stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 12, 2010 19:45:56 GMT
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Right, some of this has been previously posted elsewhere, so here it is, much reproduced. I brought this GT6 back in 2006, with the intention to get it back on the road quite quickly and use it. Soon after getting it back, someone suggested that these six cylinder engined small chassis Triumphs handle a lot better with the engine moved back six inches. Since then the body has been all the way off and the chassis modified to take the engine in the new position. In the mean time the rear driveshafts have been converted from the rotoflex system to the Jones/Bowler CV setup. Up front, induction is by Lucas mechanical injection and the exhaust system custom made, to a Gareth Thomas design. Car as bought  Start of strip down for mods  Chassis mods in progress  Back together part way through for a trial fit  Chassis mods were not too bad, spent a long time on it though, I only had one chassis to work on. The two main areas were 1) around the bellhousing, needed the lip taken off and pushed in slightly and 2) around the back of the gearbox, where I chose to extend the shape of the original gearbox cut out backwards, the rear mount is sat on that block which goes between the two main chassis rails. When I did these chassis mods, I did not have any form of exhaust system in place, so consideration of how to run the pipes through was not made, this has caused a few headaches in the fitting of my system.  |
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Last Edit: Nov 22, 2015 17:30:09 GMT by stevea
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 12, 2010 19:46:43 GMT
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Not happy with the original number of fuses and the lack of freedom to modify the original wiring while keeping the original fuse box, I decided to completely un-wrap the original wiring loom to allow me to inspect, repair and modify as required. In Progress  Almost done  Some shiny bits now, my alloy wheels after being re-furbished, it took them a few goes to get the powder coat to lay on the spokes right, but I am quite pleased with the results. I still need to get some better tyres fitted, but I felt there was no point in fitting new tyres onto rims that leaked. Will fit them to the car after a quick wax to see how they look.  I was not too keen on these wheels when I brought them a few years back, but they have grown on me. Reckon they look a lot better for being refurbished.  |
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Last Edit: May 22, 2012 13:02:05 GMT by stevea
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 12, 2010 19:48:09 GMT
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Some time later I fitted a re-worked cylinder head to my GT6, so we had a long afternoon at the rolling road yesterday, where we did runs with the GT supplied head and again after changing the later CR type inlet manifolds for the earlier CP manifolds, which have be machined out to enable the CR throttle spindles to be fitted. Ram pipes have also been fitted to the new manifolds to increase the inlet length.  Torque:  Power:  Blue run is prior to the head change, but still injection and CR inlets. Green run is with the new head, but still injection and CR inlets. Black run is new head and CP inlets and ram pipes. It is clear to see the improvements with the new higher compression cylinder head, giving more power and for longer and the CP inlets giving an extra eight or nine BHP. The engine is still fitted with the relatively mild stock MkII camshaft. I've still a bit of fettling to do to get the inlets to match the ports properly as we were running out of time yesterday and I also need to consider making a cold air feed as it does seem to be quite sensitive to temperature. Plenty to keep me busy eh?  |
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 12, 2010 20:21:23 GMT
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I'd just like to say that the graphs from the rolling road are more for a comparison of before and after, rather than trying to boast about the power from my engine, I really don't go in for all of that willy waving. So a few weeks later, Monday 14th June, was the Castle Combe trackday, my first time out on track. On the first session time seemed to pass exceeding fast, unlike my driving, but I survived. Through out the day my ability to keep up with the other traffic improved and the car only gave me one problem, a leaky rocker cover gasket, which was soon solved with liberal ammount of silicone sealant. A couple of observations from the day, my 'temporary' throttle cable mount could do with stiffening-up or replacing as despite having little slack in the cable, the mount would bend, giving a delay between pressing on the pedal and the butterflies moving. The standard brakes seem perfectly adequate for my driving on that circuit, so no need to worry there, if anything I needed to brake less into corners and carry more speed through. The front left tyre seems to have come off the worst, not sure if this is my driving style or just due to the rotation of the circuit.  Other pics of interest nicked from over the internets.     More pictures in Photobucket s701.photobucket.com/albums/ww20/SteveA_2009/Combe%202010/?start=0 |
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Nov 12, 2010 20:50:44 GMT
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That straight six is a heavy old lump, well done on moving it back.
GT6 is a nice looking car, with the rear suspension sorted and engine moved back it seems like it's really coming together.
Wheels really suit it too. Excellent work all round mate.
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Nov 12, 2010 21:37:31 GMT
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That's very nice! I like the idea of shifting the engine back 6 inches. Impressive amounts of power and torque from the engine too!
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sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
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Nov 12, 2010 23:25:26 GMT
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Looks cool, the mods are spot on, is a TR6 cam next on the shopping list?
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Good work there, the car looks great and the mods are impressive. I love the engine in my GT6 but I'd love a go in yours!  how is space inside affected with engine shift? I have to almost take my left leg off as it is to get in |
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Club Retro Rides Member
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Good stuff!
Did you have to chop the bulkhead to shift the the engine back?
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Koos
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Em
Part of things
Fuel Injected? Carb Infested!
Posts: 601 
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Nov 13, 2010 10:35:45 GMT
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Nice looking car there mate and good work on moving the engine back!
Is that the old swap-the-suspension-towers-from-side-to-side trick?!
Looks great out on the track, would love to do a track day in mine when it's done...
Keep up teh good work!
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 13, 2010 11:29:33 GMT
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mk2polobloke - Thanks, it's taken me quite a while to get to this point, but I'm happy with the results so far BenzBoy - the torque is one of the nice points of this engine, it's almost like having the torque of the long stroke 2.5 engine, but with the revability of the two litre sumpcracker - a camshaft is next on the list, but I've been working with a guy who specialises in Triumph engines and Lucas PI systems and he has come up with some new cam profiles which should suit the two litre PI engine. Hope to get that fitted in the next few weeks. leigh - it's not too bad inside, I had to make my own gearbox tunnel and it sits fairly close to the gearbox. It's a bit wider along the length of the tunnel, I've just got used to it. mdh - Oh yes, about a third of the bulkhead top has gone, the clutch master cylinder has been moved across to give space for the airbox and on the the side a large section has been cut out and re-welded to give space for the metering unit and oil filter  V8 Herald - I have seen pictures of it done that way. I started off using a Spitfire/Herald front engine plate to mount it with the tower in the standard position, but seeing as the standard repro mounts struggle to hold a four cylinder I decided to fabricate some mounts and use Jaguar rubbers instead, bolting onto the suspension towers.  |
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Nov 13, 2010 13:59:00 GMT
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So the whole heater area has gone?
I keep squinting at the engine and thinking its a Mk1 lump. Should I buy some glasses?
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Koos
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 13, 2010 15:39:04 GMT
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mdh - The heater on Spitfire and GT6 is on the inside, not on the outside of the bulkhead as per Herald and Vitesse, so it is not in the way for this car.
It definitely is a MkII or III engine, there are no individual tubes in the head for the pushrods to go through and the head is full width with inlet and exhaust ports at different heights.
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Nov 13, 2010 19:14:44 GMT
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mdh - just found another pic of the bulkhead during mods for you  |
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lotdave
Part of things
only one gerry
Posts: 357
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Nov 13, 2010 19:41:20 GMT
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just love the Gt6 or as they were called the poor mans E-type i always wanted one and your one looks so nice and theres nothing like a classic car on a race track, i see one lapping brands hatch realy quick on a track day so i had a close look when it came back to the pit and see it was running a BMW M3 engien "sweet"
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Nov 13, 2010 20:05:34 GMT
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Brilliant ideas stevea, I'll be showing this to a few people I think! I'm selling my own GT6 but I'd love to buy another one to 'play' with. Worst thing about RR is the inspiration that you get from threads like this! How do you find the handling now after moving the engine back? Is the rear suspension still standard?
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Club Retro Rides Member
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marsie
Part of things
Posts: 95
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Nov 13, 2010 20:26:50 GMT
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I have always thought the GT6 is one of the best looking cars around  .It has the best bits from the e-type and the 911 and combines them.A mate of mine is running one with a 2500pi engine on triple webbers.supra 5 speed,tubular spaceframe IRS and sticky tyres,always suprises the faster cars at events like the lemans classic Love the colour scheme of yours though,like the old lotus team colours? Paul |
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Last Edit: Nov 13, 2010 20:32:45 GMT by marsie
Some people are like slinkies? They serve no real purpose in life but make you smile if you push them down the stairs!
1972 Scimitar GTe se5a
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Nov 13, 2010 21:34:51 GMT
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Looks ace, was going to mention the lotus green and yellow / gold |
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Nov 14, 2010 13:00:45 GMT
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Ta Stevea!
So the chunk chopped out is for the metering unit and filter? So with efi and a remote filter I'd need to cut less?
I'll have to take the tape measure to my Vitesse!
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Koos
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Nov 14, 2010 15:35:12 GMT
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That looks really good, in a colour combo you just can't beat, BRG and yellow  I've always fancied one of these, they're such a good shape. I think a 4age would work pretty well |
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Last Edit: Nov 14, 2010 15:36:02 GMT by luckygti
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how is space inside affected with engine shift? I have to almost take my left leg off as it is to get in
.It has the best bits from the e-type and the 911 and combines them.A mate of mine is running one with a 2500pi engine on triple webbers.supra 5 speed,tubular spaceframe IRS and sticky tyres,always suprises the faster cars at events like the lemans classic
I've always fancied one of these, they're such a good shape. I think a 4age would work pretty well