Most interesting engine swap into a

TR7? Thinking on the simple side, found a convertible 7 that looks pretty rust free, supposedly has a sticking lifter, but has been sitting for 1+ years. Top looks good, paint is passable, interior looks pretty good. Thought about the standard Buick 3.8, but what else is out there that could be done on the inexpensive side that would still have power? I was thinking I had seen one that had an S-10 rear axle under it to handle the V6, but I've slept since then, can't remember for certain. What other V6's might work, as well as any 4 cylinders that would be a peppy improvement?

That is an easy swap to do! Go with a small block chev and use a powerglide trans. Use the rear axle out of a Monza. You won't have to modify the firewall or the trans tunnel depending how you want to mount it. The rear axle and suspension from the Monza are almost bang on for the Triumph. The front suspension needs to be supported with coil over struts and use a Chevy II oil pan to clear. You will need to adjust spring rates and I suggest building subframe connectors and bracing the chassis. If you want to do it right, solid mount the motor using a front and mid plate, let the trans float on a cross brace. The whole catch is keeping it cool. You will need to invest in an aluminum cross flow rad. I would also suggest an electric water pump.

I've help a guy do it many years ago but I still may be able to track him down. He set it up for drag racing only, and ran low 10s with a 383. Could never keep it cool though. Go with a less radical motor and the largest possible rad and you should not have an issue. OR do what I did and toss in a V6. You can see pictures under the readers rides.

A 12A or 13B would be mighty cool. The traditionalist route would be to stick in a Rover V8. Perhaps, a Toyota 4AGE? Should be able to be had for cheap in 16v form. Combined with some internal bits from the 4AGZE, they can be turbocharged to produce reliable power. Probably even simpler and cheaper would be a Miata engine, actually.

how much power?

SR20

3S-GTE

BEAMS 3S-GE

Ford 2.3L Turbo

5.0

LS1

LS2

LS3

LS6

LS7

LS9

4.3L Vortec

1.6/1.8L Miata

4A-GE

4A-GZE

20v 4A-GE

Formula Atlantic 4A-GE

2T-GTE

3T-GTE (good luck finding one)

The SR20 & the 4A options sound pretty good, I've already got the V8 Miata for high horsepower fun, now I'm just looking for something a little more sedate, either a 4 cyl. or V6. Not a fan of rotaries, even though they can make crazy horsepower. I want to keep a 5 speed tranny, I just like changing gears too much. I live at the foot of a very fun mountain, that's where I like to play , so not the drag racing approach, and I'm poor, so inexpensive works better than the LS* approach.

I think I read somewhere that the TR7 engine and the Saab engines were kissin' cousins. Maybe you could use some Saab bits to just turbo the sucker?

Get a 1UZ-FE 4.0L Lexus/Toyota V8. It all aluminum and dohc (might be a problem) and lots of good high power making internal parts. Not too sure about a manual trans though. The Auzzies have adapters and I dont know if anything state side is a simple bolt up. Heck, even the tundra truck version was damn sexy revvvin' engine.

RossD wrote: Get a [1UZ-FE]( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_UZ_engine#1UZ-FE) 4.0L Lexus/Toyota V8. It all aluminum and dohc (might be a problem) and lots of good high power making internal parts. Not too sure about a manual trans though. The Auzzies have adapters and I dont know if anything state side is a simple bolt up. Heck, even the tundra truck version was damn sexy revvvin' engine.

My Tundra has an iron block though.

RossD wrote: Get a [1UZ-FE]( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_UZ_engine#1UZ-FE) 4.0L Lexus/Toyota V8. It all aluminum and dohc (might be a problem) and lots of good high power making internal parts. Not too sure about a manual trans though. The Auzzies have adapters and I dont know if anything state side is a simple bolt up. Heck, even the tundra truck version was damn sexy revvvin' engine.

Yeah.... if this won't motivate a TR7, i don't know what will:

"In 1997, Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology was introduced along with a further CR increase to 10.5:1 bumping power and torque to 216 kW (290 hp) and 407 N·m (300 ft·lbf). In the GS400 application, output was rated at 300hp and 310 ft-lb of torque"

I fitted my tr7 years ago with drivetrain from a 1977 Ford Capri 2.8L V6 with offenhauser 4barrel intake, fab'd long tube headers, 4speed transmission and 7.5" differential. Currently I am rebuilding the car and I am also contemplating upgrading the drivetrain. Here are some of my choices: Chevy 283/327/350 auto/manual Chevy 4.3L V6 and 5speed Ford 289/302/351W either auto/manual Ford 3.8L V6 "carburated" T5 I am trying to make this car as light as possible. This consists of lightening the bumpers, removing the pop up headlights and making a flush mounted fixed headlight setup, Aluminum fuel tank. I basically gutted the interior "No radio, heater,carpet,headliner,sound deading.I have kept the dash and seats. As for paint I am thinking along the lines of Flat black with clear coat and black anodized 1995 escort rims. I just want to have something to annoy the high $ sports car crowd!!!

Junkyard_Dog wrote: I think I read somewhere that the TR7 engine and the Saab engines were kissin' cousins. Maybe you could use some Saab bits to just turbo the sucker?

They are, to a certain extent. The engine was designed by Ricardo here in the UK in the early 70s for both companies, but both companies developed the design further. Well, BL a little and SAAB a lot...

I don't think you can use SAAB bits to turbo the Triumph/BL engine - I don't think they can take that. I'd be tempted to investigate the possibility of a 16V SAAB turbo swap but I'd expect that to be extremely involved given the gearbox location on a SAAB.

A not very well known swap over here is to take the engine from a late model SAAB 9000 (late as in after the GM takeover) as that will bolt on to RWD transmissions from the larger Opels. Not sure if you can get the bits in the US, though. Also, it's unlikely to be suitable for a TR7 as the engine in the 9000 is sitting straight up and not at an angle as they are in the earlier cars.

Ford Duratec/ Mazda MZR + Q4R +T-5 = Win. (Small light and decent stock horsepower)

AJP V8

Really though, that would be awesome. Or try one of the AMC V8s. Orphan engine in an orphan car.

Jeep liberty CRD diesel.

I got it. Something might not be the cheapest option, but one of the coolest. An Alfa Romeo 2.5L V6. Man that thing will sing when you open it up. And it's not a dime a dozen conversion either.

Heck, I like this idea for myself.

I may go with the Chevy 4.3L even though they say the rear distributor is a bad thing??? My Ford 2.8L has a rear mounted distributor and I just offset my hood latch assembly no big deal!! The engine was set back as far as I could go without taking a sawzall to the firewall. The 4.3L has lots of performance goodies as well, and decent stock hp and torque.

RossD wrote: Get a [1UZ-FE]( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_UZ_engine#1UZ-FE) 4.0L Lexus/Toyota V8. It all aluminum and dohc (might be a problem) and lots of good high power making internal parts. Not too sure about a manual trans though. The Auzzies have adapters and I dont know if anything state side is a simple bolt up. Heck, even the tundra truck version was damn sexy revvvin' engine.

I vote for a 2UZ 4.7L V8 with 1UZ heads, do some cams and oversize valves from www.lextreme.com. You can certainly put a manual transmission behind either the 1UZ or 2UZ, people generally use either W58 or R154 5-speeds or the almighty V160 6 speed. W58 is weak so I wouldn't recommend that tranny, R154s can be had for cheap from MK3 supras and can handle plenty of power. There are adapters available stateside, here are some threads that have lots of info on putting a manual tranny behind a 1UZ:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/performance-and-maintenance/415981-project-log-sc400-1uzfe-to-w58-5sp-conversion.html

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/performance-and-maintenance/145013-bolt-pattern-on-1uz-and-r154-bellhousing-sc400-auto-to-5speed-project.html

+1 for the rotary. For some reason, I have always wanted one in a TR7.

Doesn't the Mazda KL-ZE V6 mount to some RX-7 trans?

the best I have ever seen was an all aluminum Buick 3.8 stroked to 4.0, and twin turbo'd.

it was originally built for a dune buggy, but then he stuffed it in a 7...

My TR7 has a Nissan Z-24 from an 86 pickup. The truck had a bad gearbox and the TR had a bad motor. I cut the bellhousing section off the Nissan box and had a plate welded to the back. Put another plate on the gearbox then set the engine on its nose, set the bellhousing and gearbox on the engine, centered it up and drilled mounting holes through the plates. OK there was a LOT of measuring before all this. I also had to fab a couple simple engine mounts and make a pilot bushing (British on the outside, Japanese on the inside). Cost 200 buck to get the bellhousing welded and another 100 for bits and pieces. Added a set of Mikuni side drafts and I still have to fab some headers.

ScottRA21 wrote: Doesn't the Mazda KL-ZE V6 mount to some RX-7 trans?

That's a really wide engine though - looks like it's wider than a 1UZ.

Alfa 2.5s are cheap, but they arent set up for a transmission to be bolted to them (although it can be done) and the oil pan isnt the best for clearance on other types of cars.

RossD wrote: Ford Duratec/ Mazda MZR + Q4R +T-5 = Win. (Small light and decent stock horsepower)

If you're going to do that, grab the transmission out of a 2006+ Miata. Bolts right up to the MZR.

Somebody is bound to wreck a genesis sooner or later.