Bristol's Chrysler Engines

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

If you want to know what Bristol can do to modify the Chrysler blocks, just have a look at the current fuel-injected models.

Markus, I think we might be at cross purposes - I was talking about what happened 40-30 years ago.

I assume the current engines are just bought in from Chrysler in whatever state of tune is required.

[Markus Berzborn]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

I assume the current engines are just bought in from Chrysler in whatever state of tune is required.

I can't imagine.
Bristol offer upgrades and conversions for all kinds of older models.
This would mean they dismount the engine from your car, and then the engine is sent to Chrysler and back again?
This really does not sound very realistic to me.

Regards,
Markus

[RGSchmitt]

"I can't imagine Bristol offer upgrades and conversions for all
kinds of older models.
This would mean they dismount the engine from your car, and then the
engine is sent to Chrysler and back again?
This really does not sound very realistic to me."

Markus -

I don't think sending the engine to Chrysler is necessary or
feasible. They are relatively simple engines to rebuild or improve,
with many sources of replacement and performance parts (or entire
"crate" engines) from Mopar and others - all the HP you could want
for $7,000 - $9,000, complete, much less for a rebuild. Search the
web for "Mopar crate engines".

I met a Viper engine specialist here who moved back home to Bristol
about 15 months ago. Not sure where he's working now, but I'd bet he
could be turning out stunning engines as a sideline if there's a market.

Bob

[Markus Berzborn]

Originally Posted by RGSchmitt

I don't think sending the engine to Chrysler is necessary or
feasible. They are relatively simple engines to rebuild or improve ,
with many sources of replacement and performance parts

This is precisely what I wanted to say.

But you did not get my quote correct. I wrote: I can't imagine. Period. And then: Bristol offer...

Regards,
Markus

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

I can't imagine. Bristol offer upgrades and conversions for all kinds of older models.
This would mean they dismount the engine from your car, and then the engine is sent to Chrysler and back again?
This really does not sound very realistic to me.

Regards,
Markus

Oops, perhaps I should have looked at their web site before making some of my recent comments! The home page hasn't changed noticeably in years (true to form) and I didn't realise there was now that great long list of mods and upgrades that they offer.

I wasn't suggesting that they sent engines back to Chrysler. I was going to say that the "upgrades" probably mean changing to the current Blenheim engine and that they probably don't offer upgrades to old engines, BUT, looking at the list of options I see they now offer the following modifications;

High Efficiency Engine Conversion (Sanction 1)
High Output Engine Conversion (Sanction 2)
Competion Engine Conversion ( Sanction 3)
Enlarged Capacity Engines

It seems that Bristol have a new lease of life!

Having had my own 411 engine extensively modified I'd love to know what mods they offer. I wonder if they offer fuel injection of old engines and if so how they are doing it.

Regards,
Kevin

PS. Someone should let them know that Competion isn't a real word

[Richard Levine]

Forgive me interrupting, but would it be imprudent to suggest that one of
you ring Toby Silverton at the Kensington showroom and ask him about the
Chrysler engine modifications performed by Bristol cars Ltd? I have always
found him and his staff to be very friendly and helpful, in stark contrast
to the "old regime".


Regards

Richard

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Richard Levine

Forgive me interrupting, but would it be imprudent to suggest that one of you ring Toby Silverton at the Kensington showroom and ask him about the Chrysler engine modifications performed by Bristol cars Ltd? I have always found him and his staff to be very friendly and helpful, in stark contrast to the "old regime".

Regards
Richard

It's good to know things have changed. Last time I rang up the showroom the chap I spoke to wasn't very helpful at all, but then I was asking probing questions about the Brigand as I was thinking about buying one. He did take my details and said he would contact me if one came up. The following day my representative at a London auction was outbid by Bristol on a Brigand. Despite the fact they had just acquired a Brigand I never heard from the chap at Bristol but I suppose they might have already had a buyer lined up.

Last time I was actually in the showroom, with a few fellow BEEFers who had just had lunch in the West End, I don't think the Bristol staff showed any interest in us at all. But then it was probably obvious that we were just a bunch of "enthusiasts". Toby Silverton wasn't there, although I think he was with Bristol by then.

I feel it would be a bit disingenuous if I rang up now and started asking about the available engine mods, given that my own engine is already rebuilt. But if someone is actually intending to spend some money with them it would be interesting to hear what options are available, and at what cost, although I guess that would depend upon the condition of your original engine. In particular I would be interested in V8 "Sanctions 1&2" (sounds reminiscent of Aston Martin DB4 Zagato).

My personal view is that unless your own V8 engine is in very good condition, it would make more sense to replace it with a modern Chrysler engine. If I had my time again that's what I would do, rather than rebuild and modify an old one. The only thing we ended up using from mine was the block! (although it would have been a different story if I'd had an earlier 411 with a pre smog 383 engine).

[legavroche]

Kevin

Would you please expand on the last point you made about the 383 engines, I take it that if you owned one of these you would have considered rebuilding it rather that replacing it with a more modern unit. I have a 411 /S1 with the 383.

Gavin

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by legavroche

Kevin

Would you please expand on the last point you made about the 383 engines, I take it that if you owned one of these you would have considered rebuilding it rather that replacing it with a more modern unit. I have a 411 /S1 with the 383.

Gavin

Gavin,

I suppose it also depends on what you want to do with it. If you intend to do a basic rebuild/recondition without any improvement (increase in performance) then it wouldn't make much difference. But if you did want to do some tuning then it is more worthwhile on a pre 1971 383.

The main issue is the cylinder heads. The 400 CID engines used by Bristol have a head designed to lower the compression ratio and comply with the pollution controls introduced in the US in the early 1970s. They have a different intake port design so they don't flow anywhere near as well as the early 383 heads, so there's not much point in increasing the valve sizes and doing any porting.

You can of course buy aftermarket heads for the 400 CID engine, but they're not cheap!

I now have a pair of early 383 heads on my 400 CID engine (with larger valves and mild porting). The casting number of the pre smog 383 heads is 2843906, (sometimes referred to as '906 core' heads).

The other benefit of a pre 1971 383 is it will have a forged steel crank shaft, whereas the 400 CID engine has an inferior (cheaper) cast iron crank. This is less of an issue than the heads, although I don't how much you can do with the cast iron crank in terms of welding, machining and polishing.

I was persuaded to "stroke" my engine, so we put a 440 forged steel crank in it, which was "worked" a fair bit to streamline the counterweights.

That said, if you want multi point fuel injection and sophisticated engine management, then it's probably cheaper and certainly a lot less hassle to simply buy a modern replacement engine, regardless of whether you have a 383 or a 400 engine.