New Guy

[David Kemp]

Go to the Javelin section, of Jowett talk, it's about the second page.

[Chris Spencer]

Not so much the engine - the PVR V6 engine is very compact - essentially a 24" cube - it's mainly the clearance above the intake - ie is there room for a top mounted eaton Blower

TJ - I don't think that you will have a problem an engine of that size will readily slot in - there is a load of space above the engine - in original form this is taken up by the high / remote mounting of the water pump / shaft / fan & radiator - with this gone you will have more than enough space - the problem you have is the gearbox - the Jav retains a flat floor layout with column change for the gearbox - you may have to mod the floor pan - but very easily done to take account of the bell housing - rear axle carries a Salisbury differential and some members have upgraded this but retained the axle casing - quicker route maybe to take a Volvo axle (that's what the guy did who big blocked the Jav) although he had to reduce the axle width.

FYI - Quite a few years ago I used to build / race F1 stock (short oval - tarmac / shale) single seat / offset chassis / axles - big block Chev - 8 + litres / 600 BHP - I will dig some images out

[beachcomber]

Not so much the engine - the PVR V6 engine is very compact - essentially a 24" cube - it's mainly the clearance above the intake - ie is there room for a top mounted eaton Blower

TJ - I don't think that you will have a problem an engine of that size will readily slot in - there is a load of space above the engine - in original form this is taken up by the high / remote mounting of the water pump / shaft / fan & radiator - with this gone you will have more than enough space - the problem you have is the gearbox - the Jav retains a flat floor layout with column change for the gearbox - you may have to mod the floor pan - but very easily done to take account of the bell housing - rear axle carries a Salisbury differential and some members have upgraded this but retained the axle casing - quicker route maybe to take a Volvo axle (that's what the guy did who big blocked the Jav) although he had to reduce the axle width.

FYI - Quite a few years ago I used to build / race F1 stock (short oval - tarmac / shale) single seat / offset chassis / axles - big block Chev - 8 + litres / 600 BHP - I will dig some images out

Thanx for the headsup Chris. Yes the PVR is VERY compact.

That's interesting re: the rear axle - plenty of scope with ratios - what are the half shafts like? [ strengthwise ]

As you say, the bellhousing cover is not a problem, but I would like to retain the column shift [ perverse I know ] - even with an auto.

Interesting re: your Stock car days - pix would be great.

Back in the 70's I fronted a speed shop for my pal Keith Harvie [ "Americar" ]. We raced pro-stockers in the early days - Mustang [ex GT40 LeMans 302 engine ] and a Camaro -"Firebrewed"- 427ci. I used to build the engines for our race cars and also for customers. There was one local guy we built Stock Car engines for [ Grays / Thurrock ?? ] but brain fade has set in and I can't remember his name ! In 1974 we stepped up to the big league and imported the Lawce Bros & Gunn Fuel Altered - later renamed "Dream Machine".

By 1976 Keith was off to the USA and I started my own speed shop in Birmingham "Muscle City", by way of "Deals on Wheels". That in turn brought me [ via 27 Track T's] to building Rods and Dragsters and ultimately Replicas - Porsche, Cobra, Jaguar.

You could say big V8's are in my blood, but practicality [ and lack of finance ! ] dictates that a honking great BB Ford / Chevy is not on the radar for the Yellow Peril.

I had many happy years with Chevy, but have a catholic taste towards engines. In latter years I got heavily involved with Ford [ Cobras ], ending with a 502 ci [ 3 stage nitrous ] Ford BB in my '27T altered.

Wow, the people you meet on forums !!!! And that's what I love about a freewheeling forum ..... plenty of info., diversity of interest and genuine offers of help.

Lawce Bros & Gunn car we campaigned '74 - '76. 6.9 sec / 195mph

[beachcomber]

David,

found the posts - very interesting as I was wondering what 5 spokes would look like ! Now then - if you can "paint" the body Chrome Yellow

More info required please.

I have the fr /rr track widths - which I'm assuming is centre to centre on the tyres. What I need is the overall width wheel arch lip to wheel arch lip, then I can work back with clearances.

[David Kemp]

When I next see my children,(going through very bad divorce) I will ask my son to photoshop the Javelin chrome yellow. Want anything else? Top chop? Sectioned? If you type convertible into the "search" button , top right of this screen, you will find photos of Javelin ragtops,may give you ideas.........

[beachcomber]

When I next see my children,(going through very bad divorce) I will ask my son to photoshop the Javelin chrome yellow. Want anything else? Top chop? Sectioned? If you type convertible into the "search" button , top right of this screen, you will find photos of Javelin ragtops,may give you ideas.........

Ouch, sorry to hear that - been there twice before - third time lucky [ 34 years now ].

What I really, really want is a Station Wagon / Woody ...............If only I was still in business and had all my workshop facilities and skilled guys..................... ah, if we had some bacon, we could have some bacon and eggs, if we had some eggs.

Ragtop is more achievable ..... I'll certainly take a look at the links you suggest.

[Jack]

I am sure there would be a way to run a floor change on a Javelin, if required, either through the access hole above the gearbox or by cutting through the plywood floorboard - question is the clearance for the bellhousing probably, but if you found a very squat engine and box it might be possible.

The natural solutoin to avoid cutting the inner wings is the Subaru engines - most other engines just won't go without either being incredibly narrow and fitting between the wings (perhaps a small straight four) or cutting the inner wings which is going to be difficult to do without a lot of reworking to keep the wings and front end straight and solid. Also the Subaru engines are about the same size and weight as an original one, so you don't lose a lot of the balance that the car has in original form.

All fixable with time and work, it has certainly been done before on other cars but worth thinking about before making the first cut or spending a lot of money.

If you want to build a woody then you'd be better with a Bradford or prewar frame I think, it would certainly be easier than modifying a Javelin. One of the strengths of the Javelin is the rigidity of the shell, so as soon as you start playing with that you can lose a lot of the handling. This probably is one of the reason (as well as the difficulty of getting it to look right) why the convertibles never really seemed to take off.

Jack.

[Forumadmin]

Floor change has been done already by at least two people. Not very well though. The column change is good and gives you space for three people.

[David Kemp]

On your Hotrod Javelin,You mentioned a Volvo diff, the early ones were Dana 27 or Dana 30 some with 10 spline axles others with over 20, I think 23. If you do use an early Volvo can you please check it's similarity to the Javelin, as Javelin is a salisbury3ha or Dana 23. Both the Dana 23 & 27 were also used by JEEP. Long winded but I would like to know if parts are interchangeable, especially as Volvo used a DANA limited slip, better for your V6.

[beachcomber]

On your Hotrod Javelin,You mentioned a Volvo diff, the early ones were Dana 27 or Dana 30 some with 10 spline axles others with over 20, I think 23. If you do use an early Volvo can you please check it's similarity to the Javelin, as Javelin is a salisbury3ha or Dana 23. Both the Dana 23 & 27 were also used by JEEP. Long winded but I would like to know if parts are interchangeable, especially as Volvo used a DANA limited slip, better for your V6.

David,

I'll certainly check for you if I go down that route.

I used a Volvo [ 240 ?? ] axle in a Standard 10 Hot Rod I built - that was LSD.

[David Kemp]

Thanks, have you any photo's of your standard ten, they are another neglected marque.

[beachcomber]

Thanks, have you any photo's of your standard ten, they are another neglected marque.

Regret ALL photos and videos were torched by my last ex !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alfa 2 ltr Twin Cam / 5 speeed, Black leather interior, Black over Burgundy paint with widened stock wheels [ also Burgundy ] with stainless hub caps ................ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Depending on the actual clearance at the wheel arch lip, Mazda MX5 suspension might find it's way into the mix.

[beachcomber]

I could really do with those inner wheelarch lip measurements if anyone has the time

The Mazda MX5 is looking good but it's 55.5" track, rear axle is 56" but is dead easy to shorten and comes in a convenient subframe.

I finally had to part with my faithful old Citroen XM Estate the other day for pennies [ scrap man ] criminal really as only 125K on the clock and everything working perfectly - but I DID manage to salvage my old TSW wheels, which might get a look in on the new project.

I collect the PVR V6 engine and box next week, and have also located a BW35 auto for the same engine - that's one option then ! The auto change should be fairly easy to hook up to the OEM column change. I'm not bothered about retaining the facility for 3 in the front - I probably won't ever be carrying more than + 1 passenger anyway. If the upholstery is borderline I'll probably opt for a set out of a late Rover 75 - leather with all electric / memory adjustment. They are for pennies these days.

[beachcomber]

I am sure there would be a way to run a floor change on a Javelin, if required, either through the access hole above the gearbox or by cutting through the plywood floorboard - question is the clearance for the bellhousing probably, but if you found a very squat engine and box it might be possible.

The natural solutoin to avoid cutting the inner wings is the Subaru engines - most other engines just won't go without either being incredibly narrow and fitting between the wings (perhaps a small straight four) or cutting the inner wings which is going to be difficult to do without a lot of reworking to keep the wings and front end straight and solid. Also the Subaru engines are about the same size and weight as an original one, so you don't lose a lot of the balance that the car has in original form.

All fixable with time and work, it has certainly been done before on other cars but worth thinking about before making the first cut or spending a lot of money.

If you want to build a woody then you'd be better with a Bradford or prewar frame I think, it would certainly be easier than modifying a Javelin. One of the strengths of the Javelin is the rigidity of the shell, so as soon as you start playing with that you can lose a lot of the handling. This probably is one of the reason (as well as the difficulty of getting it to look right) why the convertibles never really seemed to take off.

Jack.

Jack - cutting out inner wings has never been a problem for me [ see attached pic ] - and obviously replacing the structure with something as good as or better than the OEM - depending on application.

In this project I needed to handle 1200 + bhp with the 502 ci Ford with 3 stage Nitrous in my unsuspecting Reliant Scimitar.

However in this case [ Javelin ] if I go down that route, the inner wings will be removed sympathetically so they can be used for restoration purposes elsewhere.

I'm currently looking at the possibility of using a Mazda MX5 front suspension clip - maybe the rear too ?

[beachcomber]

Gentlemen,

it is with deep regret that I inform you all that I will not be proceeding with my Javelin project.

I have just learned that my Father has been diagnosed with cancer and any thoughts of hobbies, cars etc. has to be put on hold for the foreseeable.

That means that JCJ is now back on the market and I hope goes to a good home.

At some point in the future I'm certain a Javelin will become part of my life - maybe a stock [ well 'ish !! ] de-Luxe as a daily driver.

I will continue to dip into the Jowett Talk at some point in the future.

I have enjoyed my short stay and can honestly say that Jowett owners are enthusiasts first and foremost and in the main have tolerated my madcap ideas for their precious marque ! You are all temporarily safe. Adieu ................