitfire is achievable? Most certainly yes. I got the green Mk2 with the 2.5L six, Saloon box and rotoflex down to 730kg in full roadgoing trim, bumpers and all. The Mk1 4cyl was 610kg in race trim with full cage and GRP panels. I suspect roadgoing trim with carbon fibre will still be sub 650kg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 7 minutes ago, Escadrille Ecosse said: Most certainly yes. I got the green Mk2 with the 2.5L six, Saloon box and rotoflex down to 730kg in full roadgoing trim, bumpers and all. The Mk1 4cyl was 610kg in race trim with full cage and GRP panels. I suspect roadgoing trim with carbon fibre will still be sub 650kg. If Chris can achieve that, he could be looking at 200bhp/tonne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 11 minutes ago, John Bonnett said: If Chris can achieve that, he could be looking at 200bhp/tonne Having got near that with the Mk1 I can say that it makes for a very 'perky' drive With the less radical tune of the Ford engine that would make Chris's car a very nice drive indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share Posted December 13, 2023 On 12/11/2023 at 7:37 PM, Escadrille Ecosse said: PS. did you pair get a job lot of grey paint at some point in your lives? Vitesse was painted grey (Rover mid-grey iirc) back in 1989 as I wanted a forgiving colour to disguise my minimal painting skills and didn’t fancy white or primrose. I’ve taken a lot of stick for the colour (primer, when are you going finish it) over decades, until a few years back when grey suddenly came back into fashion. Not sure which is worse! The Spit is a different shade of grey and a match/copy for the Wimpus Spit in Belgium. The forgiving colour for minimal painting skills still applied though…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 I like it, looks good and suits the cars. Vitesse always looked good in grey, even as a factory colour. Was more surprised about the Spitfire, but that too at least with the Mk4 shape. The thing that caught my eye though and led to my comment was the coordinating engine and gearbox paint. Never been a fan of anything but black (or bare alloy) for those, but I find the grey quite pleasing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Bulkhead has receded a bit…. This is still a bit of a problem area though…. Rear TB and TPS wanting to share space with the bulkhead…. Got to squeeze a manifold in there too. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Challenging fit. But... But definite progress. And that bulkhead looks very 'made at the makers'. Nicely done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 As Colin rightly pointed out, the bulkhead looks entirely factory. A great piece of work Chris, very well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiTurbo228 Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Useful stuff on the engine and gearbox weights. I'd got a 1300 small-crank + gearbox (not sure if OD) and all inlet/exhaust gubbins pinned at 161.9kg. Believable considering yours is 10kh shy without inlet or exhaust. Considering the ITBs and manifold will likely be lighter than the OE bits too I'd be aiming for sub-600 kg why not be ambitous! edging closer to E46 M3 territory... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 It was quite perky on the mk3 spec 1300 and EFI. Going to be a GT6 and possibly Vitesse eater when done, especially when going round corners…. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 Bizarrely enough (!) nobody sells an exhaust manifold for a Sigma engined Spitfire, so he’s having to make his own…. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 2 minutes ago, Nick Jones said: Bizarrely enough (!) nobody sells an exhaust manifold for a Sigma engined Spitfire Surely not . 3 minutes ago, Nick Jones said: so he’s having to make his own…. A not insignificant task. Looking good so far though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A30Racer Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Chris will no doubt make a classy looking exhaust manifold! Look forward to seeing the results of his efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 If Chris's engine is producing the same power as mine on TBs and aftermarket ECU a couple of cams should bring it up to 150BHP and that would take it over 200bhp/tonne and with the handling to match not much will be able to touch it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gt64fun Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 15 hours ago, Nick Jones said: so he’s having to make his own…. Talented son you have there Mr Jones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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