Well I guess it's time for me to show you folks what I did with an old mot failed ex police Omega and a Scimitar SE6a.
A while back I got a 1979 SE6a auto in special order black, this was bought with the soul intention of being entered into the Practical Performance Car magazines £999 challenge at Mallory Park at the end of May. I decided the car needed a little more power and would suit a more modern engine well.
The cheapest power I could find was the 3.0L V6 Vauxhall Omega. The Vauxhall engine is a nice compact engine having a 54° V is only a little wider than the Essex. It's also exactly the same height and a little shorter, it's also lighter having aluminium heads.
I managed to get my self an ex police Omega estate for £270. The police spec came with a 5 speed manual box, this is a real bonus. It's a very short box with an easily adjustable gear linkage that can be made to fit the scim with little hassle. I am also amazed at how light this gear box is. I weighed it having single handedly lifted it out of the car through the engine bay. This box is only 40kg or 88lbs in old money. That's got to be a huge saving over the old auto.
Right time for some pics.
This is the Scimitar and the police Omega.
The Scimitar's engine bay standard.
The Omega's engine bay standard.
This is how much stuff I had to dig out to get to the front of the engine. Everything is labled with masking tape so I stand some chance of getting it all back together in the right order.
The amount of electrics that will need transferring is immense. Again everything is labelled. Everything on top the engine is disconnected electrical loom’s.
Finally it gave up the engine. It took a whole day of stripping to get this far.
Sat on the floor with gear box placed behind.
Again on the floor. It's a very compact engine and box.
Just the electrical bits to remove from the car now.
Next up.
Because of the amount of cooling this engine needs the Scimitars spare tire is going to have to reside in the boot.
Day 2
Not quite as much to strip out like the Omega.
Engine bay clearing a bit now.
What a handy little bugger this is. Regularly saves my knuckles.
Giving birth to it's engine and box at the same time.
Space,,,,, Hopefully enough for Mr Omega to fit.
I new the front would lift a little, but I wasn't expecting this much. :lol:
There's the little blighter.
Just for some size comparison.
So not bad for one day I guess, total labour time now is 2.5 days.
Now it's time for the real fun to start and make the Omega lump fit. From the look of it I'll have to sit the engine 2" further back than the Essex to let the sump clear the chassis cross member. This is bound to result in a little fibre glass adjustment.
Well here's the moment I've been waiting for,,,,, Will it fit?????????
And the answer is...........
YES
And very nicely at that.
It just looks right as well.
This engine is far lighter than the Essex. Just look at the suspension, and that after jumping up and down on the front and pushing it around on my drive.
I've got a bit of fibre glassing to do now.
Well it's sat in there with new engine and gearbox mounts.
No modification to the gearbox tunnel at the moment, I'll re check that tomorrow, but it's looking very promising indeed.
The sump is about an inch lower than the chassis and the whole engine is sitting about two inches further back than the Essex did.
I'll shorten the gear linkage and this will put the gearstick in exactly the same place as the original. Perfect!
Cheers
Nath
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