Thinking about building a Tomcat advice please.

[Mirafiori]

Hi all.

Need some advice/help i have already posted on landyzone asking for help etc.
The way i figure it u can never get enough advice and recommendations.

OK Spec for running gear.

Range rover classic chassis 100" not shortened as want to use car 60% of time on road so going for stability at speed.
I do want to use it for a trip to capetown though.

2000 onwards/Discovery front and rear axles from V8
NO salisbury axle!!!

R380 Gearbox or possibly a santana LT85 unsure which is strongest of the 2.

Transfer box rrc 90/92 for viscous coupling OR LT 230 again unsure as to which has better alround use.

Diffs from Tomcat motorsport recommended for acceleration 4.75 ratio'

Im currently considering either Petrol Or Diesel
Rover 4ltr V8.
Isuzu 3.1TD.
And really am undecided power plant wise..
ANY ADVICE

best regards
adam

[stolenheron]

go with the diesel motor. a 4.0L petrol would just seem like a pretty pathetic power plant for a "race" rover. shit, even the 4.6L i've got only puts down 155whp and 217 ft/lbs of torque on a 4x4 dyno.

[Mirafiori]

Uk spec rover V8 4.0 is meant to be in region of 184bhp take that with pinch of salt.
Isuzu diesel meant to be around th 135hp area.

Another option is Mitsibushi Pajero Evolution power plant and gearbox
280hp and decent torque figure.

However i've been looking at bowler wildcat engine options just to get an ide whats used on Tomcat big bro.

They use jaguar units. Im just searching through breakers at the moment for jaguar xjr supercharged engine and price> 340Bhp torque unsure....

should be decent providing it fits into rrc chassis.

anyone any suggestion on running gear???

Thanks so far
adam

[stolenheron]

in the end running something like a chevy carb'd v8 would be easiest. not sure where you are located. but they are cheap, plentiful and can give you TONs of power.

[Mirafiori]

Aberdeen Scotland mate...

Been on phone to tomcat msport spoke to paul.
Engine's used in tomcats so far.

Rover V8.
Tvr V8 rover based.
Audi rs6.
Pajero/shogun 2.8petrol.
pajero/shogun 3.2 diesel unit.
Ford scorpio 2.9.
Hummer 6.6 unit.

Plenty to choose from just the wallet dont like some of those units££££££

Thing is i've got to watch what i do with overall length of engine,converterplate,gearbox,transfer box.

As they move the engine etc back a good 10" over standard RRC.

Regards
adam

[BullDogSix]

Could you buy your engine here in the states and ship it over?...the US dollar is in a real crap hole thanks to our wonderful government. You might as well make the most of our misery. Too bad they're gonna cook all those "cash for clunkers" motors...idiots!

[OldnDirty]

How about a Holden/Vauxhal 5.7L or 6.0L? Same thing as the GM LS1/LS2. Big power and plentiful parts. Or the Rover motor can be made to produce decent power...Affordable Aluminum Buick / Rover Stroker Motor, by Kurt Schley

[gordo]

Why do you have any use for a Tomcat? Just build a standard rover Hybrid, much easier, MUCH MUCH Cheaper, and it will wheel just as well. You dont have to shorten the chassis, you can just use a 109 tub/roof and shorten it to work. Unless you have ALOT Of money to blow its just not worth it. IF you are a good fabricator/welder, which you will need to be if your building a tomcat, you could make your own body panels to help save money but I just dont see the point if you are going to drive it around. Take a 109 body, shorten the rear tub and top and graft it to a RRC or D1 frame. It took me about a year to build mine and I went all out with an Exocage, tire carrier, custom bumper, custom dash, blah blah blah. If you use a D90 hood/breakfast you dont even have to move any of the running gear at all. My current hybrid (I sold the last one) is going to be a D1 frame, Nissan LD28 Diesel, LT85 box, series 2 88 inch body with a 100 inch wheelbase. Ive got most of the parts already and Ive spent, 600 body, free frame with title, 3oo for the diesel with a v8 adapter, 350 for the trans/tbox, 90 for a D1 5spd pedal cluster, couple hundred bucks on parts to rebuild the head off the LD28 and a few other odds and ends I scrapped up. Sure it will cost about 5000 to finish it completely, but I venture that wont even cover your motor. Good luck and keep us posted. I will be doing the same as my project starts moving. For now...its a big pile in the shop. Gordo