More VR6 RWD Motor Adapter Plate

More work done on the motor adapter plate. Most of the trans to plate holes are now drilled. And the perimeter is roughly cut out. So much easier to handle the smaller plate. Still need to cut the hole for the starter. Then it'll be time to test fit the assembly to the car.

VW VR6 Motor To BMW E46 Trans Adaption

One problem with the motor I choose was it was in only FWD or AWD cars only. No RWD trans exists. This requires an adapter. I've made a trans adapter before on my EV project. Really didn't want to do that for this project but this is how it turned out.

After what seemed like forever planning and scratching my head for what the best scenario was I ordered a metal plate. It came in friday and work to mate the plate to the motor was started. I've successfully cut the center clearance and the dowel and bolt mounting holes.

Next up mounting the transmission to the plate. This motor has the timing chain on the backside and the timing cover bumps out into the transmission bell housing area. I'm not the first to use this combination and I cut my trans to clear in a similar way. A little more fitting and I can put in the dowel and bolt holes then cut the perimeter out.

2 Year Anniversary - Introducing the VR6 GT6

 Realized the 2nd year anniversary of my Triumph ownership was this past week. Seems like it would be good to have some a big progress to celebrate. How about some news on the re-engine portion of the project?  The motor is a 3.6L VR6 24 Valve, direct injection, variable valve timing, variable intake, all the goodies. In stock form was rated at 280 hp. Best I can tell the motor weights similar to the GT6 motor, maybe less. It's mounted further back and the Battery will be relocated to the rear. Overall balance should be better than the factory GT6. Time will tell. 

About a year ago I bought the donor car, a 2006 VW Passat, for the engine. Was very anxious to get started on that but forced myself to stick to the body work (which took way too long) to get the back of the car in solid shape before moving on. Then the winter came and progress halted for the winter.

The winter break was a little longer than anticipated as somehow we got the idea we wanted to try sailing in Florida for a vacation trip (since flying has gotten so complicated). Which ended up with us buying a fixer up boat and me doing a lot of projects in the driveway in the cold instead. (How was this better than working in the garage in the cold?). Anyway the boat was finished (well finished enough) and the sailing trip was a complete success. Six great days of sailing and covered about 100 miles. 

Back to the GT6

The first weekend back I made some wooden supports to put the GT6 back on it's skates so it could be moved to the side to make room. Then the donor car was towed into the garage and deconstruction started. This past week I pulled the motor and started fitting it into the GT6. I wasn't sure the engine was going to fit so was quite interested in doing a test fit. Still a lot of fiddling and fitting to do but it looks like it can be made to work (with enough cutting and welding about anything fits. Right?). The engine may even keep it's factory intake.

The hood still doesn't quite close yet but I was out of time to work on it. I think the the hood bracing in sitting on the intake. Will have to do some checking on where it's hitting

when I have some more time.