V8 Spider?

[81autospider]

Has anyone here ever installed a 5.0L V8 in a Spider?...I am curious because other small cars have been done before like the Mazda Miata, the MG's and the Triumph's...I have sitting on a engine stand a fully fuel injected roller 5.0 that pumps out almost 400HP...I was just scratch 'n my head about the ideal of marrying the 2 together...is there enough room in the engine bay to make it fit? ...I guess you must be think 'n that I must have blown a gasket right?...naah, I'm fine...I get these weird ideals every once in a while to do something crazy.

Thanks

[rlux4]

Yes, it's been done. See this thread for a beautiful example. He had to stretch the front of the car 7" (he cut and added panels right behind the front wheel wells).
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... &sk=t&sd=a

[81autospider]

rlux4...that thread is dead....you got any other info on this build?

[pope]

Link is not dead... scroll down to the silver fiat with the big engine.

[rlux4]

Pope's right. I just clicked on it and got both pages of it. The owner's name is Hal Gaylord, he also has a Dino that he brought to the next get together. There was a lot of interest in his V8 Spider, especially in Europe. There are more pictures of it in a related thread.
If you can't use this shortcut, the original post was in "Fiat Spider Events" labeled: So Cal Event, Sat Feb 9th.
Ron

[spiderrey]

even if you got it in, it would be nose heavy and wouldnt handle. its been done with a chevy 350 also. best bet would be a turbo twin cam from honda or mitsu. lots of power , with minimal added weight.

[ga.spyder]

There is a FLU-ATL. member that has a 5.0 in his 79 Spider.He did not stretch the frame ,just shoehorned her in there. The last time I spoke w/ him ,he is having driveline issues...still! I dont know what tranny he has but he has been twisting Fiat diff's into vermicelli.He told me he was going to try to shorten 9'' Ford axles and pumpkin ,and install that.Bottom line ,it'll fly down the straights but a stock Fiat will kill it on the twistys. He bought it cheap because the p/o gave up on it.Sounds great though!
Craig

[rlux4]

There isn't any "Fiat" under Hal Gaylord's Fiat. Engine, and entire drive train are Ford, including the rear end as I recall. The body sits on a square tubular frame he fabbed custom for it. He spent 5 years building it. He didn't say how much money he spent on it, but almost all of the work he did himself, except paint and upholstery.
Ron

[spiderrey]

ive sen that car, that thing is awesome.