Reliant Scimitar restomod

Ah. That explains the single rear exhaust.
A car to challenge the cockroaches for longevity? Steel chassis. GRP body. Basic-as-bedamned diesel engine.

The diesel box will only fit on V6's and the B/H will need changing, to fit a 4pot the input shaft will need shortening and the B/H changing.
At least it's a mondeo engine and not the earlyer RWD TD, bit more power and economy body looks OK as well allways liked these and who couldn't love those wheels

Right time for an update.....


I've been a bit busy over the last 6 months and not really touched the scimitar but finally times freed up and got cracking this weekend. First job was to get the old diesel out. Nothing too complicated just weighted a fricking ton.








So this is now up for sale if anyone on here wants it. Need to do a little research to find out what its worth if anyone or here can help with that. Its got a type 9 box with a quick shift which has got to be worth a few hundred. Was thinking of selling as a job lot as.

While i wasnt able to work on the scimitar i had been busy collecting and researching a replacement engine. Decided to go for a saab B204 lump. Managed to get a ridiculously low mileage auto saab93 for a few hundred quid and pull all the bits i think i need. Theres a few cars out there already running this lump in rwd but not very well documented so going to be a suck it and see type install.

I've got a few more pieces to get then i'll get some photos up of where I'm at with the engine

Pictures work - don't know how long for though.

Keep us posted, this looks interesting. Throw that diesel lump as far away as possible, preferably into water..

A ford 5 cylinder turbo engine would be great in this. I reckon the back end would look a lot nicer if that boxy bit above the number plate wasn't there and also the recesses at the sides where the bumper sits. Looks like a good project anyway and a nice big engine bay waiting for something interesting to fill it

Right time for an update.....


Been busy with life and other distractions it was finally time to sink some time into the old boat. Was struggling with motivation at the beginning so things went slowly and didn't take any pictures but basically I

Brought a Saab 93
Ripped out the engine and other useful bits
Brought an Rx8 gearbox
Dismantled the gearbox and skimmed 15mm of the bellhousing
Reassembled (hopefully correctly)
Brought Vauxhall mazda adaptor plate

Few bolts later



Then with some sweating and profanity got it in the engine bay with a few blocks of wood propping it up. Checked clearances and then knocked up some engine mounts. Only needed a slight trim to the bulkhead which makes life easy for me.



Heres the one I decided was worth photographing

I was able to order my prop now the engine was in from BAR props in wales. Fantastic service, can really recommend. They always seem very patient and helpful when an idiot like me rings up and has to lay under the car measuring things on the phone.


Next big job was the sump. Although the standard one fitted there were a few people who reported oil starvation so not wanting to risk blowing the engine. Ordered a flange and had a bash and making a rear bowl.









With a couple of baffles





Hopefully it should work. Pretty sure I can drop the sump with the engine in the car so not entirely horrendous if it does have to come out.

Gave it all a lick of paint. Can seen the engine and gearbox mounts here too.



Sump back on



I then knocked up and adaptor plate to spin a 9000 exhaust manifold to give me a top mount turbo. Also had a go at making my first AN braided lines which weren't to scary



During this engine out stage I dropped the fuel tank and fitted a 15mm outlet. Put a bosch 044 pump under the car and run the wires and fuel lines up the chassis rail. Also move the battery cable as someone had already moved the battery to the boot. Again all this was made up as I went along so only time will tell if it works. Will get a pic of the pump when I'm doing the exhaust this weekend but heres the other lines.



Que more swearing






First thing I wanted to check was the clutch as its a real mixture of bits and I had a funny feeling about it. Turns out I was right as I clearance issues so back out again. 3 friction plates later I get a mixture of bits that actually work and threw it back in. Was a dab hand at it by now so didn't take long and far less swearing.

Anyway, clutch bled and working fine, prop fitted. I then had a crack at turning up some adaptors for the oil cooler. Going from weird push fit saab connectors to AN10



They fit, whether they seal or not time will tell. If they don't i'll probably just get them tig straight on.

Fitted the intercooler and oil cooler. Had a bit of Perspex laying around for the top support. Not sure how long it will last before it goes brittle but will prove concept and swap out later for sheet metal.




Now I've just got some wiring, plumbing and an exhaust to knock up before I can test fire the engine. I really fancy taking it to retro show at santa pod but that's only a couple of weeks away now so might be a tall ask. Especially since ive just ripped the dash out to sort the interior wiring. Also need to find a cheap electronic speedo.

Anyway got a bit of mojo back so will endeavour to try. Hopefully take a few more pictures along the way.

So Reliant car , Saab engine, Mazda gearbox,etc.
Bookmarked !

That'll be cool, tbh i think I'm cutting it a bit close with getting there in the scimitar. Probably shoot over in the daily if its not done and the weathers good.

Well surprise surprise I didn't make it to retro weekender. The car was throwing up to many problems and in the end I cut my losses and had a BBQ. SO new target retro rides gathering.

The steering bush finally turned up which was the main thing holding me back.


Given a lick of paint and put back together



Then back in the car



I also overhauled the column while I was this far in as it also had a little bit of play.



Its no wonder I never made my deadline, look at the help slacking off!




Anyway....

Got more engine bits back in the bay including mounting the ecu and relays. Had a mare with the wiring as saab colour codes are inconsistent so you end up having to check the pin out on the ecu plug. This was another hurdle that took ages to sort and with a bit of help from the brother inlaw we got the right plugs to the right sensors and also sorted the starter, oil and charge wires.




So this is said wiring. I know in an ideal world the ecu would be inside but its well away from the engine and heat. Plus with the amount of leaks these scimitars have its probably drier in there too.

This a bit further along with plumbing, boost pipes and other small jobs that take forever to sort.