Pilgrim Sumo mk2 V8
Discussion
I suggest you will get a better response here - these guys really know their stuff: http://www.cobraclub.com/forum/forum.php
It did indeed come in a V8 version. I built one many moons ago. Didn't keep it long.
Granada suspension, RV8 engine & gearbox. Conversion from the Ford V6 should be simple enough - likely parts will be RV8 & gearbox of course, new prop shaft, engine & gearbox mounts, exhaust manifolds (current system can probably be pressed into service).
You may have to cut off existing engine & gearbox mounting points and fit new ones, could well run into issues with the steering linkage as well, needing to move mounting points and chaining the odd parts but unless someone can definitively tell you if the parts are the same on V6 and V8 cars, just dig in!
I know a V8 has a sound all it's own, and is kind of de rigueur for a Cobra but if it is just more performance you are after, how about a later 24V V6 from the Ford (or Jaguar) family? The RV8 is very overrated and suffers from highly exaggerated power claims IME. They sound nice enough though. Have you considered something of American origin? Then again, I always felt the chassis was weak and too flexible so maybe that's not too smart a notion!.
(The RV8 I put in the Sumo was a 3.5. I fitted Vitesse pistons for slightly raised CR, Holley carb, a cam from Real Steel and Rhoads lifters. Just barely made 200bhp. Later, had a Marcos with an RV8. Initially it was a tired old 3.5 which I treated to a Holley and a new cam/lifters. Later, put a 4.2 injection into it with a JE cam. Made 250bhp/250lbft with Emerald ECU - not that great for a 4.2l engine really. A mate who had a 3.9 got a bit more power but less torque)
Granada suspension, RV8 engine & gearbox. Conversion from the Ford V6 should be simple enough - likely parts will be RV8 & gearbox of course, new prop shaft, engine & gearbox mounts, exhaust manifolds (current system can probably be pressed into service).
You may have to cut off existing engine & gearbox mounting points and fit new ones, could well run into issues with the steering linkage as well, needing to move mounting points and chaining the odd parts but unless someone can definitively tell you if the parts are the same on V6 and V8 cars, just dig in!
I know a V8 has a sound all it's own, and is kind of de rigueur for a Cobra but if it is just more performance you are after, how about a later 24V V6 from the Ford (or Jaguar) family? The RV8 is very overrated and suffers from highly exaggerated power claims IME. They sound nice enough though. Have you considered something of American origin? Then again, I always felt the chassis was weak and too flexible so maybe that's not too smart a notion!.
(The RV8 I put in the Sumo was a 3.5. I fitted Vitesse pistons for slightly raised CR, Holley carb, a cam from Real Steel and Rhoads lifters. Just barely made 200bhp. Later, had a Marcos with an RV8. Initially it was a tired old 3.5 which I treated to a Holley and a new cam/lifters. Later, put a 4.2 injection into it with a JE cam. Made 250bhp/250lbft with Emerald ECU - not that great for a 4.2l engine really. A mate who had a 3.9 got a bit more power but less torque)
Edited by Chris-S on Sunday 25th August 12:04
I built a 2.3 V6 Cortina based Sumo back in the day. I remember there were 2 flavours of chassis based around either the Cortina or Granada as a donor, the Granada being the one you would choose if going for V8 installation.
I recall being told by Pilgrim at the time that the Cortina chassis wasn't really up to V8 power and the Cortina live axle certainly wasn't suitable, although personally I think it would be fine with what a standard RV8 puts out.
Main difference with the chassis was in the back end treatment as the Granada used it's independent suspension setup, compared to the Cortina's live axle. I preferred the look of the Cortina based car at the time as the Granada's rear suspension was a bit too wide for the Sumo bodywork so it always looked to me that the wheels stood proud of the wheel arches. I think not long after they offered the option for Sierra rear suspension.
So in summary, depends what chassis you have....
I recall being told by Pilgrim at the time that the Cortina chassis wasn't really up to V8 power and the Cortina live axle certainly wasn't suitable, although personally I think it would be fine with what a standard RV8 puts out.
Main difference with the chassis was in the back end treatment as the Granada used it's independent suspension setup, compared to the Cortina's live axle. I preferred the look of the Cortina based car at the time as the Granada's rear suspension was a bit too wide for the Sumo bodywork so it always looked to me that the wheels stood proud of the wheel arches. I think not long after they offered the option for Sierra rear suspension.
So in summary, depends what chassis you have....
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