classic car - modern engine

nickcc

mikey72 wrote: »

I always fancied a Mk3 Zephyr or Zodiac.

Had one in the late sixties, compared to modern cars it was one big heap of rubbish. Thank goodness for modern technology. No problem if you just want a classic car to show but absolute rubbish if you want one for modern day driving.

nickcc

forgotmyname wrote: »

That sounds like a man that may have bought my old MGB GT

Every time i took it out something dropped off or needed fixing.



Throw away that weedy V6 though and fit a rover V8

Had a 64 MGB, brilliant car in the sixties but not I'd want one now. The corrosion problems would probably bankrupt me.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i wouldnt say a classic car was a death trap on wheels, yes by todays standard theres allot of modern technology that helps protect you in a crash, but compared to classics in terms of metrials they are heavier and bulkier, a low impact to a modern car would mean new airbags, front bumper headlamp wing grille bumper support cross memeber, low impact in a classic and you just bought a new bumper or indicator/headlamp lamp and polsihed out the scratches.

Bluebell1000

I used my 1960 Morris Minor with standard 1.1 engine for everyday transport for several years. This included business mileage all over England and Wales. She did about 35-40mpg. We have just finished doing some welding to get her back up and running, and having had a more modern (93) Merc for the last couple of years too, the Merc will be sold and we'll be back to just the one car.

Adv: cheap parts and usually easy repairs if you know what you're doing.
cheap insurance
free tax
lots of waves and random people chatting to you in car parks / petrol stations

Disadv: they will need servicing more regularly than a modern car
The heaters are often less efficient - but you can buy an upgrade
Random people chatting when you are in a hurry to get somewhere
If you buy a bad one they may not be very reliable - get everything checked very thoroughly first!

Most of the engine swaps I've seen have been for more speed not more efficiency... However when we get round to it there is a modern diesel waiting to go in the Moggy so she can run on veg oil, and hubby says it'll get about 60mpg...

nickcc

Used to spend many hours in my youth welding the rear spring hangers on the Minor. Our neighbour was told by his Father to always rev the engine on any car when he parked up at night so it would leave the float chamber full, made no difference when I told him that the SU electric pump filled the float chamber as soon as he switched on but he still kept revving the whatsits off every night usually about midnight.

CrazyRatLady_2

I've got a '69 reg (but '68 shell) 1.6 Auto XL capri - it has the original engine in with leaded head, the mpg is pretty bad and I need to add red ex every time I top it up, that said the engine is pretty much bullet proof, these things last an absolute age.

I could drop a 2l pinto engine into it or a larger diesel engine from a transit (the original engine is actually a transit engine itself) but certainly in the case of my car it would do it far more harm the than good value wise if I were to take it away from originality.

Completely restored and original my car is worth £10k+ because of it's rarity (only 4 of my specific model on the road). Whatever you buy if you do change the engine, definately keep the original like you said - that way if you ever sell it on the purchaser has the option to keep it like you've made it or put it back to original.

Other option is to do what my partner and I do - we have a classic car each (my capri and his mini pickup) and a 'sensible' more modern car which in our case is a jap import Toyota MR2. That way we can pick and choose the right car for each circumstance.

CrazyRatLady_2

s_b wrote: »

anyone whos worked on classics when they werent classics would not want to run one
seriously you would die in one as an everyday user in a low speed bump
keep classics for lazy weekends

Funny that - my capri is 43/44 years old and I use it as a daily drive - love it. Die in a low speed bump? My bonnet is so massive it would probably take a lorry to plow through it, I'm sure the structure of my car is a lot more rigid and impact resistant than say a smart car...

nickcc

CrazyRatLady wrote: »

I've got a '69 reg (but '68 shell) 1.6 Auto XL capri - it has the original engine in with leaded head, the mpg is pretty bad and I need to add red ex every time I top it up, that said the engine is pretty much bullet proof, these things last an absolute age.

I could drop a 2l pinto engine into it or a larger diesel engine from a transit (the original engine is actually a transit engine itself) but certainly in the case of my car it would do it far more harm the than good value wise if I were to take it away from originality.

Completely restored and original my car is worth £10k+ because of it's rarity (only 4 of my specific model on the road). Whatever you buy if you do change the engine, definately keep the original like you said - that way if you ever sell it on the purchaser has the option to keep it like you've made it or put it back to original.

Other option is to do what my partner and I do - we have a classic car each (my capri and his mini pickup) and a 'sensible' more modern car which in our case is a jap import Toyota MR2. That way we can pick and choose the right car for each circumstance.

If you want to run on ULG all you need to do is get the valve seats changed, plenty of engine reconditioners about that will do this job fairly cheaply.

colino

Please don't be kidded by feeling safe behind a big lump of old-fashioned metal. Have a search for the crash 5th Gear did between a Volvo estate and a modern Renault (yes a crappy Renault) and think what you'd rather be travelling in.

CKhalvashi

We've gone the full hog with a 1976 AvtoVaz 2103 as a project in 2002. It's got a Rover 1.8 turbo in it :eek:

Right hand drive, and an absolute dream to drive! OH gave me the choice of keeping this or my SC430.....guess what I chose!

CK