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Alpine 1968 Renault R8

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adey
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Hard to say from pics but i think its det/pre ign damage that. Imagine a bit of carbon buildup bumping the comp up a bit, coupled with a bit too much advance on the dizzy and poor fuel/lean carburettor, and a noisy as fcuk rear engine masking that death ping.
 
Ive not spent too much time hunting for parts yet, but doing a decent amount of reading on the teamr8 site, google translate doing its best.

Steve linked to some bits previously for me to convert an earlier style gearbox to run with a later style clutch arrangement. A guided release bearing. Unfortunately they are out of stock but I have found a DIY version from a Peugeot spoken about. These can be used to adapt the current graphite setup to the guided setup (or so I have read) the parts. I'm not sure I need these yet but have pre-emptively ordered them for when I inevitably pull the whole lot out the back of the car.

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I may have a lead on a good 1108cc R8 engine. Should have more details in the next few days.

I'm still on the hunt for something bigger and better but ideally I want the time to build it all up properly. So if all goes well a replacement engine will go in and I will still be able to use the 8 until all the other bits I need become available to fit a 1390/1397cc.
 
Had a chat with a guy called Brian Whiteside, who happens to have a good 1108cc engine (plus many other spares) so I will be picking that up on Sunday. I'm hoping to gain a few more ponies just by having and engine with no holes in the pistons :D

Have decided to make a weekend of the trip so the wife and kids will be coming along too, not that the weather is looking very good but still some fun to be had.

I decided to get cracking with the engine out job, this was more to check what gearbox and clutch setup I have. I'm not sure so hoping the gurus will chime in, but I think I have a mix mash of parts in there? could be normal though.

20 spline box but unguided release bearing (is that the right release bearing?)

Clutch looks like the carbon seal type that I had in my dauphine but I'm sure the release bearing was different

Anyway, engine is disconnected, its on the jack currently until I get my hoist back and either lift it out or lift the car over it (y)

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Also a link to the team r8 site showing how to mod the box and release bearing for the bigger stuff in the future

 
That's a shame. Ask Brian if he has a later bellhousing and fork about his person, seeing how you are going to be there..
question has been asked (y) did you read the link to the French site showing the diy method, what are your thoughts?
 
@Steve Swan late bellhousing, fork, spring and bearing also getting picked up at the weekend. Ill keep these aside for the future upgrades (y) the 1108cc I've got can be slapped in and ran around until I find/build something a touch bigger
 
There you go then. A quick fix for now and the bits to do the conversion later. The Tricky bit is swapping the input shaft on the box, but it can be done in the car, just. I'll talk you through it when the time comes
 
There you go then. A quick fix for now and the bits to do the conversion later. The Tricky bit is swapping the input shaft on the box, but it can be done in the car, just. I'll talk you through it when the time comes
do i need to do that with already having a 20 spline in there?
 
Yes. The oil seal is the wrong size and in the wrong place to work with a guided ball release bellhousing. I've got loads of modified R5 ones, so that's one bit you don't have to find.
 
It is a case of removing the bellhousing. And removing the O/S gearbox side mount. You then drill through the side casing in line with the input shaft rollpin (I can send pics of where to drill) Then with an assistant who is looking at the input shaft coupling where the bellhousing used to be can say helpful things like, left a bit, up a bit, will guide you to the target and you can punch the pin out. You then start the pin in the coupling of the new input shaft, so it won't fall out. You then slide that on and with a slightly bigger punch drive it home. Job done. I would recommend getting a couple of bits of silver steel bar to use as punches. It's gettable on tinterweb no problem and comes in 300 mm lengths. It's quite cheap and very useful stuff being heat treatable and surface ground to size. You tap a thread in the case and plug it with a short bolt. Fin.
 
Jez kindly dropped off the engine crane this eve, ready for fitting the new engine. With 2 of us though it was a piece of wee wee to lift the old bottom end out of the car. There will be a few bits to swap over to the new engine but all being well I hope to have it in the hole early next week.

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And we are home, and no messing, the engine is also pretty much in the hole.

Today saw us wrapping up our short family getaway, the route home was to now take us to Brian Whitesides house. Arrived to the engine loaded on a telehandler which made things nice and easy. Boot unloaded of all the holiday gear, engine slid into place and then the family and everything else reorganised on the inside. The trusty Clio doing its thing and plodding home, fully laden for a further 140miles. It surprisingly delivered 42.5mpg for the full trip (and to the annoyance of my Mrs, we put the hammer down a fair bit)

Once home I whipped the crane out, got the engine in the garage and started whipping some bits off. Spark plugs removed and some GT45 thrown down the holes. The clutch cover had some damage so I whipped the one off the old engine and threw it on this newer lump. I use the thicker of the friction plates. As I hadn't even unhooked it I slapped it straight in the car..... lined it up easy enough and is held onto the bellhousing with 4 bolts. Now its in there, I pulled the rocker cover off to be greeted with a clean top end. I've poured oil over everything and it spins nicely by hand. Fingers crossed its a good one. The engine plate suggests its a service exchange unit so no idea what the actual spec is.

I've got tomorrow off work so hopefully we will have it spinning on the starter and we can make sure the top end is getting oil before moving forward and getting it running. All being well I can have it wrapped up and ready for testing by the weekend 🤞

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