Reyland 6 litre Firenza project

[Ish]

Since Martin had serious health issues he decided that he actually needs to finish his oldest project car.

This is the start of my Firenza build...

Have measured up my Firenza and an LS2 engine and T56 box will just about fit, have just ordered a Hummer sump from the states as it looks to be the best fit..

This is the spec:

Firenza SL (zero rust and owned by me for 17 years)
LS2 6 litre engine/box
Mustang 5 litre 8.8 inch rear rear end
Cosworth 4x4 brakes f/r
16" split rims
Porsche seats

Etc etc

Pics to follow ......

 

[Ish]

Here's the car back when I bought it in 1992..

The last picture shows the car having new wings fitted, the old ones were as new but the earlier cars had wierd shaped wing tops that went upwards towards the edge, later models were a more flat design which I prefer.

Shortly after the pics were taken (mid 1992) I took it off the road and fitted a 4.1 Rover V8 with quad dellorto carbs, I was never 100% happy with the Rover engine so a BMW 4.0 V8 with 6 speed box was bought to replace it. The BMW engine didn't get fitted as my head was turned by the Chevy LS2

As it is right now:

LS2 6 litre V8

Damaged Pontiac GTO donor

Porsche seats will be re-trimmed but the shape is perfect for the car

 

[Ish]

400hp standard, mine will be make 500 ish.

 

[Ish]

Got it out today and gave it a bath, can't do much at the moment as I'm waiting for a sump to arrive from the States.

 

[Ish]

Small update,,

while I wait for a sump from the states to clear customs I have decided it needs bigger front brakes.

I had originally fitted brakes from a Cosworth 4x4 but I noticed that my wheels could accommodate bigger. After a few trial fits the biggest I can get in are 330x28mm AP 4 pots, I have drawn up the brake bells and will get the alloy bells made this week, then I have to make alloy calliper brakets..
The original Cosworth conversion:

A few candidates:

The chosen disc and caliper next to the Cosworth ones:

 

[Ish]

Just a small update.. The alloy brake bells are being made and will be rerady for the weekend. Big bonus though, the sump has just arived from the States So after work this evening I will be trial fitting the LS2.
The original Pontiac GTO engine's sump holds the oil at the front of the sump..

So I first bough a Camero sump which has a rear oil pan (pictured at the top) but it was too long and the engine would have sat too far back, so I ordered a Hummer sump and it looks like thats the one. :lol:

 

[Ish]

Weighed the engine with all ancils and it came out at 218kg

In it goes, it does look big!

 

[Ish]

Tight is the word!!!

 

[Ish]

New brake bells were ready today

Need to get on the brake brackets to hold the calipers now.

 

[Ish]

Small progress...

The engine and box mounts are made and it all sits in place without the aid of a crane and rope :grin:

Had to cut the tunnel a little...

Need to find someone to make a tunnel now.

 

[Ish]

Its been a while but I got Danny from Adrenaline to make me a tunnel, I explained exactly how I wanted it and he delivered :grin:

Pedal box and steering column next.

 

[Ish]

Ok, time for a bit of an update...

Pedal box and steering needed! Bought a Wilwood pedal box and decided to use a Sierra throttle pedal...

When I got the car back from having the tunnel installed it didn't steer because I'd lost the hole in the bulkhead the column passes through and I'd removed the upper column mount so I could make a new one further over to the right (so steering wheel was central with driver) so after a bit of head scratching I worked out where the hole needed to be and what angle I wanted the column. Power steering was on my mind so an MGF epas column was bought for £25 :grin:

Steering now much further over to the right and central with the speedo and rev counter (Metro steering wheel isn't being kept!!)

Steering link chopped and ready for welding..

All fitted and it has steering again :grin: Note handy bulkhead bearing..

Next on the hit list was headers...

Stevie kindly sent me some over to try :king: But in the end I got some made up locally, space dictated what they ended up looking like but I'm happy with them..

Onto sorting the front brake brackets, just need to get the brackets made now..

 

[paradigm]

Yay, an ish thread!

It's been too long!

 

[Ish]

Quick update.... Front brakes finito! D:

330 4 pots inside 16" wheels..

Guess I'd better get stripping all the bits off so the car can be resprayed :grin:

 

[Ish]

Trial fit of spoiler...

Tough, yes? D:

 

[Ish]

Big strippage today!! D:

 

[Ish]

Rear axle shots...

Rear turrets..

Backed off coil overs and put loads of weight in the boot to weigh it down to check if any tyre fouling is likely to happen, all good :grin:

Front coil overs..

Gearbox x member is going to get in the way of the exhaust so new mount made...

Stripped the underseal off the rear inner arches to see if anything is being hidden and all good except for thin metal on arch returns on front of rear arches..

No rust here...

Everything got stripped off...

Like the steel Sierra wheels? lol.

Its at Dannys now, he knows what he has to do. :respekt:

 

[Ish]

Here's some pics from Danny's place, Trevor and him have been hard at it. :king:

Doors off and a bit of dodgy rot found at the base of the screen pillar, the wing needs attaching properly too as I didn't take the doors off when I fitted the wings all those years ago..

Excited? Oh yes D:

 

[Ish]

Trevor is working his ass off on the car by the looks of it!!..

They can all see where all the repairs are so the pressures on Trev Hahaha

 

[Ish]

You haven't missed a lot! I decided that I was going to have it the original colour then my mind started wondering again



Here's what I'm thinking right now:



1/ Original colour

2/ Skyline midnight purple (or similar)

3/ New Fiat 500 green by diesel.