Alpine GTA powered T25

vw nerd · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: Alpine GTA powered T25

If you buy a T25 with no engine and box fitted, what do you do?

Well I chose not to do that, I chose something else!

Renault Alpine GTA power seemed to be the smart thing to do here.

The Renault Alpine has the same rear engine set up as the T25 with the engine hanging off the back end of the gear box.
So an Alpine engine and gearbox it was.
Coupled with the facts that this engine and gear box combination in the GTA is good for 150mph I had little choice other than to give it a go.

The plan was to use a turbo charged version of the engine to give me the best of both worlds. To have an engine that when off boost could deliver very good MPG from the torquey V6, while on demand release the full fury of the 2.5l turbos 200bhp.
All seemed to make sence, so I set to work!

First thing was to cut out the inner wings and bulkhead above the gear box, then trial fit the engine and box to see what else needed cutting away.

A little extra height needed, so out with the boot floor.

The new raised boot floor.

With the engine bay extended up into the van in this way, it proved to be a bit of a heat trap as hot air rises and there was no where for it to go. The only air movement was coming in was from low down on the left side through the usual opening to the rear vent. Air on the right side was only feeding the air filter which was boxed in behind the rear light.

After the end of that summer I decided to rebuild the engine bay area and allow cold air to enter at the top of the engine bay from the rear vents by creating ducts on both sides.
This set up has made a big difference, although I am tempted to change the set up again to get more air movement at the front of the engine bay near the turbo which is sat above the bell housing.

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illzlee · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

i take it this is the orange beastie that showed at vanfest? if so this is equally impressive in the flesh!
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vw nerd · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

This is indeed the same bus that was at van fest. I will find some more pictures of the finished bus and post them here soon! I'm glad you liked it!
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The need for speed continues.
Can't you make this thing go any faster!
Tim Shettle
Ultimate engineering
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Tel/txt 07810 320 464

Alex (FTS) · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

Very nice and a great idea. I had heard about the renault gearboxbeing an option but had never met anyone that has done it. I think that if I were to do it again I'd be tempted to go doen this route.

More picys PLEASE-brilliant conversion idea

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vw nerd · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

I'm currently working on fitting a golf 1Z TDI onto a Renault gearbox with T25 diesel bell housing. The un1 Renault gear box has very tall ratio's loaning itself very well to the low reving TDI engine. Also they are very strong (used in the Lotus esprit V8 version plus many V8 powered kit cars)
A very good boxa and a lot cheaper and stronger than the best VW transaxles. Well worth looking into.

_________________
More T3 Parts For Sale
The need for speed continues.
Can't you make this thing go any faster!
Tim Shettle
Ultimate engineering
Bristol
Tel/txt 07810 320 464

Alex (FTS) · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

very nice-what drive shafts do you use with the renault box? can you use van ones with sapcers or have you made addaptors up? cheers

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vw nerd · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

The Drive shaft flanges that are show in the picture above take std van cv joints but need a spacer of about 15mm from memory. They are available from a GT40 kit car building company.
Most issues I overcame when fitting Alpine engine and gearbox into my bus.

I'm working on the input shaft issues at the monent, but I know that it can be done with TDI set up.

Some pictures I found on the net.

_________________
More T3 Parts For Sale
The need for speed continues.
Can't you make this thing go any faster!
Tim Shettle
Ultimate engineering
Bristol
Tel/txt 07810 320 464

sven · Jedi Guardian Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 814

Me like!