thema 8v turbo engine

[tom]

hi i have a 82 beta coupe 2000ie and im considering fitting the thema turbo engine.

does anyone know if it will fit?

[rossocorsa]

interesting question no idea whether it will actually fit but it would certainly be a big job if it will, the first thing to remember would be that the thema engine has the inlet and outlet reversed...the exhaust is at the front and inlet at the back

[A1.6HPE]

Hello Tom,
I think that it may fit. Further to Rossacorsa's comment, the Beta engines sit leaning backwards so when the Beta transmission is put on the Thema engine it will cause the engine to sit at the same angle. I would be worried about oil drainage from the camshaft boxes. Using the Thema transmission would require a bit of fiddling with linkage, mountings, clutch release and driveshafts. Trying to rotate the Beta transmission would probably mean modifying the diveshafts. The frontal exhaust conncetion would be easy enough to fabricate but is there enough room for the turbo? Probably have to move the radiator forwards.
The Bosch wiring loom for the injection bits is a seperate thing so it is easy to wire up that, but the ignition wiring is integral to the car wiring so that aspect is not for the faint hearted.

Please try it though, many people want to know the feasability of this. The Beta transmission can probably happily take the power and torque btw.

Leo

[Hamish]

An interesting question - there is the space under the bonnet, but as Alan and Leo point out the practicalities of such an installation are probably beyond all but the most gifted home fabricator - there's a challenge :!:

I know of a VX coupe that's been turbocharged (the volumex blower has been removed and a home made system made up) but I've not heard of anyone trying the Thema transplant in a Beta.
I'm told that the Alfa V6 will fit into a Beta and I'm told such a thing exsists nearer Leo than me (Kinross) - but that is a whole different kettle of fish.

[KeppelmanJ]

We don't have you engine swap options on this side of the pond, lbut we manage. Some years ago a guy turned up at the West Coast Lancia reunion with a Beta Spyder/Zagato with a Pontiac V6 installed, called it a Lanciac, I believe. Heavy, of course, but fast, I'm sure. Same idea maybe as putting Chevys into Jags. Heart transplant. But why?

[PeterCoupe]

how about fitting Thema 832 in to the Coupe, how much fun would that be. Fit cams from GTO and there you gooooooooo... :D :D

[vxturbo]

Hi

I think that it is possible to fit a Thema turbo engine into the Beta. Well 50% done by someone I know in South Africa. What the guy did was to fit the Thema 8V bottom end to the Beta gearbox and then they used the old TC cylinderhead. This Beta Spider is now running a Thema 8V bottom end , with balancer shafts , on a Beta gearbox with a Beta head. This is abviously a NA engine.

My guess is that if one can make it work so far , then one can make a plan to fit a thema head as well.

If you need more detail on this transplant , contact Henning Kruger on krugerpta@xsinet.co.za

I have a VX with the turbo conversion instead of the roots blower and am currently busy with the rebuiding of a Thema 16V turbo for my Beta. The project still has a long way to go before I can give any comment on fitting this engine to the Beta.

[omicron]

Three factors come into play for projects such as this. These being:
1) money
2) time
3) enthusiasm

If you have surplus quantites of all three, at the same time, then fitting a Thema engine into a Beta shell should be achievable.

If you want a quick increase in power, then there are tried and tested methods which are easier to follow, with less potential headaches.

for example, sourcing and fitting a Beta Volumex engine, or by further tuning of the standard twin-cam engine, although the more power you try and achieve, the engine loses flexibility required for road use and becomes more at home on the track...

If you're really interested in a project, how about the 4WD system from an Integrale whilst you're at it!

[Vx gunmetal]

Interesting, I recently purchased a Lancia Dedra turbo as a day to day with the ultimate intention of using the engine in my Beta Vx (when I finally actually get round to completing the restoration ). I noted the difficulties, however my mechanic said it was a do-able job. Time and money being the deciding factor. I have further complicate the issue by insisting on the retention of the supercharger. Personally I do not want a turbo, the vx supercharger is a integral charismatic part of my beta.

I too (I sometimes have grand plans !) thought of a 4x4. There is still for sale somewhere a complete 4 wheel drive system from an integrale, someone elses abandoned project for £700. I had an initial look and thought no bloody chance ! The cost would be huge in time and fabrication, I easily got to £2k. Then I went and took my medication. :)

[omicron]

It may be easier to put the Beta Shell on a Thema/Dedra than the Dedra/Thema drivetrain in a Beta. :wink: