I'm getting bored of the cossetting, highly enjoyable and laid back driving style of my 1850, especially after the highjinx of driving my tatty Sprint...
I now have the distinct urge to make something that's really good fun within legal limits, can be used on the track and is generally a blast.
So i'm a-thinkin' - Get a 1500HL, strip it, few decals, bonnet vents, lowered a lot, weller wheels, some TT mods like solid rack mounts, polybrushes, that kinda thing. Nice toggle switches for ancillieres and stuff too.
Question is though, do I stick with the (hmm) 1500 unit and tune it up a bit (side exit straight-through exhaust, weber carb, high-lift cam, lighten and balance it) or go with a TR7 2.0 engine (not a Sprint as I don't really trust them) with HS6's and a 5 speed box, driving a Sprint axle. Gonna put in a little rollcage probably too, made up by my uncle, and some harnesses (as well as standard 3 point belts for refineded driving)..take off most of the chrome bits, blah etc
Just want something a bit tatty and enjoyable, as opposed to my shiny beastie (although it gets the nuts revved off it and is always grimy ;D). And bloody noisy.
Unless anyone has suggestions for a similar cheap racey-style car.
Opinions/Thoughts/Suggestions. Alternative cars to do it on?
Gonna look like earlier, summat along the lines of
I had a Sprint, albeit briefly. It's just they tend to fail (seemingly) quite easily. Spring leaks, chew up jackshafts, blow head gaskets.
I know they're tough units when in good nick, but on a budget it's just not summat I'd like to play with, specially when the TR7 puts out 110 and can easily do 150 with a few pokes of a tuning stick.
Toledo's were RWD as far as I remember - the 1300 and 1500 were FWD......
There was a Toledo with a Sprint engine and cage fitted in orange, for 600 quid at Retro Cars last year. Kick myself for not buying it
Can't help thinking Rover V8, pop brown's block hugger manifold, cotton reel mounts and whatever the smallest ancillires I can get. Just a beater out of a P6 or SD1, with a manual box. That'd do nicely. Had this discussion many times before mind, maybe I should just buy something with a V8 and save the hassle of an engine swap
At the Combe spring Action day there was a Dolly Sprint with a 400BHP cossie turbo lump in it. Sounded like a mad dog on heat in a furnace and went like a bloated stink weasel on acid! He was almost spinning the car halfway down the straight when he put his foot down.
Ace!
This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
Think I might take a tape measure to the Saab, it's a vague derivative of what's in mine now. Mmm, a 200-300bhp four pot driving a Sprint axle, good for 300lb/ft. That'll do. Turbo noise too, added bonus.
Think I need a Toledo for that - shorted wheelbase and not really useable RE the rear seats, shorter tail too.
Put an Essex.....nah, that'd suck.
Hmm......RWD Six. Yes.
Like that. All you'd have to do is make a suitable cradle really wouldn't it, and weld it in place, bracing between the towers etc. Coolant'd be interesting.
OR RWD turbo inline 4.
Or do the Ford GT40 thing an put a Renault transaxle with adaptor on a Ford 302!!! ;D
Dunno though, still keen on having the engine in the right place. See what comes up first really!
If you want an engine in the back and nippy handling and performance, just go for an Imp or a Skoda Estelle or Rapid, they already have everything in the back! ;D ;D
I'm sure you're right LewisK78, the Triumph 1300 came out first, and it had a more rounded nose and FWD, then later they brought out the Toledo, which had a squarer nose, square headlamps and RWD, and the Dolomite and Sprint were based on that rather than the 1300, so Toledos are RWD as well. I always liked Toledos, I'd like to hot one up myself, but keeping it looking almost stock bar wider steel wheels and a subtle slamming for handling reasons mainly. It'd give a few people a shock, seeing as you're more likely to suspect a Dolomite of being a hot motor, I dare say most people wouldn't look twice at a tidy but nondescript Toldeo at a show or track day!
The cage is probably a necessary thing if you're going to jam a hot V8 in there, think of the stress involved with that much power and torque! I'd say lots of strut bracing is a good plan too. It can still be subtle though, paint the cage black so it isn't too attention grabbing, get some wide, but not much taller than stock, I'd say 13-15", steel wheels, like modern Wellers or similar, painted silver or black preferably, and paint it a nice but subtle colour, something that you might see on an original Toledo, and I reckon you've got a real sleeper!
;D
