Just thoughts on an engine swap in ZT

[Saga Lout]

I once swapped a blown Mondeo petrol engine for a Diesel, it took me twelve days and was quite complicated. There were many things that popped up as the swap took place but I did it, the car was used for a long time after. If you really want to do it then why not?

[cbr1100xx]

Why not consider nissan,Toyota etc , highly tunable engines and if you are going down the route of changing everything what about a 4x4. Vr6 etc , cant be that hard can it????

Stan

[suzublu]

Many many many years ago, someone put a Nissan dohc motor in. There were pics etc on here

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

[Rick-sta]

Originally Posted by The Mighty Quinn

I've absolutely no idea what level of work is involved.

However (from watching Car SOS ), it seems pretty much anything can be achieved if you engage the right people (and have the resources ).

Given that any engine swap (to a different type) is likely to be a massive undertaking, I'd say go large and stick a V8 in it! It'd be pretty pointless going to all that work for relatively modest gain.. The Mustang engine would be the obvious choice, given that it's already been shoehorned into a 75/ZT chassis - although, I'm not sure if that has been done without significant chassis modification..?

I'd love, someday, to fit an old-school, carburettor-fitted engine, with as little ECU/electrical functions as possible (wouldn't have to be a monster, either) - just something that would never need a computer to work on.

Only in Lottoland for me, though, I'm afraid


Cheers,
Karl.

Originally Posted by trikey

Seeing as you are thinking about a V8, a 190 wouldn't suffice would it Rick?

You would need a rear subframe from the V8 then a lot of work on the boot floor to accommodate the change.

Then the tunnel would need altering to fit the engine and box of your choice, front subframe would remain largely the same just a slight alteration to allow the routing of the steering components.

Anything can be done, its just time & money.

I have always hankered to fit the old Buick engine from the old rovers into a 75 shell, then again, a nice 350 chevy would be good too...

Originally Posted by Ched

Tune the derv, start with a 330 turbo...........

That's what I'm thinking, go big and go for a v8 conversion with RWD or not bother. But then again if a v6 swap will cost be £1k-£2k with a donor car + time vs £15k to convert it to a v8 then the v6 option looks more attractive lol.

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

If serious then speak to Chris Flanagan at Retro Lifestyle, after all he turned a 190 into a Supercharged V8 coupe.

Yes definitely, just thoughts at the moment but if this is something I go for in the future I'll definitely be in touch with him. I can't remember if they used a donor v8 to swap the parts over to the originally v6 saloon chassis when they made the v8 coupe, or if they fabricated their own custom subframes.

Originally Posted by genpk

ill bet there is a bunch of small highly tune able v6 japanese engines which have way more bhp than ours.
I dare say alot would have have a similar front wheel drive setup as well.
They would shoe horn into the limited space easily.
What might be a but tricky is to get the cars systems to work together.

That is true, but with the amount of work involved trying to get a Jap v6 engine working I'd just stick in one of our own v6 engines. I think I'd only pile big money into it if I were to stick a v8 in it.

Originally Posted by steve-45

What about something really radical - an electric conversion. With the right motor and battery set up performance could be outstanding.

I can see us all being forced down the electric route sooner rather than later, that would then future proof your typhoon.

Maybe even some form of business opportunity here too.

Never! electric doesn't appeal to me what so ever, no matter how fast they are an electric conversion has been done before by someone in Europe, remember seeing pics of it on a facebook group.

Originally Posted by Rich in Vancouver

The most sensible route to take to a V8 conversion would be to acquire either a wrecked or a rusted ZT260 as a donor. Trying to replicate a 260 from scratch would be a huge task and would cost a fortune. Retro has the advantage of having a fully equipped shop with the room to take a car completely to bits, repair and modify a host of parts and build the car.
But, if you were to find a V8 without an engine or with a blown engine you could take your pick of Ford's crate engines.

I don't think replicating the v8 floor pan would be too bad, there's places that can make custom subframes as well, which is the route I'd rather take, saves ruining a original 260. Would only use a scrap 260 if I was lucky enough to find one that's beyond repair such as a write off, but they very rarely come up.

Definitely thinking a ford v8, or a chevy v8. Something that gives a proper old school v8 sound like the 260's.

Originally Posted by cbr1100xx

Why not consider nissan,Toyota etc , highly tunable engines and if you are going down the route of changing everything what about a 4x4. Vr6 etc , cant be that hard can it????

Stan

That would be a good project, best one for me would be if a RB26 skyline engine would fit with 4 wheel drive. But I'd wanted to go all out I'd want to build the car as a nice v8 cruiser rather than a ricer.

Originally Posted by suzublu

Many many many years ago, someone put a Nissan dohc motor in. There were pics etc on here

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

That's the one I think I was thinking of. Is that the one where it originally had a k series engine and the owner got fed up of headgasket issues and changed the engine?

There's also someone who's put a t16 engine in a ZT, but has been having some issues in regards to emissions I believe from what I last saw.

[bl52krz]

Why don’t you go down the route of buying a Rover/MGZT V8? Cheaper alternative to what you propose. On the other hand, go ahead and convert your diesel to whatever you would like to have, but remember that you would have a mammoth job in front of you, and the frustration.... Whichever you decide, I am sure we will all be watching your progress. Good luck with whatever you decide Rick.

[Rick-sta]

If I were to go ahead with it, it would be a long term project, be a matter of taking the car off the road for a good year or two and doing it over time. Some stuff myself and my father in law would be able to do, other bits would require specialist help.

Sticking a supercharged v8 in it would be the ultimate option for me with RWD, 400-500 bhp would be nice

So sounds like the biggest challenge would be modifying the tunnel, boot floor and either sourcing a v8 rear subframe or getting a custom one fabricated and then the ECU side of things + looking at a suitable suspension set up for the added weight.

Think it would be a tough but awesome long term project. the typhoon needs something more wild under the bonnet to make it a real show car.

[Pueblo_Boy]

I used to have a Volvo 960 estate that had a Toyota engine in it. At least Toyota engines run forever...

To convert your Rover to a V8 cruiser...you obviously have too much time on your hands, and I hope the bump on your head heals nicely

[Teflon]

I'm going to buck the trend and say "leave as is" . For me, one of the best things about your Typhoon is the very fact that is is a diesel.

It's not that I'm a particular lover of the diesels, I much prefer the V6 (well I would I guess ), but the simple fact that you've got this "hot" looking car, with an amazing looking engine bay and yet it's still pretty much "stock" is the cars USP. It's a great advert for what MG Rover were able to achieve with the ZT, as well your efforts as an owner.

I know in the past you have had folk (non MGR enthusiasts) ask what engine it has and they've been surprised to hear it's "just a diesel" and I personally would never get tired of that. A great example of what can be achieved with little more than hard work and some imagination . Proof that you don't need an exotic engine to have an exotic car .

That said, if you do go down the V8 route (or v6 for that matter), it would make a thoroughly interesting project, and one that would surely be avidly followed by plenty of the members here, myself included.

Good luck on whatever you decide,

Cliff

[simondhopkins]

Find a crashed tesla that has all its electrics and battery and motors and do a tesler zt-e. (yes I mean tesler)

[Rich in Vancouver]

Originally Posted by simondhopkins

Find a crashed tesla that has all its electrics and battery and motors and do a tesler zt-e. (yes I mean tesler)

You are the electronics guru after all!