Triumph Stag engine conversion

Wee_chris · Post by **Wee_chris** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:39 pm

I've just added anothe rcar to the fleet so I know have 3 v8's.

The new one is a 1972 triumph Stag with a rover V8, I'm trying to decide whether to put it back to the Triumph V8 or go a bit different and see if one of my Chevy V8's would fit.

Has anybody heard of this being done before?

Nick Moore · Post by **Nick Moore** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:58 pm

There's nothing wrong with the Rover V8, although it lack's a Stag's revvy nature and exhaust note (A result of exhaust manifold design). Hopefully your car's had softer front springs fitted with its engine, or it'll be nose-up.

The Stag engine can be made reliable if you find one without corrosion or over-skimmed heads. They're not hugely torquey, but very nice to drive. A telling point is when Stag owners finish a run and start discussing engine temperatures, though...

I've seen a Stag in Triumph World with a Chev V8, orange with loads of louvres, vents, spoilers and air dams. Not to my taste, but if you kept the body standard it would annoy purists and boy-racers.

A friend looked into fitting a Lexus V8 into his Stag. 4L, 32 valve, quad cam - sort of like two Dolomite Sprint motors bolted together, except with six bolt mains and Toyota reliability. A small, high-revving V8 more in character with the original motor than a pushrod torquer. Just a thought!

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:32 pm

Stag rear end won't reliably handle more than ~220ft.lb without serious modification - and that's being gentle on it. You're talking BMW 5/7 series IRS rear end conversion jobby from Monarch or similar to run more than that.

An autobox might allow you to run a little higher than that as it takes some of the shock out of the drivetrain, in most instances.

Bear this in mind.....

Lexus V8 is a great lump but very wide so you may find it won't fit between the turrets. 62cm at it's widest point.

Wee_chris · Post by **Wee_chris** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:27 am

The rover v8 thats in the car is pretty good, but its the noise of the Triumph V8 I miss. I used to have a stag a few years ago and loved the noise of the triumph V8.

Would keep the car standard looking if I fitted the Chevy engine, just a bit of an idea to wind up purists as I'm already doing that by fitting a Rover V8 to my spitfire.

As the car is at the minute, I need to change the springs on the front, in fact I plan to change the suspension on the car all round and lower it.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:24 pm

Hi
Sticking a chevy in it will certainly lower the front ride hight!

Sounds like a fun conversion though. A 302 ford would be an interesting alternative though 75 to 120lbs lighter than the chevy depending on heads and ancilleries, nearly as cheep per BHP and it would horrify the cardigan brigade nearly as much

.
Best regards
Mike

Wee_chris · Post by **Wee_chris** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:05 pm

Never thought about the ford idea, my mates just bought a replacement 302 windsor for his boat from the states, think it cost him £1900 including import fees.

Could be an option, what gear boxes fit these?

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:44 pm

Hi
the obvious gearbox is the mustang version of the T5, will bolt straight on, strong enough if you don't go mad on the tuning, real steel have them at £1200 (10% off with their card scheem, TKO-600 for more power (real steel again £1763), Tremec 3550, T56 if you have 2k and you don't want to take pasangers, though you could probably buy any of them from the states and import it for less, especially if you are going to import an engine at the same time.
Would be worth contacting one of the forum sponsors too to see what they can do, I don't think R/S have ever been the cheepest for anything good for budgeting though.
Best regards
Mike