"Hi Enrico,

I cannot believe someone has once done this engine swap that I have done. I thought I was the first.

Whatever happened to the one I saw on your website ? Does it run ? Did they finish it ? Mine will be driving very soon.

It’s very fun and rewarding work. This Biturbo, was left sitting on wet gravel, under a small roof, for more than 20 years. The floors rusted away and the engine did not run, the electrics were dry and brittle. The original interior was torn and dry, very tatty. The car was going to be left there, to rust away into oblivion. It had to be saved.

I, like Jeremy Clarkson - could say "Maserati" before I could walk (well, not really) but I have always wanted one. I offered more than it was worth, and I bought it. Saving or trying to restore the car completely, was something that didn’t make sense. It was too far gone. I decided on a road legal rally car version.

I have built several budget racing cars and have done the very popular Toyota MR2 V6 engine swap, several times. We use the 3.0 liter Lexus ES300 engines for those swaps and I’m familiar with Toyota/Lexus engines. Amazing things, especially the LS400’s V8. It’s a very special engine with forged internals, six bolt mains, hypereutectic pistons, quad overhead cams, all aluminum and insanely reliable. I will keep you up to date with the progress, rest assured that I will drive this car by Spring.

You have my permission to use any part of the Biturbo thread or pictures, if anyone asks about it, feel free to send them my way. You can post my website in case someone wants to contact me for anything. Feel free to use whatever you like.

I have several friends in the UK, although I’ve never been there. The Website TwoBrutal is a forum where we discuss the MR2 and the V6 conversions, that’s how I met my petrol head friends and we ship parts and number plates back and forth several times a year. Great guys, I hope to make it across to a car show someday, with my wife and children for a visit.

The road handling is likely to be good, the center of gravity is low, the engine is moved back into the cabin significantly for a better balance. The 1985 suspension however, is old and worn. I have some Volvo 240 front strut cartridges to replace the stock inserts, I hear they fit right in, not sure - but I have them to try. I will also find some rear struts to replace the original ones. I will use the stock hubs and brakes, although the solid rotors leave a lot to be desired and the rear independent suspension on this car, does not have an ARB/ sway bar.

If the suspension and handling are unsuitable, I will buy an old Audi and start swapping that with more modern stuff. I am hoping that I don’t have to do that.

What I am interested in however, is a possible replacement brake setup, that’s basically bolt in and go. Do you know of any ? I have the 4 lug hubs, not the 5.

I’m also very interested in a Biturbo 222 or 228 rear boot spoiler and a rear ARB/Sway bar. There was a spoiler on ebay UK, but by the time it would be shipped across, it was over 200 USD and I could make one for a lot less than that. So if you know of anyone that wants to donate those items for the build, I will be eternally grateful and include them in the credits of the build as a contributor.

Thanks for your website and the work you do there, it’s got a lot of information on it and I will be a frequent visitor. Feel free to contact me for anything in the future.

Paul."
Cleveland Ohio USA
www.GrenadeMotorsports.com

Ten days ago, I saw this car for sale within an hours drive of my home. The guy wanted too way much money for it.

Here's why I wanted it in the first place:

Front Engine.
Rear Wheel Drive.
The entire car weight is 2590 pounds.
Four wheel disc brakes.
four wheel independent suspension.

It is a complete, intact car, good glass, solid (worth repairing) shell. These cars are not what I would consider "cool" and were never considered powerful or reliable, or very valuable, or well respected or drove particularly well.

BUT - if you factor in this car is automatic and I have a 1UZFE engine and automatic transmission, along with the fact that I skillfully worked this guy over for ten days of back and forth emails - I bought it cheap. It's a mess.

The engine had insanely low mileage. No need to rebuild. I got lucky with finding one like that. I re-gasketed it, new timing belt, seals, water pump, dizzy caps, leads, etc. Blasted and painted everything. The Maserati is getting stripped out tomorrow. I have a buddy that is going to buy all the parts.

This car should be interesting with a V8 !

The car has a bit of floor rust through, not bad - no big deal.
A small amount of sill repair needed, hardly nothing to complain about.
This car is solid. It's door bottoms are curse word, but I can re-skin those.
I am going totally strip out everything except the steering rack and the front & rear suspension.
5. Roll cage. Used racing seats & harnesses.
6. Aluminum dash, possibly LS400 instrument cluster - don't know yet.
7. Bare minimum wires needed to make it run, have lights & heat.

Our laws regarding road legality are excellent. No MOT's, insurance doesn't care what engine is in it - nothing really matters including emissions when the car is older than 25 years.

None of this wiring would work anyway. I'm doing this with the breaker's yards and a tight budget. It will look respectable when completed. A bit Hillbilly, but respectable.