Sumo Engine Change, Pinto-RV8

[sumov8]

I'm going to look at a 1996 sumo with Pinto engine. I've got a fully rebiult RV8 with weber 500 ready and manual gearbox. Apart from mounts and exhausts what other changes will have to be carried out. Any thoughts would be great.E.g fuel pump, wiring.

Cheers
Stuart

[Miket]

Stuart

A lot of heartache, I would think, a friend of mine is in the process of doing an engine swop on a DAX from a RV8 to a Chevy, he reckons it would have been easey to build a new car from scratch.

[russell_ram]

As long as it's a carb pinto, apart from the bits you've mentioned - bit of re-plumbing of fuel lines, rad hoses, new propshaft, maybe move a few bits around in engine bay to clear V8 etc. Not too difficult at all in my opinion, damn site easier than building from scratch anyway. Standard sort of engine swop in the Hot Rod/custom world.

Russ

As long as the pinto car is at the right money because Rover engined Sumos don't make huge money.

[PeteV]

If it's the latest MKIII Sierra-based car then shouldn't be too hard at all. Wouldn't want to bother if it turned out to be the Cortina axle type though!. Couple of things to add that you may need to sort are Radiator (you'll need a decent capacity one), Clutch operating mechanism & thats about it !!


Pete.

[richard_eastham]

Stuart

I undertook the same engine change you are planning 2 years ago now. Best thing I ever did. I had to change a few things.

PEDAL BOX, if you have one of the ford units the rocker cover clashes with the master cylinder, you have to change it for a marina type or what I did was buy an unservo'd unit from TAS with hydraulic clutch, brake front/rear balance setup and acelerator pedal. You can chop and change cylinder sizes to match your application to perfection. The unit simply bolts onto the inside of the bulk head and no cylinders or servo in the engin bay looks really tidy.

STEERING COLUMN, the linkages in the engin bay clash with where you are going to put exhaust manifold and engine mounts, a small bracket will have to be fabbed to raise the linkage and as a consequence the link will have to be lengthened.

FUEL PUMP, as you are already aware you're going to need a fuel pump, elecy in the boot out of the way.

RADIATOR, Pilgrim recomend the 2.3 sierra diesel "upside down"! it works!! Oh and an expansion tank.

PROP SHAFT, You're aware of that.

GEAR BOX & ENGINE MOUNTS, will have to be fabbed from scratch.

WATER PUMP & PULLY, watch out for the waterpump and pully length, try to get the shortest one you can, or the elecy ones are becoming rather popular.
Apart from that it's fairly straight forward. I did lots of other mods at the same time like remote mounting the oil filter, side pipes, rewired the car with new harness, redesigned the dash board as the gear stick was slightly further forward than the ford setup and gear changes were clashing with the dash.

If I can help further, you can email me.

richard_eastham@hotmail.com

[Dan]

Another consideration that hasn't yet been mentioned above are the shocks. being a sumo it is probably fitted with spax adjustables. The rover engine is somewhat lighter than the pinto so the poundage of the springs may need to be changed to compensate. The rears should be unaffected but it may be worth while to get them checked as well.

Dan ~ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/danny.mann/

[Dan]

Just reread richards comment about the pedal box. Don't know If replacing the pedal box is a requirement of an engine swap.I am fitting a RV8 in to a Sumo MKIII which has the ford pedal box a brake servo. Plenty of room and no problems of rocker cover clearance (I have the standard rocker covers, no third party edlebrock towers )

The only alteration you will need to do is the cable clutch mod to the rover gearbox which is normally hydrolically operated. Try searching the forum on this point, as it was discussed some time ago.


Dan ~ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/danny.mann/

[Dutch Paul]

Maybe upgrade the brakes?
More power = more speed = more braking??

Just a thought

Paul