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Ed Olson's 1969 TR6 Pontiac V8 Conversion

Ed Olson · 1969 Triumph TR6

Triumph TR6

britishv8.orgBritish V8 Newsletter, Volume XV Issue 3, December 2007

Read the full write-up at britishv8.org ↗

Photo: britishv8.org

A 1969 TR6 rebuilt on a tube frame around a turbocharged Pontiac V8

Ed Olson and his son built this drag-oriented TR6 from scratch, fabricating a tube-frame chassis and stretching the body to fit a big-inch Pontiac V8. What started as a rough, multi-colored "Frankenstein" running 9.99s in the quarter mile evolved into a properly finished car with a turbocharged engine, a purpose-built fuel cell, and a repaint in a color matched to Triumph's original blue. It is a good read for anyone interested in a home-built, father-son drag build with real quarter-mile numbers behind it.

Specs

As the owner states it.

Engine
487 cubic inch Pontiac V8, 4.15 in bore x 4.5 in stroke, 477/477 lift, 231/226 duration at 0.050 in
Induction
Garrett TV75 turbo with upgraded T88 compressor wheel, CSU Holley 850 carburetor
Exhaust
Stainless log manifolds, 2.5 inch crossover, 5 inch exhaust
Ignition
HEI / MSD 6AL
Cooling
Ron Davis radiator, Spal Extreme 16 inch fan, PRP remote water pump
Transmission
T400 reverse pattern manual valve body with transmission brake, 9.5 inch PTC converter
Rear Axle
Ford 9 inch with 3:1 gear, Detroit Locker, 31-spline axles
Brakes (front)
Stock calipers with Hawk pads and drilled/slotted rotors
Brakes (rear)
Ford 11 inch drums
Wheels/Tires
Quick Time Pro tires, front 175/65/15, rear 29/14.5/15
Weight
2550 lbs
Chassis
Tube frame, 102 inch wheelbase
Instruments
Autometer and stock gauges
Performance
Turbocharged Pontiac motor untested; previous 455 cid engine ran a 6.02 second, 120 mph 1/8 mile

Parts used

What the owner names in the write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.

Engine 1

  • 487 cubic inch Pontiac V8

    Main engine, 4.15 in bore x 4.5 in stroke, 477/477 lift cam, 231/226 duration at 0.050 in

Fuel & Ignition 3

  • Garrett TV75 turbocharger with upgraded T88 compressor wheelGarrett

    Provides forced induction for the 487 cid Pontiac engine

    In the shops
    Turbocharger (Garrett) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $1,266.50 USD
    Turbocharger Compressor Exit Pipe ↗Motaclan Limited· £48.47 GBP
    Pipe - Compressor Exit Turbocharger ↗Motaclan Limited· £48.47 GBP
  • CSU Holley 850 carburetorHolley/CSU

    Fuel metering for the turbocharged engine

  • HEI / MSD 6AL ignitionMSD

    Ignition system fitted to the engine

Cooling 3

Gearbox & Drivetrain 3

Suspension & Steering 1

  • QA1 adjustable coiloversQA1

    Fitted at the front with 450 lb springs, retaining stock TR6 A-arms and rack

    In the shops
    Adjustable Coilover Spanner Wrench ↗Flyin' Miata· $14.99 USD

Brakes 2

Wheels & Tyres 1

  • Quick Time Pro tiresQuick Time Pro

    Front 175/65/15 and rear 29/14.5/15 fitment

Body & Trim 2

Interior 1

  • Autometer gaugesAutometer

    Used alongside stock instruments for monitoring the car

Other 1

  • Dual-chamber fuel cell

    Built by the owner and a friend, holding about 8.5 gallons per side for pump and race gas

Photos

All 15 pictures in the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from britishv8.org. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.

Ed Olson's 1969 TR6 with Pontiac V8 enginePhoto: britishv8.org
487 cubic inch Pontiac, Garrett TV75 turboPhoto: britishv8.org
tube frame, and 102 inch wheelbasePhoto: britishv8.org
Garrett TV75 turbo with a upgraded T88 compressor wheelPhoto: britishv8.org
doors were stretched 8 inches and rear wheel openings moved rearward 5.5inchesPhoto: britishv8.org
tube frame / nitrous oxide bottlePhoto: britishv8.org
Quick Time Pro tiresPhoto: britishv8.org
4-link suspension and Ford nine inch axlePhoto: britishv8.org
moved wheel openingsPhoto: britishv8.org
FrankensteinPhoto: britishv8.org
fuel cell has two sides with about 8.5 gallons eachPhoto: britishv8.org
TR4 hood and a fiberglass cowlPhoto: britishv8.org
Ed Olson's 1969 Triumph TR6Photo: britishv8.org
ClownPhoto: britishv8.org
Donate Now!Photo: britishv8.org

How it was done

From used parts to a running car

The TR6 started as a rough assembly of used parts, with the motor and nitrous system borrowed from Olson's own 1968 Firebird. Painted in five mismatched colors with doors simply welded shut, it was nicknamed "Frankenstein" but still managed a 9.99 second quarter mile in its earliest form.

Building the chassis

Olson and his son built the tube frame and chassis together. Bars were bent to patterns, then fish-mouthed and fitted before being tack welded in place on a heavy steel table using C-clamps as a jig. Two friends, Brian and Mike, handled the final welding and TIG work. A forklift was used to flip and position the chassis for easier access while welding.

Reshaping the body

To fit the drivetrain and running gear, the doors were stretched 8 inches and the rear wheel openings moved rearward 5.5 inches. The hood contours were made using steel from a TR4 hood combined with a fiberglass cowl scoop.

Bodywork and paint

A planned casual bodywork and paint session turned into an extended project when Olson's friend Jim, a body man, offered to help properly. The two spent many hours finishing the car in his garage. It was finished in a single-stage PPG color called Nightwatch Blue, chosen as the closest match to Triumph's original Royal Blue.

Fuel system and running gear

Olson and his friend Brian built a dual-chamber fuel cell holding about 8.5 gallons per side, one for pump gas and one for race gas. The front suspension retained the stock TR6 A-arms, steering rack mount, and rack, updated with QA1 adjustable coilovers running 450 lb springs, which Olson notes are a bit light but functional for now.

Powertrain upgrade

The car moved from a naturally aspirated 455 cid Pontiac engine, which had produced a 6.02 second 120 mph 1/8 mile pass, to a 487 cubic inch Pontiac fitted with a Garrett TV75 turbo and an upgraded T88 compressor wheel. At the time of writing the turbocharged combination had not yet been tested on track.

A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is the owner's: read it at britishv8.org ↗

Worth knowing

  • Building a tube frame chassis is much easier with a forklift to hold and flip it for welding access.
  • A quick casual bodywork and paint job can turn into a much bigger project once a skilled friend gets involved.
  • Stretching doors and moving wheel openings can be done successfully to fit larger drivetrain components.
  • 450 lb front coilover springs proved a bit too light for the car's needs.
  • Borrowing an engine and nitrous from another project car can get a build running and tested early.

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Ed Olson's 1969 TR6 Pontiac V8 Conversion | Restomod Life