Holden engine in a 2600!!!!

[LukeC]

Thank God it does not have underbonnet pictures... That would have kept me up at night!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Sprint-2600-1965-2D-Coupe-Manual-2-6L-Carb-Seats-/121626899144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item1c518732c8

Many moons ago, I worked in the toolroom at Holden's fisherman's bend plant. One of the other machinist told a story of his uncle from Italy touring the plant when red motors were still being made, and saying:

"We have tractor engines back home more advanced than those!"

[carlo rossi]

I feel like buying it to save it
noted he had 2 motors apart no carbs

[colcol]

Sad to see, but i was talking to a bloke in Melbourne about it who had done the same thing, according to him, NO SPARES available, its either a tractor engine or you don't drive it, but he has matching Alfa Romeo engine, in case he wants to sell it, Colin.

[Duk]

Sad to see, but i was talking to a bloke in Melbourne about it who had done the same thing, according to him, NO SPARES available, its either a tractor engine or you don't drive it, but he has matching Alfa Romeo engine, in case he wants to sell it, Colin.

Ummmmmmmmmmmm there are other, much nicer engines out there, that have 6 cylinder all in a row.
Toyota, Nissan and BMW to name a few.............

There is no excuse to use an old stationary engine to power a classic!

[colcol]

If it is the wrong engine, then its the wrong no matter how good or bad it is, maybe the old 202 bolts in nicely without to much mongreling, its up and about, not stored in a shed somewhere.
Its not like its a twin spark motor that you can buy for $500 off ebay, the straight six is a rare as rocking horse droppings, Colin.

[vin sharp]

Sad to see, but i was talking to a bloke in Melbourne about it who had done the same thing, according to him, NO SPARES available, its either a tractor engine or you don't drive it, but he has matching Alfa Romeo engine, in case he wants to sell it, Colin.

Obviously he's not bothering to look very hard!
Virtually everything needed is available or can be custom made if needed (pistons for instance). I would say dumping an alternative engine in is the cheap, lazy way of doing things.
I can remember in the early '80s talking a fellow out of doing this to a 3500 Maserati he picked up for $4500. The Maser engine rebuild cost a bit over $3000 then.  The car now with its original engine is now worth around $450,000......not that a 2600 is anything like this, but values of most classic & complete Italian cars of any pedigree are being dragged up by the top end of the market. This should  give people a reason to really think about keeping their classic as it was meant to be.
Cheers,
Vin.

[Davidm1600]

I recall this particular 2600 due in part to the colour and the engine swap.  I seem to recall though that when last for sale (was it that long ago - '08), that the then owner was asking somewhere around $9K for it, and that the bodywork seemed to be a lot tidier than it is now.  Hmn not sure I would wish to part with $21K for it, as it is.

[Craig_m67]

Just like a petrol 159/Brera/Spider then.....

[LukeC]

Just like a petrol 159/Brera/Spider then.....

Touché! 

[LaStregaNera]

The Guy who did the conversion used to be on another forum I'm on. At the time, pre-internet, solidly mid 80s, there was not alot of support for them, and the engine conversion made sense (at the time).

The internet has made looking after oddball cars alot easier.

[GTV-074]

I seem to remember a 2600 with a transplanted 6 in it, up for sale down Geelong way here in Vic a few years ago.

Was it the same one or is there another?

[darryl.green]

Same car.

[Davidm1600]

Thought so, as I seemed to remember it being in Geelong and at $9k not a bad purchase, especially as it came with the dead original 2600 engine.