Lotus Carlton V8 ????

[V8_phil]

I have a LC rep which is based on a GSi 24v and was considering going with a V8 conversion. I believe one of the biggest issues is the steering box, which protrudes into the engine bay. A quick google search brought this up:



Looks like a Lotus Omega (LHD) or possibly another rep with an LS1 fitted - does anyone have any details on this build? Has anyone ever converted a Carlton to rack & pinion steering?
Phil.

[mph1977]

the issue that Opel had with both later carltons and Omegas with V8s was they couldn;t autobahn -proof them ... however i don;t know enough of the detail of the build to comment beeyond it is achievable

[davepoth]

mph1977 said:

the issue that Opel had with both later carltons and Omegas with V8s was they couldn;t autobahn -proof them ... however i don;t know enough of the detail of the build to comment beeyond it is achievable

Probably worth looking into the Holden VR Commodore. It might look a bit familiar.

[mph1977]

davepoth said:

Probably worth looking into the Holden VR Commodore. It might look a bit familiar.

similar platofrm but the body is rather different and i suspect that Holden like the US brands do not have a 'autobahn proofing' standard unlike ze Engineers at Adam Opel AG

[Fatboynotsothin]

Im aware its an old post but did you ever fit a V8 to your Carlton ? Im considering doing the same.

[Shakermaker]

Fatboynotsothin said:

Im aware its an old post but did you ever fit a V8 to your Carlton ? Im considering doing the same.

It has been done in the past, but the one I saw used a Buick V8, think it was a 4.2, closer to what you'd find in an old Range Rover than a small block 5.7 Chevy unit.

I know there has been much talk of V8-ing a Cartlon and god knows its something I would love to do in the future, but I don't recall ever seeing one with a small block at any of the old Vauxhall shows I used to attend!

[GmanAustralia]

I was interested to read that there are some in the UK that would like do a V8 conversion on a GM V platformed car. Coming from Australia, I know something about this. If you're using a Gen III or IV GM V8 (300 kW from the 6.2 Lt n/a), the biggest issue is the steering being on the right and there is just not enough room for this and the exhaust and the starter motor. You can buy starter motor relocation kits but the cost is prohibitive - around $1000 AUD. This doesn't stop a lot of people from doing it and there is now a whole industry supported by the LS conversion fraternity. The alternative is to import an Australian V8 - the '304' which has the starter motor natively on the left. This engine is from out of the Ark and struggles to make 200 kW. You'd have to be Australian to have any affection for it. I have another suggestion - we have a thing called the Barra turbo, a single turbo 4.0 litre inline six with 24 valves, double overhead cams and variable valve timing that has no trouble pushing out 400 rear wheel kW. People have put them into V platformed cars and run 10 second quarter miles. Loads of power and no starter motor location issues - perhaps even a spiritual descendant of the LC? OK, maybe a nod to it then. The other thing I'd throw in while I'm here is that we have rack and pinion steering on our V platforms. I was surprised that Lotus couldn't source a crossmember from Australia to attach the rack to - perhaps it has something to do with most Lotus type 104s being LHD.

Edited by GmanAustralia on Monday 18th February 11:06

[sausage76]

You need to take yourself to the Auto barnstormers forum.

There will be loads of info over there.

[Doofus]

What the heck is "autobahn proofing"?

[Slippydiff]

Doofus said:

What the heck is "autobahn proofing"?

I suspect he meant ensuring durability whilst running at sustained high speeds and managing the correspondingly high temps, be they engine, transmission, tyres or brakes.
It would have been more constructive to have said that in the first place mind ...

Not sure why the poster thought the later GM products couldn't be "Autobahn Proofed", pretty sure there are several high speed bowls in Europe or the UK if high speed durability testing is required.

[Doofus]

Aah.. OK, thanks.