Couldn't stay away completely... AJP rebuild project

[itiejim]

Well, 4 months ago I sold the Cerb and bought a Honda engined S1 Elise, a great bit of kit, 10 seconds to 100, fantastic on track and a truly fantastic drivers' car.

However.....

There's just nothing like the long legged, endless tug that an AJP V8 gives and I couldn't stay away. So I've bought what is, to my mind, the best bit of a Cerb. An AJP engine.

I don't quite know what I want to do with it yet, but I'll certainly strip it down and rebuild it, as I did the last one. Hopefully, without having the stress of a car to put it in I'll be able to take my time and write up the rebuild properly to help anyone who may wish to do the same in the future.

In the meantime, any ideas on what to put it in - my thoughts are that it has to weigh about half as much as a Cerb. Fisher Fury? Could I squeeze it in the back of the Elise with a Porsche 'box?

Hmmnn, a long term project, but much madness awaits hopefully.

I must add that no Cerbs were harmed in the pursuit of this adventure The engine came from Forza West when they removed it for an LS conversion (don't go there).

[scotty_d]

I would put it in a mk1 tuscan great looks with a great engine.

[itiejim]

Personally I prefer the Cerb shape, and I'd rather use something a lot lighter.

A while ago a guy put an AJP in a Westfield or Caterham, can't find the link atm, but that's the sort of thing I was thinking of. Perhaps a Fisher Fury would be better as it weighs just a little more but has much better aero.

Keep the ideas coming though

[camel_landy]

Yeah, I was going to suggest a Westie too...

That would be utterly bonkers, especially with a supercharger in there too!!!

M

[guenzo]

Hey James

...you could do a perfect rebuild and then - once I wrecked mine on the german Autobahn - sell it to me ,-)

Regards

Günter

[itiejim]

Hi Günter you'll never wreck yours, you hardly ever go over 120kph

[FUBAR]

itiejim said:

Personally I prefer the Cerb shape, and I'd rather use something a lot lighter.

A while ago a guy put an AJP in a Westfield or Caterham, can't find the link atm, but that's the sort of thing I was thinking of. Perhaps a Fisher Fury would be better as it weighs just a little more but has much better aero.

Keep the ideas coming though

Was a Westie. Austec did it. Completely bonkers

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[ukkid35]

And the weird thing is about that Austec conversion is that the exhaust manifold heat has no effect on the brake master or it's seals.

[a1rak]

IMO, I wouldnt go the kit car route weather it be a westie or a fury or any other shopping trolley on wheels its been done before so its not new and there will always be something even more bonkers than yours. Do something really different, Keep with british, something from your youth days, dont know how old you are but maybe a MGB or if you are younger a Avenger tiger look a like or a vauxhall Farenza (spelling???) That would really be something to see and admire and be a truly one off. There's always a classic car in everyones era, I'd go that route.

[Gazzab]

Beach buggy...!?

[itiejim]

Gazzab said:

Beach buggy...!?

You'd need a big beach...

[itiejim]

a1rak said:

IMO, I wouldnt go the kit car route weather it be a westie or a fury or any other shopping trolley on wheels its been done before so its not new and there will always be something even more bonkers than yours. Do something really different, Keep with british, something from your youth days, dont know how old you are but maybe a MGB or if you are younger a Avenger tiger look a like or a vauxhall Farenza (spelling???) That would really be something to see and admire and be a truly one off. There's always a classic car in everyones era, I'd go that route.

Yes, I can see the appeal. I already have quite a pokey Spitfire though with a front-mid engined TR6 lump so sort of feel that I've done that. Though clearly an AJP engined anything would be on another level.

One possibility I'd considered was a Porsche 968. I had a Clubsport a few years ago which I liked, but it always just felt a bit dull and German. I'm sure an AJP heart would fix it

[Onzlouk]

I was going to suggest a 944, perfect handling and the AJP should fit in easy(ish) as they already do a LSx conversion for it?!

I must admit though the idea of minimal weight and maximum power is always going to be very appealing!

[itiejim]

Onzlouk said:

I was going to suggest a 944, perfect handling and the AJP should fit in easy(ish) as they already do a LSx conversion for it?!

I must admit though the idea of minimal weight and maximum power is always going to be very appealing!

I wonder if the LS conversion maintains the transaxle 'box? Best I get Googling.

[FUBAR]

I always thought the mk1/2 Escort with the amp was a real fun one. Can't remember he chaps name, but he is/was the Top Gear 'special vehicles' mechanic.

[a1rak]

itiejim said:

Yes, I can see the appeal. I already have quite a pokey Spitfire though with a front-mid engined TR6 lump so sort of feel that I've done that. Though clearly an AJP engined anything would be on another level.

I had a triumph Vitesse convertible Mk2 with a 2.6ltr TR6 engine triple webbers etc etc in its day nothing got near it, was so much fun. I am so tempted to build a track car around a hardtop Vitesse.
Looks like we have a very similar taste in cars. Mk1 Golf with a mid mounted AJP would fun.

[Latty666]

Mx5...

[itiejim]

a1rak said:

I had a triumph Vitesse convertible Mk2 with a 2.6ltr TR6 engine triple webbers etc etc in its day nothing got near it, was so much fun. I am so tempted to build a track car around a hardtop Vitesse.
Looks like we have a very similar taste in cars. Mk1 Golf with a mid mounted AJP would fun.

Yes, I like old Triumphs, they're in the blood!

I reckon a mid-engined Golf is a bit too much fabrication for me though.

[itiejim]

Latty666 said:

Mx5...

Yes, they put LSx's in them, cheap enough to start with too.

[skidoo]

Zcar mini ?