Big P6 project idea.

MonsterP6

New Member
I was wondering how practicle or hard it would be to create a kind of semi space frame Rover P6, utilising something like the running gear from a 5 series BMW or Jag XJ6? Imagine the same concept as that used in the original Issigonis (proper) mini, but moved into a P6?

You would have a one off space-frame type affair, front and rear, to hold the engine and running gear in its place, and then maybe minimal tubing intruding into and through the cabin, but enough to link the two ends of the car together, whilst retaining the shell of the car and the door hangers. The front and rear bodywork would be hung off the space frame in its appropriate position, leaving you with a wider choice of engines, more modern running gear and breaks, and what would be i affect, and modern car in an old shell.

What are people thoughts on this? Has anyone tried it???
 
Bit like the way people do 'monster trucks'? Get a big 4x4, jack it up and remove body work. Get the car to be made a monster, cut out the engine bay and the transmission and plonk on top???

Sounds a lot of work. If it was not for the 'odd' front suspension of the P6 many straight six's would fit in but as the anti roll bar and steering rods are in the way it's impossible to push the engine back to where the heater is, there is easy room for %50 more engine. Best bet would first create a kit to convert the front suspension to a BMW or old ford set up (Contina Mk3,4,5 is all self contained), that would then allow where the heater is located to be removed allowing longer engines. Of cause this then means you have no heater. Also I think the front chassis rails on the P6 running to the front of the car seem high up I expect it would need some expert metal work to make it strong and safe and to make them lower to accept another makes front suspension.
But popping a jag v12 in there would be cool. ;)
 
DTV did a similar thing in the seventies first with Big Bertha a space framed plastic bodied Vauxhall Ventora with a Holden/Repco V8 driven by the legendary Gerry Marshall sadly it only did a couple of races before Gerry had a major accident in it & it was destroyed, so then they used what was left & made Baby Bertha a Firenza of a similar construction & used the same engine & this was a very succesful racer. Both of these cars can be found on you tube & make fantastic watching

Regards Colin
 
An interesting idea. The front end is easy as all the strength is in the bulkhead. Jag E Type V12 was done like this - the car finishes at the front bulkhead and everything forward of that is spaceframe. Mind you, sorting out some body to clad it afterwards might not be so simple.... Perhaps you could use this technique to give the car double wishbone front suspension, thereby losing the steering and roll bar from the bulkhead - net result all the same length, so re-use the existing wings, bonnet etc?

At the rear things don't need to be as complex. You already have a crossmember for the front end of the diff/front pick ups for the trailing arms, which should be in about the right place for any modern rear end and there's a solid area to pick up for the diff. Major problem at the rear is the narrowness of the track which gives problems with drive shaft plunge angles for any independent set up - hence why Rover finished up with such unusualy large offset road wheels. Any solution to this is likely to involve pretty major bodywork to free up the pinch point in the base unit at the rear of the D post. Best plan there would be to do the car as a 2 door (like Rochard webmaster - see his threads for some excellent photos of the problems involved) so as not to have to redesign the shut faces and sealing of the rear doors.

Chris
 
Talking Audi, anybody considered the audi 5 pot ? I.e. UR Quattro, 80, 100 etc.. No idea how long it is or whether there is an easy RWD gearbox, from memory they're all either 4WD or FWD but mostly longitudinal mounted. (FWD has a very odd gearbox arrangement)
 
webmaster said:
Talking Audi, anybody considered the audi 5 pot ? I.e. UR Quattro, 80, 100 etc.. No idea how long it is or whether there is an easy RWD gearbox, from memory they're all either 4WD or FWD but mostly longitudinal mounted. (FWD has a very odd gearbox arrangement)

If I remember correctly they are about the same length as the BMW M20 unit. (a straight six) No idea about mounting it to a P6 Box, would need an adaptor plate. Both engines are not the modern, I think. So would negate the original aim of the post, to fit a modern engine.
 
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