Size of a Reliant Scimitar GTE enginebay?

[The Doctor]

Anyone knows the size of the enginebay of a Scimitar (roughly)?

i've got a straight six sitting here, ready to go in my car, but i lost the love for it, so i'm thinking about cars where i can fit it in and the Scimitar is on the shortlist.

Have a couple Scimitar pics:






I found some pics of GTE's with spare wheel, but i'm not sure how it looks underneath there, anyone can shed a light?

Wonder if my 2 liter straight six TwinTurbo engine fits underneath that nice body

[RobinJI]

Not sure of dimensions, but I know at least one's had a 6 pot BMW diesel fitting in it, so a 6 pot must fit. IIRC they had a build thread on here.

[Rob M]

It depends on the scimitar model. The 5/5a is smaller than the 6/A/B. Two things to bear in mind, firstly there is a heavy duty bracing bar across the front of the engine bay, remove it and the body will flex inwards. Its a problem thats been overcome plenty of times but it needs bearing in mind. Underneath the spare wheel carrier is the radiator, basically the Ford V6 is quite short and fits snugly, anything else will require some thinking and/or bulkhead chopping. Bulkhead chopping, in itself, isnt an issue, fibreglass to a seperate chassis, all good.
There are an awful lot of scimitars out there with transplants as diverse as Lexus V8s to Omega V6s, even, as has been said a 6pot diesel. Your straight six will go in but you will have to do some thinking and, almost certainly, some bulkhead chopping.

[jrevillug]

As has been said, there's a big crossmember just in front of the V6. IIRC, the steering rack is bolted to that as well...



So it can be done, but it's not that easy I'm afraid.

Which car have you lost the love for? Chaser?

[The Doctor]

Yeah, the Chaser indeed, it's heavy, expensive road tax (based on weight) and 4 months to new for free road tax in the Netherlands.

[10mpg]

Th first Scimitars came with the Zephyr/Zodiac straight six so a six will fit, tbh there's V8 ones and straight six ones been created so it's deffor possible...

[Rob M]

Sept 10, 2011 17:41:13 GMT 10mpg said:

Th first Scimitars came with the Zephyr/Zodiac straight six so a six will fit, tbh there's V8 ones and straight six ones been created so it's deffor possible...

Quite true. The problem will be finding one ( SE4) thats half decent to start with. Good ones are getting rare, are starting to make serious money and don't really get messed with anymore.
Basket cases appear occassionally but could cause mega headaches. Personally, id go for a 6/6A/6B as project cars are still very cheap, the engineering required to drop a 6 in isnt unknown territory and there will be loads of info out there,the Dutch are quite well represented in Scimitar ownership meaning that help and advice would be closer to hand than you would think. Scimweb is the best place to start asking questions, plenty of modded cars there.

[stefan]

The steering rack bolts on lower than the strut brace on the front towers just above to chassis rails

[chairchild]

I squeezed a 4cyl derv into my SE5a a couple of months ago - even fitting that, required chopping the bulkhead around a tad. To clear the steering column, the engine would have to sit at a silly angle


And fibreglass is pretty expensive for what it is. So why not get something unloved, and steel... a volvo 740

[markkp30]

Sept 10, 2011 5:54:38 GMT The Doctor said:

Yeah, the Chaser indeed, it's heavy, expensive road tax (based on weight) and 4 months to new for free road tax in the Netherlands.

And what about the plans that involve welding? I would be a shame to get rid of that car!

[DWDarkWheels]

Spooky!

I've been investigating what might go into my own Scimitar, and this evening have been mulling over BMW straight sixes.

Measurements I have right here for the original Essex and box (not exact as everything is still in the car) :
24" from gear lever to rear of engine.
22" from rear of engine to front crossmember of chassis. This is a major part of the structure at the front, but it's low : the bottom of the crossmember is level with the bottom of the sump.
The fan and pulley sit over the crossmember, just behind the rack. The rack is 5 1/2" ahead of the crossmember.

I need to find a Beemer engine to measure and judging by this thread, find what others might have done to modify the crossmember.

[DWDarkWheels]

I must try to get a piccie, s all that spare wheel bracketry is out and the front end is visible.

[ettorebugatti]

Wasn't there a BMW 525TDS swap on here?

[The Doctor]

Sept 12, 2011 18:07:38 GMT markkp30 said:

Sept 10, 2011 5:54:38 GMT The Doctor said:

Yeah, the Chaser indeed, it's heavy, expensive road tax (based on weight) and 4 months to new for free road tax in the Netherlands.

And what about the plans that involve welding? I would be a shame to get rid of that car!

i'll talk to you about that when i see you again

[DWDarkWheels]

Here's a bare chassis. The front crossmember is a large tube running between the bottom of the front suspension towers. That's the main impediment to longer engines. You can also see the rack further forward. The radiator usually sits just ahead of the rack.



NB the measurements I gave you above are for my SE5a. SE6a will be slightly longer and wider, though recent discussion on the Scimweb forum suggests the SE6a bulkhead is a more awkward shape to push larger engines back into. Nearly everything seems to end up with a chopped bulkhead.

BMW Diesel Scimi conversion here :
retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=print&thread=89817

[The Doctor]

Hmm, i havent measured my engine yet, but according to the internet (and its always right, you know..) the engine i have is about 27" long, and it being a Supra engine, it's midsumped...

Hmm...

[ettorebugatti]

don't know the time scale of such project, but I wouldn't be surpised if Nederland follow the rest of Europe and reintroduce the no road tax (but for a 30 years old cars).
This can take a couple of years though

[The Doctor]

i don't know either, but now my Corolla is finished, i've got an urge for another project, and even though i like my Toyota's a lot, i want a change

[The Doctor]

oh, and this isn't helping either...

auto.marktplaats.nl/oldtimers/481128948-project-reliant-scimitar-gte-se5-overdrive-1971.html

Is the Essex V6 a sought after engine? This one's presumably refurbed and as good as new...