Warning !!! The following content is not suitable for all adults!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So I drove the triumph a bit before the teardown and I was not impressed with the power. It was lively untill you got up to about 40mph then things seemed to slow down a bit.
I wanted to get more power( who dosen't ) but I did not want to break the bank.
I could not find a gt6 motor at a reasonable price anywhere and to get the 1.5 to that magical 100hp mark would take at least $2000 if done right.
So I sold the engine and trans on Ebay for $300. Now I had $300 to fund my rebuild but no engine to work on.
Here is the engine the day I pulled it.
It needed rod bearings but you could hardly tell until you get to about 4000rpm.
I was @ my buddy's shop and he had a chevy engine sitting on the floor. I asked what was wrong and he said "rod bearings"
I asked if I could have it and he said sure!. I got a new crank, new bearings and a new gasket set and did a rebuild. Then I bought a 5 spd borg warner trans form a guy @ work. Now I had spent my $300 and I had an engine and trans. I know what you are thinking by now. I am going to stick a heavy v8 in the front of a triumph and ruin the handling. Not so fast.

Remember, I only wanted about 100hp so I wasn't too ambitious. The engine I got was a 3.1 from a cavalier. With aluminium heads and an aluminium transmission the engine and trans combined weighs about 50lbs more than the cast iron 1.5 butstilla whopping 60lbs less than a gt6 motor with an overdrive tranny. Also this engine puts out a stock 145hp and 180ft/lbs of torque. Not only that but I was able to modify the mounting points so that the entire engine sits behind the steering rack!! Here is the tranny.
And the engine being assembled.

Just some quick pics with the camera phone.

More pics to come soon!!.
\
I have to fab up the motor mounts and get exhaust manifolds made.