engine / transaxle transplant

[kartone]

What would be a reasonable price for the supply of a TS engine / transaxle in good condition and its installation into an '80 GTV ?
The replaced original engine & ancillaries are all in excellent condition and will subsequently be for sale.

[GTVeloce]

Hard to put a price on it but I can give you an idea of what is involved as I am in the process of doing it as we speak!

Mostly the connections are exactly the same as original however;

1) If you are going to use the isostatic linkages you will need to modify the cross member to allow room as well as modify the gear lever or rod to provide sufficient range of movement. If not you will need to change the input shaft to original alfetta.

2) You need to mount the fuel pump/filter as well as run cabling for it as well as the in-tank pump. You will also need to run a return fuel line from the engine back to the tank. If you want to have a working fuel gauge the only method I came up with is to cut and weld the fitting from a TS tank into the alfetta tank and modify the wiring slightly and used the TS fuel gauge sender.

3) The speedo won't work unless you modify something. A few different methods exist but I have used a signal decoder.

4) The TS engine mounts the same as the original engine but you will need to find a home for a few bits like relays, coils etc. You also need to drill a hole for the ecu through the firewall.

All these things are not a lot but it still takes time.

[BradGTV]

we payed $900 for a complete car,
wrecked it, sold alot of parts.
and got $100 back for the shell in scrap value. so almost made money back and got the driveline for almots nothing. if you have the space and time to wreck a car deffinalty the way to go!

im then going to install it into my 83 gtv, only the engine and not the gearbox so everything is pretty straight forward, efi pumps, surge tank, new fuel line, throttle cable, install engine, wiring loom, mount ecu, new exhaust, mount coils, relays ect. very easy conversion and wont cost anything 

cheers, brad

[Repco Lad]

Kartone,

In addition to the cost of the parts, the reality is that if you are not doing the conversion yourself, then the labour component will be at least as much as the price of the components you are putting in.

You have the added issues of installing an engine into a car that is not set up to take it- as stated earlier. You will also need a bonnet with a lump in it, if you can find one.

Factor in complications (additional labour), and unforseen parts that need replacing, and you will chew through $10,000

Having said that, when you turn the key and point it at the nearest bit of twisty road, it's worth every cent!

RL

[BradGTV]

u sure u need a bonnet with a buldge? yes ts head is taller but i dont think/know? its not enough to require a new bonnet...

[Paul Gulliver]

I've got a 1979 steel bumper Alfetta GTV Twin Spark. It all fits under the standard bonnet. Fitting costs depending on what other ancillaries you need is probably more like 2 -4 K.  You would also want to think about up grading to GTV6 brakes.

Bump: Kartone from memory your in Melb's SE come out to Sandown on Sunday and have a look / chat

Gully

[GTVeloce]

My 83 GTV fits without need of a bulge.

Also, adding the GTV6 or 75TS brakes were a great addition and not that difficult. I just swapped the whole hub stub (three ball joints and a hydraulic line).

One thing I forgot to mention is you need to install the clutch master cylinder from a 75 as well. It is an easy change (especially with the engine out) but without it the engine intake hits the m/c once installed.

If you wish to see a conversion, I'm most of the way through and also located in Melbourne SE. You are welcome to come and have a look and chat.

Cheers
Julian

[Mat Francis]

One thing I forgot to mention is you need to install the clutch master cylinder from a 75 as well. It is an easy change (especially with the engine out) but without it the engine intake hits the m/c once installed.


Cheers
Julian

Are the engine mounts further forward in a sedan compared to a GTV?

I put the 75 pedal box into mine (needed for the accelerator cable and to angle the master cylinder down), but retained the alfetta master cylinder, as the 75 one was stuffed. The fluid resevior is a very tight fit behind the intake plenum, but it's worked for about a year now without any problems.

[Repco Lad]

OK guys- stand corrected on the bonnet

The point being with a resto/ engine transplant etc, it will inevitably always cost more than you think it will; and you should add in a margin of error to your budget.

Going on Gully's figures, $3-4K labour + engine+ transaxle+ all the other things you need/ want to replace and you will be closer to 10k than 5k.

RL

[GTVeloce]

Are the engine mounts further forward in a sedan compared to a GTV?

I put the 75 pedal box into mine (needed for the accelerator cable and to angle the master cylinder down), but retained the alfetta master cylinder, as the 75 one was stuffed. The fluid resevior is a very tight fit behind the intake plenum, but it's worked for about a year now without any problems.

Not sure about the mounts being different but when I tried to install the TS with the original alfetta clutch m/c, the engine was resting on the m/c. I wasn't prepared to take the chance especially as I had access to a 75 m/c. Once i have finished my (second) install, we should compare the two engines and see what differences there are. I would also like to compare against Paul Gulliver's and see how an expert installed one differs.

[Neil Choi]

You need the 75 TS pedal box along with the MC to fit the TS motor.

TS pedal box angles down the MC so the plenum will fit.

[kartone]

Does anyone have photos of the engine bay of a TS transplant into a steel bumpered GTV ?