Thread: New guy, wants to build hot rod...

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...although what I consider a hot rod may make you laugh. If I'm way off base, maybe you can direct me to the right resource...

Anyway, I'm kind of intrigued by the Ford 2.3l turbo from the '87- '88 turbo coupes. I've seen how they can inexpensively be modified to reach 300 hp.

So, I'm thinking, one of these could be put into a light roadster, and I'm kind of partial to LBC's (Little British Cars).

My idea, then, is this turbo 4 banger in a 1300 - 2000 lb. Triumph or MG. I've read about SVO Mustangs running 12's with this engine, and they weigh 2800 - 3200 lbs.

Does this idea seem wacko? Even if it's not your cup of tea, would this be a good message board to belong to?

etothepii welcome to CHR if you want to call it a hot rod some may argue the point of what a hotrod is but pay them no attention if you like it and want to build it do it no matter what you call it were all gear head so come on in and enjoy Oh yeah have some fun too

no- butter beans.........

Welcome to CHR. Sounds like a hot rod to me. If you take what you got and build what you want, it's a hot rod. Sounds like a kewl setup, the weight distribution on the car should remain close to what it was, so the handling should remain quite good. The increased horsepressure would make it a ball to drive.

Everything runs from me on beans!!!

Why not butter beans
Welcome to CHR etothepii.

Well, I have no idea if the HR you're proposing would workout ok or not, however, I do think you've come to the right board if you're looking for a whole bunch of experience to help you out & some laughs to go along with it...these guys have been there done that with just about everything & I can tell ya you'll get lots of different input for your ideas....Just have fun with it...that's the bottom line. Good to meet ya!

Sounds like a great idea. In a MGB or Triumph TR-7 it would more than double the horsepower. And in a MG Midget or Triumph Spitfire you'd have a rocket sled. Man that would fly.

I have always loved the little british sportscars, mainly, the first time I saw my uncles 1974 Triumph TR6, an awsome car. At 1 time I was going to buy a '73 Spitfire but didn't buy the car. It is a cool concept except, I like stock Triumphs, mainly because of the shifter location, there really close to the dash and if you put a diffren't engine and tranny combo in there, the shifter would be a lot farther back. I saw a spitfire with a SBC and a muncie 4spd that had the shifter location behind the seat and a long bent over shifter arm was used so the shifter was remotly reachable. A MG midget would be a nice candidate.

Welcome to CHR. Sounds like a good plan to me. Even though it may not really be considered a hot rod it really doesn't matter, if you wan't to call it a hot rod then that's cool. On Rides they have Chip Foose fixing that Cadilac XLR (sp?) up and he was saying something like if you have fun building it then just do it, it doesn't matter what car you have, etc. MG's are sweet cars anyways, my neighbor has one and even though they don't have much power or nothing, they look cool and all.

Mg's, Triumphs and the other british cars don't have much power but, they are geared for speed.

Back in the early '70s I built up an Austin Healy Bug Eye Sprite with a 215 aluminum Buick hooked to a aluminum Muncie 4 speed.
Its performance was absolutely incredibal. Wish I still had it.

heres a MG yeah It might just work for a hotrod I've got some Peterson how to book where they stuffed a 302 in it and from what I read It doesn't seem that tuff

Welcome to CHR etothepii. Post pics. as they become available. Sounds like a kewl project to follow.

Welcome etothepii, I do not think there really is a clear cut definition for a hot rod so whatever you want is what you should do, always build the car your way not what someone else wants (its your money and your car). Now for those that really want to put a big motor in a little British car why not go all out like this guy and drop a 460 into a Spitfire, at least you will not have any trouble smoking the tires on it. Here is a site full of little car/Big motor conversions.http://britishv8.org/swaps/examples.htm
My dad is big into LBC's and has a number of them http://www.my4lbc.com/