Build catalogue
Ken Schmidt's 1969 TR6 with a Chevrolet 350 V8
britishv8.orgBritish V8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 1, May 2008
Photo: britishv8.orgA 1969 Triumph TR6 converted to Chevrolet 350 V8 power
Ken Schmidt's TR6 replaces the stock six with a Chevrolet 350 V8, paired with an overdrive automatic and a series of chassis and suspension upgrades to handle the swap. The car is driven daily and had covered 1500 miles since conversion, with the owner still refining details like wheel size for control arm clearance.
Specs
As the owner states it.
- Engine
- Chevrolet 350 with 202 heads, Crane 3/4 cam, Edelbrock intake manifold, Holley Street Avenger 750 carburetor, Delco-Remy HEI distributor, Corvette tachometer drive
- Exhaust
- Chevrolet rams horn style exhaust manifolds, dual exhaust with Hushpower mufflers
- Cooling
- Crossflow street rod aluminum radiator from Performance Rod, electric fan
- Transmission
- TH-2004R automatic (with overdrive), from California Performance
- Rear axle
- Stock, 3.34:1 final drive ratio
- Suspension
- Front stock; rear competition/road springs with KYB tube shock conversion; early Ford Pinto flexible steering intermediate shaft; upgraded differential mounts and frame reinforcements
- Brakes
- Mercury Capri II brakes with TR6 pads
- Wheels
- 8 spoke Minilite-replica wheels, 3/8 inch spacers
- Tyres
- 225x60R15
- Interior
- Burlwood dash, steering wheel and shift plate from Gemico
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 2
- Chevrolet 350 V8 with 202 headsChevrolet
Replaces the stock TR6 six as the main engine
In the shops
5/16-24 x 1-1/4" UNF Hex Head Cap Screw ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.25 USD - Crane 3/4 camCrane
Camshaft fitted to the 350
Fuel & Ignition 3
- Edelbrock intake manifoldEdelbrock
Feeds the carburetor into the 350
In the shops
Intake & Exhaust Manifold Gasket, TR6 72-76 / GT6 ↗
bpnorthwest.com· $23.99 USD
Intake and Exhaust Manifold Gasket (TR250/TR6 68-71) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $4.99 USD
Intake & Exhaust Manifold Gasket (TR6 1972-1976, GT6) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $4.55 USD - Holley Street Avenger 750 carburetorHolley
Provides fuel/air mixture for the V8
- Delco-Remy HEI distributorDelco-Remy
High Energy Ignition distributor for the V8
In the shops
Delco Remy Distributor Rotor Arm ↗Betaset (France)· €7.02 EUR
Delco Remy Distributor Points Set ↗Contact Points Set - Delco Remy Distributor ↗
Cooling 1
- Crossflow aluminum street rod radiatorPerformance Rod
Cools the V8, paired with an electric fan
In the shops
Aluminum Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $259.31 USD
Aluminum Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $259.31 USD
Aluminum Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $356.75 USD
Gearbox & Drivetrain 1
- TH-2004R automatic transmissionCalifornia Performance
Overdrive automatic gearbox behind the V8
In the shops
BW-8 Automatic Transmission ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
DG250 Automatic Transmission ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
BW-35 Automatic Transmission ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
Suspension & Steering 2
- KYB tube shock conversionKYB
Fitted to the rear suspension
In the shops
Rear Tube Shock Conversion Kit ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $421.00 USD
Rear Tube Shock Conversion Bracket Kit ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $329.99 USD
Rear Tube Shock Kit (GAZ) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $426.87 USD - Ford Pinto flexible steering shaftFord
Used as the steering intermediate shaft instead of dual universal joints
In the shops
Lower Steering Column Flexible Coupling, Late Type (TR4-6) ↗
Racetorations· £13.20 GBP
Brakes 1
- Mercury Capri II brakesMercury
Fitted with TR6 pads for stopping power
Wheels & Tyres 1
- Minilite-replica wheels
8 spoke wheels fitted with 3/8 inch spacers
In the shops
Minilite Replica Wheel Set 13x5 ↗James Paddock Ltd· £409.50 GBP
Minilite Replica Wheel Set, 13 x 5 ↗4.5 x 12 Minilite Replica Alloy Wheel ↗Motaclan Limited· £59.80 GBP
Interior 1
- Gemico steering wheel and shift plateGemico
Interior trim pieces fitted alongside the burlwood dash
Electrical 1
- Corvette tachometer driveCorvette
Allows the tachometer to function with the V8
In the shops
Gear & Shaft, Tachometer Drive ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $105.19 USDTachometer Drive Gear Assembly ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
Tachometer Drive Oil Feed Pipe ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $115.00 USD
Other 2
- Chevrolet rams horn exhaust manifoldsChevrolet
Exhaust manifolds fitted to the 350 in the TR6 engine bay
- Hushpower mufflersHushmaster (Flowmaster division)
Used in the dual exhaust system
Photos
All 14 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.
How it was done
Engine and induction
The stock TR6 six was replaced with a Chevrolet 350 fitted with 202 heads and a Crane 3/4 cam. Induction is handled by an Edelbrock intake manifold and a Holley Street Avenger 750 carburetor, with a Delco-Remy HEI distributor for ignition and a Corvette tachometer drive to keep the gauge working.
Exhaust and cooling
Chevrolet rams horn style manifolds feed a dual exhaust system fitted with Hushpower mufflers, a Flowmaster division product. Cooling duties are handled by a crossflow aluminum street rod radiator from Performance Rod, backed by an electric fan.
Driveline
Power goes through a TH-2004R overdrive automatic transmission sourced from California Performance. The rear axle remains stock, running a 3.34:1 final drive ratio.
Suspension and steering
The front suspension is stock, while the rear uses competition/road springs and a KYB tube shock conversion. Rather than the twin universal joints common on V8 Triumph swaps, an early Ford Pinto flexible steering shaft was installed. Differential mounts were upgraded and the frame reinforced.
Brakes and wheels
Braking comes from Mercury Capri II calipers running TR6 pads. The car rides on 8 spoke Minilite-replica wheels with 3/8 inch spacers, wrapped in 225x60R15 tires.
Interior and finishing touches
Inside, the car gains a burlwood dash along with a steering wheel and shift plate from Gemico.
On the road
The owner reports the car is fun to drive and used daily, having accumulated 1500 miles since the conversion, with upgrades made as needed along the way.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is the owner's: read it at britishv8.org ↗
Worth knowing
- An early Ford Pinto flexible steering shaft can replace the common dual universal joint setup for V8 conversions
- Frame reinforcements and upgraded differential mounts help the chassis cope with V8 power and torque
- Daily driving after conversion reveals needed upgrades over time rather than all at once
- Larger wheels may be needed later to clear the upper control arms properly