The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi !
I recently got my hands on a Moss Mamba that I had been after for over a year now:

It had been running this:

I felt this was wrong on many levels so this happened:

Then almost immediately these arrived:

I started work straight away !

As you can see this is just the start, I've not done anything like this before
so feel free to offer advice
The donor was a Triumph Vitesse and was originally rebodied in 1985 / 86 with the Alfa.. possibly !

Stu

That'll make for an exciting drive!!

Chris.

Been doing alot of work recently, engine and gearbox position has been finalised, there has been a lot of fettling and its been a great learning process.
The main problems have been the shear size of the Stag overdrive gearbox and the narrowness of the Vitesse chassis right where a gearbox should fit !

I have had to compromise on engine height and position so its not as far back or as low as I would have liked but its still a lot further back than most V8 engined Triumphs which should help with handling

Stu

Hi
Is it original Vitesse rear suspension? if so with a V8 in it it should be an "interesting" ride
nice unusual project though, can't you shove an alfa or porsche transaxel under the boot to allow you to move the engine back?
Best regards
Mike

Yes it is all still Vitesse under the skin.... no idea about what you have suggested as I am a complete novice at engine transplants
The engine is not in a bad position and the finished car will require a certain skill to keep it on the road.

Stu

A transaxle is a unit that has the gearbox as part of the driven axle. It's a transmission and axle combined, hence: transaxle. It would mean that you have engine at the front of the car, gearbox at the back. You would simply have a prop shaft coming out the back of your engine which would allow it to be moved further back and down. Hope this makes sense and helps

James

Thanks for the info... far too much of a novice to consider that for this build
Looking at the flywheel next to the chassis rails I don't think anything short of re-modeling the chassis would get the engine much further back !

Stu

Been doing quite well with the engine fit, sitting in very nicely, just working on where everything will fit, the oil cooler, header tank, petrol filter, coil etc



Got spark at the plugs but the carb is in dire need of a rebuild, explosions aren't my thing !
May have found some exhaust manifolds that look like they'll fit... all going great

Stu

Looks interesting and that is a tight fit, keep up the good work rich

does look good.

what you done with the alfa engien and gearbox?

I sold the engine and box to fund the RV8...
I am out of cash currently so the project is on hold but certainly not forgotten.
A mate had this rad which is a vast improvement on the original Vitesse rad:


The oil cooler is plumbed in, Rad plumbed in, electrics seem ok but still need to get a high torque starter due to the steering column and a decent battery, then I may actually get it up and running !

Stu

Currently slow progress due to the Summer and lack of any real cash but have got the bonnet back on and it closes nicely, just need to get the pancake filter and then can make the intake / bulge / scoop type thing..
still not run the beast yet, currently working on the rear brakes.





Stu

Although the gear linkages will be a nightmare, you could also look at the Audi gearboxes for motivational force.

First kit car I ever built (17 years old) was a Moss Monaco

Rossco wrote:First kit car I ever built (17 years old) was a Moss Monaco

Bound to be around somewhere, ever searched online for it ?

Update:
Engine as it currently is..


and decided to go Aero screen...


I did put this up for sale recently but came to my senses, I had a relapse with a back issue but its all good now thank goodness so no change to my fitness !

Cheers,
Stu