converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

[dic.a.price]

Hello, I am converting my short wheel to rover V8 3.9 power adn whereas the engine is 'in' life fitting everything else would be a great deal easier if I could change the steering arrangement so that it runs underneath the chassis, and so give me more room in the engine bay. I believe that some marlins were fitted with triumph steering that achieved this. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Dic Price

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Dic, you're a brave man..! Unfortunately the Marina-based roadsters have a significantly different chassis arrangement to the Triumph-based due to the very different front suspensions. I think Ben put some diagrams up somewhere, so if you search the forum you might find them.

Is it the rack that's causing the issue or the column itself?

Breaking the column and taking it closer to the bonnet side is achievable (there is also a thread on this from when I was looking for inspiration), but I don't know whether this risks fouling the V8 manifold?

[dic.a.price]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Thanks Jez, it was both that was causing a problem, the rack part has now been overcome and the column part will be addressed by splitting it and adding a UJ, just as the thread you recommended displayed, and I thank you for that. the next upcoming problems are going to be the exhausts,brakes, clutch also the fuel pump and swirlpot so if you could suggest where I could get info or design on any of these items I really would be grateful.
Many Thanks
Dic
07779946611

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Good to hear the rack is OK...
As for the other issues check out some of Cameron's posts...and Steve Green recently posted some thoughts on brake enhancements (discs/calipers).

Some other thoughts...

My column used 2 complete Rally Design double-splined rods, 3 UJ and a 6" double-spline rod from Pop Browns. This latter piece fitted straight into the female socket in the Marina upper column...some weld around that was the only weld in the column. Support bracket looked exactly like Andrew's picture and used a 5/8 rod end...if you get all the stuff from Pop he can supply rods that are a dead-fit for the rod-end...otherwise the RD items have a touch too much clearance in the bearing.

IIRC you'll need a non-servo pedal box & brake-MC (or fit an adaptor plate to the servo pedal box) and maybe a remote reservoir (Rally Design again). Clutch MC could be an issue so my thoughts there might be a Mini item (mounts vertically) as does the Hillman Imp (but check the heights). Pedal customisation would be needed to suit. Otherwise explore the Triumph pedal arrangements...or maybe fit a slush-box..!

I put my swirl pot on the front of the bulkhead...I suspect you might struggle for room there? Otherwise maybe mount at the tank end? Depends where you end up putting the battery to some extent. Best option might be a custom tank with built-in sump and maybe using a submerged pump.

Email me on jezcox<at>tesco.net if you need any more details.

Cheers

Jez

[cameronfurnival]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Hi Dic, the next problem you will have is the exhaust manifolds - I tried all sorts but I think the best would be the sort used on the MG V8 they arent very free flowing but hug the block enough to get the other stuff in. My problem was the manifold hitting the steering rack but that shouldnt be a problem with yours. You will also want to use the earlier (shorter) water pump and locate the alternator in a suitable position too. I'm assuming you have a SD1 engine? Its not impossible but will take a fair bit of head scratching to complete. I have a couple of nice pics I can send you if youlike of another owners car.

[danny_nelson]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Hi Dic, send me your email and I will send you some pics of an injected 4.2 fitted in a swb I have at present. The suspension is Ford Granada uprights with wishbones and coil overs. The rear is Granada diff with de dion and trailing arms. The exhausts are twin under each running board with a balance pipe. The gear box is Ford 5 speed with a J.E engineering bellhousing but still using the Rover clutch, and a lot more.
Regards
Danny.

[dic.a.price]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Hello Danny, It would very very helpful if you could send me the pictures, seeing what can be achieved and how is very comforting, you also realise that you haven't torn this lovely car apart for no good reason.
Cheers
Dic

[dic.a.price]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Sorry Danny forgot to include my email address, its [email protected]
Cheers
dic

[dic.a.price]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Thanks Cameron, my engine is a 3.9 efi out of a RR classic
1991, not sure if there is any difference to an SDI version.
It looks as if I can use the existing manifolds with perhaps a small alteration to the side panels, but as you said 'headscrathing' is the order fo the day. If you send me the pics it would be great, the more you have the clearer the picture becomes.
Cheers
Dic
[email protected]

[b_caswell]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Not a lot of help now but for the record. The drawings of the difference in chassis design of Triumph and Marina were published in Pit Stop May 2006.

[dic.a.price]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Thanks for that Ben do you know anyone I could borrow a copy off?
Cheers Dic

[h_m_cumming]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Scanned it in but the pic is not very suitable to enlarge from the mag

[b_caswell]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Hi Dic, Email me your address and I will post you a copy of the drawing that was used. It shows the full chassis of both cars and inserted Triumph tower copied from a workshop manual. No dimension sorry
You will notice that the whole front end of the Triumph chassis lays flat unlike the Marina which rises up from the door posts forward. Even the engine bay side panels are cut to shape along the bottom

[monza6c]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Hi Dic, Re the front suspension, I put a 2.7 litre BMW engine in a roadster and retained the original torsion bar,
but I reveresed the and shortend the adjusting links to give me more room around the bellhousing also dropped the rearend to give more camber. Roadsters (mariner based) have very little camber if any on the front and suffer from very bad bump steer and at 100+ mph this can be very Hairy! The car was designed as a trials car but the best handling Roadster is a MK1 or a Hibrid. Mariner based cars are very hairy, I have built two one with 120+ bhp and one with 190+ bhp and they were not a patch on a Mk1 for handling even with radius arms, panard rods, even a 5 link setup and of course adjustable dampers.
Mind you if you want 1930 style road holding go for it with the standard setup!
Going side ways at 70 mph with wheels spinning may look good on top gear but in a car that has near zero camber and has no self centering on the steering on a public road is not for the faint heated. I know I did it many times.
Now I am putting together a MK with a Toyota 2 liter 155bhp twincam but at least I knowm it WILL handle.
Len.

[dic.a.price]

Re: converting the front suspension of a short wheelbase roadster

Thanks Ben, my email address is [email protected]
much appreciated