The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hi,
In answer to will the rover v8 bolt in - not easily. A quick google bought up some aussie / kiwi links where the w58 gearbox (as fitted to excel) is more common. Here is dellow automlotive who list a lot of parts.
http://www.dellowconversions.com.au/ima ... motive.pdf (page 6)
toyota type 3 (includes w58) shows that it can be linked to the rover / buick v8 but it will need quite a few bits I would imagine - bell housing, clutch, engine mounts. I haven't done it but it wont be cheap or easy and will involve a lot of fabrication. It may be better getting a used excel engine from somewhere like lotus bits.
Ted

Ok

Wow, I just want to drive fast.. I won't be doing the work haven't even got the tools to do it,
could probably change the head gasket if I really thought about it. Which would be the most sensible way forward.

That v8 on ebay looks very fast.

Thanks again for these posts very helpful.

257spring wrote:Ok

Wow, I just want to drive fast.. I won't be doing the work haven't even got the tools to do it,
could probably change the head gasket if I really thought about it. Which would be the most sensible way forward.

That v8 on ebay looks very fast.

Thanks again for these posts very helpful.

Lotusbits isn't very far from you. If I were you, I'd bite the bullet and call them to get some advice/help from someone who really knows these cars. Mike or Dave may be able to come over to Nottingham to have a look and do some proper diagnoses.

Lotusbits to petrol heads is like a sweet shop to a fat kid - you won't wont leave without buying new goodies....it just too tempting!

Well, maybe a bit of swearing in church but as i understand it the Alfa Romeo Busso V6 engine is a positive experience. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_V6_engine

amarshall wrote:

257spring wrote:Ok

Wow, I just want to drive fast.. I won't be doing the work haven't even got the tools to do it,
could probably change the head gasket if I really thought about it. Which would be the most sensible way forward.

That v8 on ebay looks very fast.

Thanks again for these posts very helpful.

Lotusbits isn't very far from you. If I were you, I'd bite the bullet and call them to get some advice/help from someone who really knows these cars. Mike or Dave may be able to come over to Nottingham to have a look and do some proper diagnoses.

Lotus bits wanted nearly 50 quid for the ignition amp, I got one from a
XJS for around 14 quid. Can't really afford lotus bits, which an't good,
because it would be great to get someone who knows to bring it up
to standard.

257spring wrote: Lotus bits wanted nearly 50 quid for the ignition amp, I got one from a
XJS for around 14 quid. Can't really afford lotus bits, which an't good,
because it would be great to get someone who knows to bring it up
to standard.

Working AB14s usually change hands for £50 or more on ebay. I'd be asking questions about how good your bargain is.

(and if it's been "refurbished", I wonder if the seller knew that there are several different versions of the module inside it - not all of which work.)

amarshall wrote:

257spring wrote: Lotus bits wanted nearly 50 quid for the ignition amp, I got one from a
XJS for around 14 quid. Can't really afford lotus bits, which an't good,
because it would be great to get someone who knows to bring it up
to standard.

Working AB14s usually change hands for £50 or more on ebay. I'd be asking questions about how good your bargain is.

(and if it's been "refurbished", I wonder if the seller knew that there are several different versions of the module inside it - not all of which work.)

Yes mate, your probably right.
I'm guessing it would take at least 500 quid to bring my car back to standard,

it needs- new head gasket
- tappets are making loud tapping so that needs doing
- air box or oil box
- tuning
- and who knows what else

and I an't got 500, so I could break it, sell it, try fix it myself ( I could do some of these things I know) or go for an engine swap if I can get it done cheap..

This isnt a viable project unless you can do the work yourself. Getting someone else to do it, or worse paying for someone to do it isnt worth it. Listen to Mr Marshall........... I dont want to upset you but you have to be realistic.
Bash

bash wrote:This isnt a viable project unless you can do the work yourself. Getting someone else to do it, or worse paying for someone to do it isnt worth it. Listen to Mr Marshall........... I dont want to upset you but you have to be realistic.
Bash

The guy I know would let me help, and so I would be learning about it at the same time.
Yeah realistic is good. Can't move on it yet anyway so there's plenty of time to chew it over.
Maybe a buyer will turn up.

installing the rover v8 would cost at least that much... in standard form it will have less power worse econimy and it is heavier, so much so that you will need diffrent springs...

if you cant offord to lavish money on your car now, tuck it away somewhere... there not making anymore! prices can only go one way...

if you really want a cheap reliable engine look at something like a zetec or duratec

oh dear my spelling...

sorry, but the above is just wrong and incorrect.

A rover V8 is nigh on identical in weight to a 912. You don't need different springs. There is only a couple of kg in it, but an excel with Aircon adds 20kg to the weight of the 912/907.

It is also a much more powerful engine even instandard form and will make for a much faster excel/elite/eclat. I've had both and driven/been driven in umpteen others with V8's and 4 cylinders.

bhp is a mathematical function of torque and engine speed:

bhp= (torque X RPM) / 5252

bhp only makes for a good comparison at similar engine speeds.

A rover V8 will rev to 5500-5750, the 912 to around 7200rpm. Although both on paper offer similar peak bhp, the rover doesn't spin beyond 5750, which means to make that similar peak bhp figure, its torque figure is significantly higher. Torque is the measure of absolute turning power (force), and is what makes your car accelerate (A= force/mass).

Negative issues with V8 conversions are obtaining the right gearing, and thirst.

But on performance, a 3.5 V8 excel will wipe the floor with a standard car on everything but top speed (and top speed as well, if you change the final drive ratio).

I'm just going to put this link here

http://www.35pickup.com/mulligan/weight.txt


and a couple of pairs of boxing gloves over there -> @@ @@

dunc wrote:sorry, but the above is just wrong and incorrect.

A rover V8 is nigh on identical in weight to a 912. You don't need different springs. There is only a couple of kg in it, but an excel with Aircon adds 20kg to the weight of the 912/907.

It is also a much more powerful engine even instandard form and will make for a much faster excel/elite/eclat. I've had both and driven/been driven in umpteen others with V8's and 4 cylinders.

bhp is a mathematical function of torque and engine speed:

bhp= (torque X RPM) / 5252

bhp only makes for a good comparison at similar engine speeds.

A rover V8 will rev to 5500-5750, the 912 to around 7200rpm. Although both on paper offer similar peak bhp, the rover doesn't spin beyond 5750, which means to make that similar peak bhp figure, its torque figure is significantly higher. Torque is the measure of absolute turning power (force), and is what makes your car accelerate (A= force/mass).

Negative issues with V8 conversions are obtaining the right gearing, and thirst.

But on performance, a 3.5 V8 excel will wipe the floor with a standard car on everything but top speed (and top speed as well, if you change the final drive ratio).

exactly if you want to leave a corner fast you need torque... if you want to go fast on a straight you need bhp...

if you want torque, get an electric motor peak torque 0rpm...

me, i like high reving V8s...