Alpine 1968 Renault R8

[Steve Swan]

Hard to tell, could be later type, lets hope so, if not you'll need to find a later type bellhousing and input shaft (I have the latter, but not the former) it's a PITA to do in situ, but you should manage it. I can tell you where to drill into the sidecase to punch the pin out without having to take the box apart. with the motor out access is good . You can convert the early type bellhousing to later type I think, there was a kit available, but not cheap, oh and a release arm, which is buyable I am sure.

 

[Steve Swan]

Clutch Fork Fork with spring for ball bearing
Bellhousing kit Guide for guided clutch bearing adaptation out of stock tho.

 

[Adey]

Clutch Fork Fork with spring for ball bearing
Bellhousing kit Guide for guided clutch bearing adaptation out of stock tho.

cheers put myself on the mailing list for notification of it coming back into stock

ill try and take some decent pics next time im under the car

 

[Turbell]

You got @Steve Swan , best man on the job, beyond my knowledge.

 

[andybond]

Are you absolutely sure that you want an engine swap?

Everything about the car seems perfect right now. It’s low, slow and relaxing. I appreciate your not putting a 800hp v8 in it but curious if you will ruin what you love about it

 

[Adey]

Are you absolutely sure that you want an engine swap?

Everything about the car seems perfect right now. It’s low, slow and relaxing. I appreciate your not putting a 800hp v8 in it but curious if you will ruin what you love about it

The difference in the 2 engines is probably 10bhp and 10lbft (49hp to 59hp) Not massive but enough to give it a touch more shove out of junctions and hopefully pickup quicker in start stop traffic. I understand your concerns though, it'll still be slow lol and hopefully a touch more relaxing as I'm hoping a little less laboured

 

[Turbell]

Think you're at 45 at best ATM , even if no ponies have escaped, from memory think 956 has a higher bhp, C?? ....Whichever had twin choke Weber in 5 GTS, 11TSE , Fuego TL, were about 70, although AEI might be an issue, gonna need a Salv dizzy perhaps?

 

[Turbell]

Go for it, your not changing feel of the car, same but more, exact reason I fitted Daup G engine in my 750, simply because it was same base block .....ish. , just the biggest type, wasn't without issues even then, always things you need to change, plumbing, that bit is a stud on that, but that bit is a bolt here and there.... exhaust etc......then you find you need longer gearing ....and on ...and on..

 

[sparkie]

I'd be tempted to slip in a cheeky cam too.

 

[Adey]

Yeah was thinking of sticking with the normal dizzy for now, keeps everything easy, prob a salv tweaked one in the future. If I'm feeling fruity I could slap on a 36-1 wheel on the crank pulley and stick an ignition ecu on it.

 

[Adey]

Go for it, your not changing feel of the car, same but more, exact reason I fitted Daup G engine in my 750, simply because it was same base block .....ish. , just the biggest type, wasn't without issues even then, always things you need to change, plumbing, that bit is a stud on that, but that bit is a bolt here and there.... exhaust etc......then you find you need longer gearing ....and on ...and on..

it always spirals doesn't it

 

[Steve Swan]

A Renault 8 is great around the 130 bhp mark. You need to sort out the bushes,Springs and shocks, probably brakes if you want to go higher. Sorted it is a competent chassis that works well above 175 bhp. It will out roundabout any 5 or clio.

 

[Steve Swan]

Esp. in the Wet........

 

[Adey]

Its not looking good for the 8 at the moment. The last few times I've driven it I've had the odd misfire. Assumed it was carb or ignition related, but it would clear and not cause me issues. Odd....

Anyway on Wednesday I pulled up at home with it after the commute and it was tapping a little more than normal and misfiring again. A few revs it cleared and I didn't think much of it.

Decided to take a look today and go over the basics. No mixing of oil and water and no over heating. Whipped the plugs out to make it easier to spin and do the clearances to be greeted with number one looking like its coated in baked on oil.






Could be worn valve stem oil seals maybe? not sure yet. Ideally I need to comp check. Any way I carried on and reset the valve clearances and on start up was met with a loud tapping that coincided with a miss. When it stopped tapping (louder than the vid) the miss stopped too. bit confused by this. Also there seems to be mega blow by and smoke from the exhaust. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards piston or valve damage, what say you guys? Its done well to be fair, I've put a few hundred miles on it since getting it up and running, didn't open it up, just sent it. Not ideal as I was meant to be driving it to RRG in August.......

 

[Renny 5]

Awww no mate looks like oil to me but all them spark plugs look totally different

 

[Adey]

Awww no mate looks like oil to me but all them spark plugs look totally different

arent they just. Might just whip the head off and take a look inside

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Compression & leak down tests first before you go whipping the head off

 

[Adey]

Compression & leak down tests first before you go whipping the head off

smoking its tits off, don't think they will show me much more or stop me needing to pull it apart tbh

 

[Steve Swan]

Head should be wet with oil , were you going mad with brake cleaner? looks dry to me. That engine has had it's day .............
Watched the vid... A skip awaits, looks like a lubrication failure the rockers are dry.

 

[Adey]

I had actually cleaned it off when adjusting it all. That said the running problem was there before I made the adjustments