Engine transplant - will it fit. Opinions?
Discussion
Hi All,
I posted pics of my Aussie Falcon XR6 turbo a few weeks ago.
Having driven it for a bit,, I’ve come to realise that this engine is an absolute beast. Smooth everywhere and goes mad when it needs to. It is supremely reliable. This example is lightly modded and already pushes out approx. 450hp. Ive started wondering............will it fit in the Chimaera with a manual box?
Really basic Barra engine measurements are:
length back of block to edge of intake = 800mm ( long but looks like it fits)
Width: edge of turbo to opposite edge = 730mm fits if the engine moved forward)
Height: bottom of sump to top = 680mm (jeez this is a tall engine - cut out bonnet)?
These measurements should encompass the bolt on alternator, air con compressor etc. These could be moved if needed.
My basic measurements of the Chimaera engine bay are difficult because it fans out as it goes towards the front. Plus there is a removable brace bar in front of the RV8that provides more room.
What do you think? It would be a one off!
I posted pics of my Aussie Falcon XR6 turbo a few weeks ago.
Having driven it for a bit,, I’ve come to realise that this engine is an absolute beast. Smooth everywhere and goes mad when it needs to. It is supremely reliable. This example is lightly modded and already pushes out approx. 450hp. Ive started wondering............will it fit in the Chimaera with a manual box?
Really basic Barra engine measurements are:
length back of block to edge of intake = 800mm ( long but looks like it fits)
Width: edge of turbo to opposite edge = 730mm fits if the engine moved forward)
Height: bottom of sump to top = 680mm (jeez this is a tall engine - cut out bonnet)?
These measurements should encompass the bolt on alternator, air con compressor etc. These could be moved if needed.
My basic measurements of the Chimaera engine bay are difficult because it fans out as it goes towards the front. Plus there is a removable brace bar in front of the RV8that provides more room.
What do you think? It would be a one off!
Wolvesboy said:
Plus there is a removable brace bar in front of the RV8that provides more room. #
Which is there for a reason.Wolvesboy said:
It would be a one off!
For a very good reason.That's a huge, heavy engine. Would be impossible to fit it without altering the chassis from original specifications, which lands you in all kinds of registration/IVA nonsense (assuming you want to keep it road legal)
Much better options out there IMO.
Thanks for the replies fellas.
I'm not against the RV8 and mine runs just ok but it is ultimately an old, tired design with some expensive potential. I am a tinkerer and never stop thinking about the next project. I just wonder in amazement at this Barra turbo engine. It really is epic. It looks like it won't fit and I'm not going to create untold work for myself but I just cannot stop wondering....! The YT videos plus my own XR6 turbo only enhance my admiration.
The Jag is an option I didn't really contemplate before - I will investigate further.
The LS route is tried and tested and I have driven an LS3 Tamora (Top Cats conversion) which was an animal but the Barra is better in my view.
It is a shame the Barra turbo + ancillaries cannot be moved up and forward more and I personally don't think a bonnet bulge is an issue - it may actually look good on the Chimaera!
I'm not against the RV8 and mine runs just ok but it is ultimately an old, tired design with some expensive potential. I am a tinkerer and never stop thinking about the next project. I just wonder in amazement at this Barra turbo engine. It really is epic. It looks like it won't fit and I'm not going to create untold work for myself but I just cannot stop wondering....! The YT videos plus my own XR6 turbo only enhance my admiration.
The Jag is an option I didn't really contemplate before - I will investigate further.
The LS route is tried and tested and I have driven an LS3 Tamora (Top Cats conversion) which was an animal but the Barra is better in my view.
It is a shame the Barra turbo + ancillaries cannot be moved up and forward more and I personally don't think a bonnet bulge is an issue - it may actually look good on the Chimaera!
Wolvesboy said:
Thanks for the replies fellas.
I'm not against the RV8 and mine runs just ok but it is ultimately an old, tired design with some expensive potential. I am a tinkerer and never stop thinking about the next project. I just wonder in amazement at this Barra turbo engine. It really is epic. It looks like it won't fit and I'm not going to create untold work for myself but I just cannot stop wondering....! The YT videos plus my own XR6 turbo only enhance my admiration.
The Jag is an option I didn't really contemplate before - I will investigate further.
The LS route is tried and tested and I have driven an LS3 Tamora (Top Cats conversion) which was an animal but the Barra is better in my view.
It is a shame the Barra turbo + ancillaries cannot be moved up and forward more and I personally don't think a bonnet bulge is an issue - it may actually look good on the Chimaera!
...and the increase/ repositioning of the main mass will do wonders for traction and handling... I'm not against the RV8 and mine runs just ok but it is ultimately an old, tired design with some expensive potential. I am a tinkerer and never stop thinking about the next project. I just wonder in amazement at this Barra turbo engine. It really is epic. It looks like it won't fit and I'm not going to create untold work for myself but I just cannot stop wondering....! The YT videos plus my own XR6 turbo only enhance my admiration.
The Jag is an option I didn't really contemplate before - I will investigate further.
The LS route is tried and tested and I have driven an LS3 Tamora (Top Cats conversion) which was an animal but the Barra is better in my view.
It is a shame the Barra turbo + ancillaries cannot be moved up and forward more and I personally don't think a bonnet bulge is an issue - it may actually look good on the Chimaera!
Wolvesboy said:
Thanks for the replies fellas.
I'm not against the RV8 and mine runs just ok but it is ultimately an old, tired design with some expensive potential.
If you think tuning an RV8 is expensive, wait until you swap over an engine that has literally nothing in common with it, in a car that was never engineered to take a big, heavy lump... The low-mid 300 hp/lbs.ft range that is relatively easy to achieve from an RV8 these days, is more than enough to ask rather stern questions of the chassis, anyway...I'm not against the RV8 and mine runs just ok but it is ultimately an old, tired design with some expensive potential.
If you want to put a heavier engine in and place it more forward, you might as well buy some sort of old Yank/Aussie saloon and be done with it, anyway... as it will never handle anything like a sports car again...
macdeb said:
Awesome stuff! You made me LOL.Personally, I just feel that the Barra is superior to the RV8. I have both so can make that assumption. If I had a drive in your Chimaera Im sure it would be awesome. But it does not hide the fact that the Barra turbo has way more easily accessible potential and cars at my local drag strip support that statement. I am also considering an LS option as they are plentiful here also - but I can hoon around all day in my Falcon turbo and it brings a smile to my face every time i put my foot to the floor. It would be magical in the Chimaera even in its present tune (unknown as yet). It will probably never happen but I am open to comments both positive and negative! Anything to make our lives more fun has got to be worth it! Bonnet bulges can be cool too!
You´re missing the point here. An engine that is ´better´ in the context of a two-tonne saloon might well spoil another car that has an 'inferior' engine. In this case, there's a 99.99% percent chance that it will.
If you want to seriously improve a Chim/Griff as an overall driving experience, the engine is just about the last of your considerations. Also, it's pretty much integral to the overall character of the car.
If you want to seriously improve a Chim/Griff as an overall driving experience, the engine is just about the last of your considerations. Also, it's pretty much integral to the overall character of the car.
But drag strips are straight so anything with power does ok.
I prefer cornering ability over straight line slogs so as TVR are so well balanced with the RV8 and given you can tune them with Turbo to 500 hp with a few after market parts why bother ruining the bonnet lines by adding a bulge rather far forward to actually look any good and in one foul swoop destroy the essence of the Chim shape which is all about smooth lines.
Sounds a bit Mad Max to me.
Adding a bulge is asking for trouble round these parts but it’s more the weight offset you are adding I’m more insulted by
And it’s weight high up. The RV8 weight is really low centre of gravity when you look at each bank with the heads off.
With some tuned heads and probably using 450 bottom end with a mappable ecu you could be looking at 350 BHP 360 ft torque before adding any turbo mods.
That should get you well below 12 secs 1/4 mile in such a light car.
That’s damn quick.
That will be pushing the chassis ability to stick on open roads unless all you do is accelerate in straight lines and will also take you well past 150 /160 mph in a matter of seconds.
and in a plastic tub serious stuff.
Derek did 174 mph once but it’s not a playground ride at that speed
I prefer cornering ability over straight line slogs so as TVR are so well balanced with the RV8 and given you can tune them with Turbo to 500 hp with a few after market parts why bother ruining the bonnet lines by adding a bulge rather far forward to actually look any good and in one foul swoop destroy the essence of the Chim shape which is all about smooth lines.
Sounds a bit Mad Max to me.
Adding a bulge is asking for trouble round these parts but it’s more the weight offset you are adding I’m more insulted by
And it’s weight high up. The RV8 weight is really low centre of gravity when you look at each bank with the heads off.
With some tuned heads and probably using 450 bottom end with a mappable ecu you could be looking at 350 BHP 360 ft torque before adding any turbo mods.
That should get you well below 12 secs 1/4 mile in such a light car.
That’s damn quick.
That will be pushing the chassis ability to stick on open roads unless all you do is accelerate in straight lines and will also take you well past 150 /160 mph in a matter of seconds.
and in a plastic tub serious stuff.
Derek did 174 mph once but it’s not a playground ride at that speed
One of the best lessons is to look at a Tvr rolling chassis with body off.
It already looks over engined in such a flimsy looking chassis.
It’s a stark reminder of just how light weight they are.
Since the 1960’s over engined Griffith which is fab for racing, Tvr have put bigger engines in but they never really changed the chassis design that much. That is the limiting factor in making them fast yet still fun and not about to spit you off.
That’s no fun at all.
The chassis was designed with smaller Brit engines in mind, barely 100 hp so it’s a huge ask to start putting in 500 hp + without a massive amount of other work to bring its handling/ braking upto the engine spec IMO.
If your prepared to do all that then go for it or buy a Porsche. It will be cheaper in the long run and go a lot faster round corners where all the fun is,,,, I can’t believe I’ve just said that!
I’ll go wash my mouth out
Saying all that I went round Castle Coombe in an LS powered Tamara. (pass seat)
Handled really nice and lots of controllable power.
Totally set up well so done right a beast which was a revelation to me but it does have the later chassis which must be about as good as any they made.
It can be made to work if you spend enough.
It already looks over engined in such a flimsy looking chassis.
It’s a stark reminder of just how light weight they are.
Since the 1960’s over engined Griffith which is fab for racing, Tvr have put bigger engines in but they never really changed the chassis design that much. That is the limiting factor in making them fast yet still fun and not about to spit you off.
That’s no fun at all.
The chassis was designed with smaller Brit engines in mind, barely 100 hp so it’s a huge ask to start putting in 500 hp + without a massive amount of other work to bring its handling/ braking upto the engine spec IMO.
If your prepared to do all that then go for it or buy a Porsche. It will be cheaper in the long run and go a lot faster round corners where all the fun is,,,, I can’t believe I’ve just said that!
I’ll go wash my mouth out
Saying all that I went round Castle Coombe in an LS powered Tamara. (pass seat)
Handled really nice and lots of controllable power.
Totally set up well so done right a beast which was a revelation to me but it does have the later chassis which must be about as good as any they made.
It can be made to work if you spend enough.
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 24th June 09:59
^^^^ What he said.
If you are serious about making your TVR faster, beyond the suspension upgrades that should be your first port of call really and the usual engine tweaks, you should concentrate on making it lighter and if possible increase torsional stiffness. That way, you can eke out a significant performance advantage without taking the car (and the loads you are putting through it) outside its design limits.
If you are serious about making your TVR faster, beyond the suspension upgrades that should be your first port of call really and the usual engine tweaks, you should concentrate on making it lighter and if possible increase torsional stiffness. That way, you can eke out a significant performance advantage without taking the car (and the loads you are putting through it) outside its design limits.
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