Re: Ferrari P4 replicas - choice of motive power ?
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What sort of engines to people normally fit in a P4 replicas?
[/ QUOTE ]We’ll have to be careful not to hi-jack Fran’s thread, here, Joe – we’re wondering slightly off topic. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif
Unfortunately, most people of ‘normal’ means, wanting to build or own a Ferrari P4 replica, usually can’t afford to run to the expense of installing and running a Ferrari V-12. In this respect, in terms of achieving ‘some sort of accuracy’, regarding ‘correct’ choice of engine, things are so much easier for you GT40 / Cobra / Lola T70 replica builders, with the lower cost and ready availability of Ford and Chevy V-8’s.
So what do we use ? Well, first of all, you don’t always necessarily want to believe what to read on the ‘Net …
Such as this:
http://www.p4replica.com which is WELL out of date /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif (For
30 now read
100). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
.... or this quote from:
http://www.noblecars.com/marque.htm
“Lee (Noble) introduced a replica of the Ferrari P4, which proved an even greater success with <font color="red">more than 250</font> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon_bs.gif produced, all powered by
the Chevrolet V8”
As far as I have been able to ascertain, the majority of Noble P4’s (and a LOT less than the number quoted above) were built or supplied to take the Renault PRV V-6 – as was the original Ultima, when Lee was producing it. Some people later fitted Cosworth Turbo’s; a few also got Turbo versions of the PRV V-6; Rover-Buick V-8s; Chevy V-8’s and a handful got Ferrari V-8’s – usually from 308’s (fitted inline with Porsche or ZF transmissions, as opposed to Renault). One originally PRV V-6 powered Noble P4, in Japan, has been upgraded to Ferrari 348 V-8 (which is a relatively easy fit, with it’s ‘ready to install’ inline configuration). Then there are other odd engines occasionally used like Alfa V-6’s, in one or two cars – dare I even mention that there’s a Noble P4 in Germany fitted with a <font color="red">FORD Cleveland 351ci V-8 !</font> Talk about sacrilege ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/soapbox.gif
Neil Foreman also (totally) rebuilt one Noble P4 with a Lamborghini V-12 and Porsche G50 transmission.
The Foreman P4’s seem to be an eclectic mix, so far. Neil likes the Chevy V-8, and so quite a few owners have gone that route. The Renault PRV V-6 is still a popular choice, in both normal injected and Turbo form. A couple of people are using the Ferrari 348 V-8 (which can also be sourced more cheaply from the less-loved Ferrari Mondial T). Neil Foreman has also built 3 cars (including his own Can-Am demonstrator) using Ferrari 400GT/400i V-12’s.
Then of course there are the aluminium-bodied Norwood P4’s, and other ‘hand-builts’, with Ferrari V-12’s of one sort or another, but we’re talking less than a dozen cars, worldwide, and that’s getting into millionaire’s territory !
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I have seen the odd Lancia Thema 832 come up for sale, with some fettling that would be a nice lump to put in one, has this conversion ever been done according to your records.
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The 8-32 is possibly a cheap way of getting Ferrari V-8 power, Joe, but it will still have the same re-build / repair costs as any other Ferrari V8, should anything go wrong. Unless you were considering using this motor transversely (as also is the case with the Ferrari 308/328 motors) in a chassis of your own design, then you’d still need to source and fit an inline transmission. As far as I know, nobody has used the 8-32, nor is planning to. Personally, if asked by any owner who was considering going the Ferrari V-8 route, then I’d recommend the 348 engine and gearbox combo as the easiest (if not initially the cheapest) way to go.
Here’s a link to a well-documented build of such a car:
http://www.collinsclan.co.uk/Pages/Cars/P4/P4.html
Sadly, Mark Collins’ P4 caught fire at a shakedown run at a track day, a couple of weeks after passing SVA – and was totalled. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif