Build catalogue
Van Wilder's 1971 Triumph TR6 with Ford Motorsports GT-40 V8 Conversion
britishv8.orgas published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XX Issue 2, December 2012
Photo: britishv8.orgA 1971 Triumph TR6 rebuilt with a Ford GT-40 302 V8 and new chassis
Van Wilder took over a TR6 V8 conversion started by Dan Masters, then had Fast Cars Inc. build a custom tubular chassis and coilover suspension before finishing the car himself with help from local shops. The result pairs a carbureted Ford Motorsports 302 with Wilwood brakes, a Tremec five-speed, and a Miata-seat interior, road tested since 2012. It is worth reading for the frank account of repeated do-overs and the network of small shops that got it done.
Specs
As the owner states it.
- Engine
- Ford Motorsports GT-40 302cid V8 with B-303 billet hydraulic roller camshaft, dual Edelbrock 1404 four barrel carburetors on an Edelbrock intake manifold
- Ignition
- Accel bronze 51201E distributor
- Cooling
- Griffin aluminum 4-row crossflow radiator with electric fan
- Exhaust
- Four-into-one headers with Jet-Hot ceramic coating, H-pipe crossover, Flo-Pro Super V mufflers, resonator tips
- Transmission
- Tremec T5 5-speed with Tilton HTOB slave cylinder and custom aluminum driveshaft
- Rear axle
- New (uncut) Ford 8 inch housing, Auburn limited slip differential, aluminum carrier, 3.5:1 final drive
- Chassis
- New custom tubular frame by Fast Cars Inc.
- Suspension
- Fast Cars Inc. coilover front suspension with anti-dive, coilover 3-link rear suspension, three-piece anti-sway bar
- Brakes
- Stock master cylinder with power brakes and proportioning valve, Jamar park-lok parking brake; Wilwood Dynalite 4-pot calipers with 11.75 inch vented rotors front and rear
- Wheels
- Billet Specialties Street Lite aluminum wheels, Chevy 5-lug pattern, 15x7 front, 15x8 rear
- Tyres
- BF Goodrich Radial T/A, 45 series front, 40 series rear
- Body
- 2-hoop rollbar with 3 frame connects shaped to Miata seats, stainless steel wire mesh grille, Tulius fiberglass racing hood modified with cut-down Z28 scoop, Sunfast convertible top
- Paint
- Paint and finish bodywork by Jessie Embry of Hudson, Florida
- Interior
- Solid oak dash by Dan Masters, Autometer Phantom gauges, Vintage Air Mini Gen II air conditioning with Sanden compressor, Pioneer stereo with CD player, Miata seats, Lizard Skin and Koolmat insulation
- Electrical
- Advance Auto wire harness with 8 fuse fuseblock, Ford Motorsport compact starter motor, Delco CS130 style alternator, trunk mounted battery
- Fuel system
- 15 gallon custom fuel tank, Mallory fuel pump, Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator
- Performance
- Around 360hp with dual carburetors, up to 400hp potential with fuel injection
- Weight
- 2320 lb
- Completed
- July 2012; 3923 miles since conversion as of December 2012
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.
Shop suggestions are being prepared. The owner's parts list is available below.
Engine 5
- Ford Motorsports GT-40 302cid V8 engineFord Motorsports
Base engine for the conversion
- B-303 billet hydraulic roller camshaft
Fitted to the V8 for performance
- Edelbrock intake manifoldEdelbrock
Manifold for the dual carburetor setup
- Vintage Air Frontrunner serpentine belt drive systemVintage Air
Drives alternator and water pump
- Remote oil filter
Relocated oil filtration
Fuel & Ignition 5
- Accel bronze 51201E distributorAccel
Ignition distributor for the V8
- Edelbrock 1404 four barrel carburetorsEdelbrock
Fitted in pairs for fuel delivery
- Custom 15 gallon fuel tank
Cut down from original fabricated tank so the convertible top would fold
- Mallory fuel pumpMallory
Fuel delivery pump
- Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulatorHolley
Regulates fuel pressure to the carburetors
Cooling 2
- Griffin aluminum 4-row crossflow radiatorGriffin
Cooling for the V8 conversion
- Electric fan
Paired with the crossflow radiator
Gearbox & Drivetrain 5
- Tremec T5 5-speed gearboxTremec
Manual transmission for the V8
- Tilton HTOB slave cylinderTilton
Hydraulic throwout bearing for the clutch
- Custom aluminum driveshaft
Connects gearbox to rear axle
- Ford 8 inch rear axle housingFord
New, uncut housing for the rear end
- Auburn limited slip differentialAuburn
Fitted with 3.5:1 final drive
Suspension & Steering 4
- Fast Cars Inc. coilover front suspensionFast Cars Inc.
Built with anti-dive geometry
- Fast Cars Inc. coilover 3-link rear suspensionFast Cars Inc.
Part of the custom tubular chassis
- Three-piece anti-sway bar
Fitted to the new chassis
- Custom tubular frameFast Cars Inc.
Replacement chassis built for the conversion
Brakes 3
- Wilwood Dynalite 4-pot calipersWilwood
Fitted front and rear with vented rotors
- Wilwood 11.75 inch vented rotorsWilwood
Paired with Dynalite calipers front and rear
- Jamar park-lok parking brakeJamar
Parking brake system
Wheels & Tyres 2
- Billet Specialties Street Lite aluminum wheelsBillet Specialties
Chevy 5-lug pattern, 15x7 front and 15x8 rear, fit without tub modification
- BF Goodrich Radial T/A tiresBF Goodrich
45 series front, 40 series rear
Body & Trim 5
- Tulius fiberglass racing hoodTulius
Modified with cut-down Z28 scoop for cowl induction
- Stainless steel wire mesh grille
Fitted to the front end
- Sunfast convertible topSunfast
Fitted after fuel tank was reworked to allow top to fold
- Paint and bodyworkJessie Embry
Finish bodywork and paint completed for the car
- Custom two hoop rollbar
Built to match Miata seat contours with 3 frame connects
Interior 7
- Solid oak dashboardDan Masters
Custom crafted dash
- Autometer Phantom gaugesAutometer
Instrumentation for the dash
- Vintage Air Mini Gen II air conditioningVintage Air
Heat, defrost and A/C system with Sanden compressor
- Pioneer stereo and CD playerPioneer
Fitted for in-car audio
- Miata seatsMazda
Fitted within a custom two hoop rollbar
- Lizard Skin heat and noise insulationLizard Skin
Applied for cabin comfort
- Koolmat insulationRoadspeed Garage
Heat and noise insulation material
Electrical 4
- Advance Auto wire harnessAdvance Auto
Wiring harness with 8 fuse fuseblock
- Ford Motorsport compact starter motorFord Motorsport
Starter for the V8
- Delco CS130 style alternatorDelco
Charging system for the car
- Trunk mounted battery
Battery relocated to the trunk
Other 4
- Four-into-one headers with Jet-Hot ceramic coatingFast Cars Inc.
Exhaust headers built by Fast Cars
- H-pipe crossover
Part of the exhaust system
- Flo-Pro Super V mufflersFlo-Pro
Used after trying several exhaust combinations
- Resonator exhaust tips
Finish for the exhaust system
Photos
All 20 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
Taking over an unfinished project
The V8 conversion began with former BritishV8 editor Dan Masters, who later switched his own attention to an MGB GT V8 build with Ted Lathrop. Masters sold the partly converted TR6 to Van Wilder, who carried the project forward with a new plan for the drivetrain and chassis.
A new chassis from Fast Cars
Wilder hired Ted Lathrop of Fast Cars Inc. to build a custom tubular frame with coilover front suspension featuring anti-dive and a coilover 3-link rear. The chassis worked so well that Lathrop went on to offer it as a standard replacement chassis for other Triumph owners.
Engine and drivetrain build
A Ford Motorsports GT-40 302 V8 was fitted with a hydraulic roller cam, dual Edelbrock carburetors, and a serpentine belt drive system. Power runs through a Tremec T5 five-speed and custom driveshaft to a new Ford 8 inch rear end with an Auburn limited slip differential.
Braking, wheels and fuel system
Wilwood Dynalite four-piston calipers and vented rotors were fitted front and rear alongside a power brake setup with a Jamar parking brake. Billet Specialties wheels and BF Goodrich tires fit without any tub modification. A custom fuel tank was reworked down to 15 gallons so the convertible top would still fold.
Interior and body finishing
The cabin received a solid oak dash built by Dan Masters, Autometer gauges, Miata seats within a custom two hoop rollbar, and Vintage Air climate control. Jessie Embry handled paint and bodywork, and the hood was reworked with a cut-down Z28 scoop for cowl induction.
Sorting it out on the road
Wilder credits Amber Automotives and John O'Mara with ongoing setup and tweaking after the rolling chassis arrived, admitting most jobs were done more than once. The car was finished in time for the BritishV8 2011 meet, after working through several exhaust combinations and one scare from stuck carburetor linkage.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is the owner's: read it at britishv8.org ↗
Worth knowing
- Expect to redo work two or three times before it is right, and line up local help for it.
- Cutting down a custom fuel tank may be necessary later to clear a folding convertible top.
- Test multiple exhaust combinations to get the sound and behavior right.
- Check carburetor linkage carefully, since sticking linkage can cause a dangerous stuck-throttle scare.
- A well designed aftermarket chassis can fit wide wheels and tires without needing tub modifications.