- This topic has 19 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by
.
-
Posts
-
1952 MG TD Hot Rod – Jay
Leno’s Garage – YouTubefun ride check it outYAAAA!Big ups on that find, John. Good on Leno too, for getting Wilwood to make a TD kit.I love what he did with the grille.One of our members has a replica fitted with a cammed-up 283. Looked like it had Nissan Altima wheels, which to my mind are the closest thing to a TD wheel in modern cars. 4 x 4 1/2 bolt pattern, 15 holes, 15 x 6.His problem was brakes.(Brakes and money, I think).Hopefully he’ll get it back up and running soon. It’s a great car.
edsnova2014-12-08 21:07:36
Ed – Did the member who used the Altima wheels also use an adapter to fit the 4 x 130 bolt pattern?
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackRats!!!!!
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackSurprised there’s no examples of Ford small-blocks (260ci, 289ci or 302ci) in TDs. They’re physically much smaller than small-block Chevys and give similar performance. Went to college with a guy who had a 289 HiPo in an MGA, and another friend had the one-year only Sunbeam Tiger 289… (they offered a Tiger 260 the year before). Great engines for use with space constraints…
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Smoothest running engine I ever had was in my turd brown 49 Ford with an inline flathead six. But I digress. It is a terriffic looking TD but all of Jay Leno’s cars are terrific looking!
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackI like it. That will have to be next.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"Chevy small block:
26 inches wide, 28 inches long and 27 inches tall (to the valve covers). Sump is rear (unless you find an early Nova oil pan and pickup). Starter on the lower right.Weighs 575 lbs.Ford 260-302Dimensions: 24 inches wide, 29 inches long, and 27.5 inches tall
Weight: 460 pounds
Sump Location: Front
Starter Location: LeftSo you save 2 inches of width and over 100 lbs with the Ford. The length is more but that wouldn’t matter, and the height’s the same–or rather dependent upon the intake. Looks like a no-brainer to go with the Ford over the Chevy in any MG or other LBC.We’ve all heard of the V8-60 swap and sure it’s a lot more compact, but–Roy, maybe you know this–how much did that engine weigh in comparison to the XPAG and (more crucial) how much power could a normal hotrodder get from it?I always wondered why anyone would go through the trouble of an engine swap to get a 10 percent boost in power–especially when the XPAG’s 54 alleged horses could be multiplied somewhat with a little machine work, bigger carbs, and a few other minor tweaks. I’ve got to assume most of the V8-60s came about as a result of broken crankshafts or similar spendy XPAG failures.Anyone know?Could a blower on a V8-60 fit under the hood?
That would bump the power up a bit.The cool factor would be enormous.Ed, I only said that it was the “prettiest” swap. It looked like it belonged…. and in the 50’s you could get hot rod stuff for them, functional as well as bling.
The 60 hp flathead was a different block, in fact, I believe it shared very little with the larger of Ford’s flatheads. And it was a willing engine that became very popular in midget racing and in small hydroplanes. I don’t know the weight diff V8-60 vs XPAG. The 60 was so small, I’d bet there was not much difference.
I was at a TD meet about 45 years ago, with my MGTF-1500, and drove a V8-60 that someone else had there. I have to admit that I don’t know what go-fast stuff he had on the 60, but it was really quick. Really! At that point in my life, I was moving every few months (USN) else I might have looked into a swap myself. I seem to remember that the 60’s redline (the one in the TD) was 6,000.
But still, the Ford 60 was only 2228cc. Jack’s 4cylinder VW monster TDr is more than 100cc larger at 2332. I hope you guys get to see and drive Jack’s at Carlisle – easily worth the price of admission.Royal2014-12-10 05:39:50If it weren’t for the complexity of all the electronics there’s a whole gamut of modern V-6 engines that are physically small, having been essentially engineered to fit in the same constrained space of their I-4s for front-wheel drive cars. The VW VR6 (narrow-angle V-6) or Nissan Q-block V-6 (used in Frontiers, Infinity, or the 350Z) come to mind. There’s variations of them that produce similar power to the old Chevy and Ford V-8s from a much smaller size.
Mating them to a suitable RWD tranny might be an issue, though, in addition to all the electronics involved.
KentT2014-12-10 10:19:11
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Computers and complex electronics are the reason I like the older cars. Non of that complexity to deal with. If I want to lean out or richen my fuel mixture I just turn a screw rather than take the car to a repair place and pay a bundle to have a technician reprogram the chip. My 49 Ford with in-line flathead six purred like a kitten and I could tune it easily.
newkitman2014-12-10 10:28:03Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackHi guys (and gals, if any). I’m back after being quiet for so long. That is one of my replica above with the red FiberFab body and engine cut aways. I bought the car completely assembled and only know some basis about it.
Engine: 1964 Chevy V8 283, bored out 0.060
Trans: Auto 400
Rear end: Nissan Z260
Front end, Chevette.Screeches tires when I put it into “drive”
Brakes work, but are not power assisted and I believe too small for this powerhouse.
Only drove it in town, too much brake force required on the pedal to feel safe at any speed. Parked it and it’s been sitting outside with only a car cover. Carpet was shot when I bought it. Seats are probably shot now.
I really don’t know why anyone would want a v8 in one of our cars, outside of the neat look. There’s a local guy that races the little Ford 2.3 like mine. Claims he’s got 400+hsp in one of his cars. He looked at my car and told me the frame would probably twist under that much power, not to mention the other stuff that would need beefed up. It’s just not built for it.
A friend has a 300zx dino’ed over 450 hsp . It’s scary to ride in, you feel the power twisting the car each time he shifts when he gets on it. TOO Scary for me. (Guess I’m getting OLD)
I would like a little more power though, but I probably don’t really need it I seldom go more than 45. Too much fun on the back roads.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.