best engine to use ???

[mike_hunt]

hi people,
Nice forum you got here. Im new and just at the planning stage of designing my first ever kit car. I have the book and it looks kinda easy ish. Or shoud i say it gives loads of information to make it seem easy so well done to chris, and my girlfriend now hates you as she now knows ill spend all my free time in the garage lol.

Anyways ive got a question.
What is the best engine to use ... I dont want to go above 1.8, but would love a 1.6 to start with. Then upgrade at a later date to a 2.0l.

Any help you can provide will greatly welcome. Thanks in advance
Mike

[fabbyglass]

Whatever comes free with the sierra is the best bet or go nuts and whack an R1 or something similar for a right old giggle of a drive.;)

[HandyAndy]

there seems to be two threads of the same title :confused: :)

andy

[mike_hunt]

LOL sorry about the double post. that will teach me to use my mobile in work to create a post ... looks like it some how messed up. Is there any chance one of the mods can delete the other post. I am sorry.

So what are the price range for a pinto 1.6 engine andthe zetec 1.8 if anyone has the figure that is to hand that is. I will check later i just want a ball park type figure.

Sounds like andy might be a good friend to make then if you doing something that i might be doing.

Thanks for the help so far

[HandyAndy]

Sounds like andy might be a good friend to make then if you doing something that i might be doing.

Thanks for the help so far

;) Spud69 has already done the same route & is on the road .

andy:)

[les g]

nah just go for a zetec1.8 out of an escort
alreadygot the light flywheel and the shallow sump
pre august 1995 to avoid a cat
set of bike carbs and a megajolt and you will laughing
cheers les g

if you can get a sierra with a pinto or cvh inthat would be the quickest cheapest build
and as for a small engine
everybody seems to plan upgrades as soon as they have done 150 miles

[fabbyglass]

Best engine to use is one that annoys the neighbours...massive stroker with mega loud spannies would be ideal.:D

[slimtater]

Bike engine!


With one of Tilly's clever reverse solutions.

[Spikehaus]

From personal experience, don't use a Ford V6 as it opens a whole loada problems you would never even of though off! It's do-able, but it may require redesigning a lot! The £130 XR4x4 seemed liked a great purchase, now I am paying for it!

It will work, I determined, just give me a little more time!

[mike_hunt]

I was looking into a BEC but i dont know ... Not sure about the reverse gear thing. Just want to build something i can use day to day ish ... not for pure acceleration but i would like to do one dont get me wrong.

Im looking for something with a little power and find out my driving style then upgrade to more power. Plus as my first time doing anything like this it's going to be fun. I have friends around me to help out with things, but cash is kinda strapped for now. So something i can build and drive around and not to exspensive to begin with and upgrade later is what i'm after.

[HandyAndy]

cash is kinda strapped for now. So something i can build and drive around and not to exspensive to begin with and upgrade later is what i'm after.

you sound so similar to me :D

but seriously ............ that is what my ethos of my build is based on too.

enjoy your build :)

andy

[Tilly819]

Bike engine, dont worry about reverse thats easy iv spent a couple of months thinking about that one and solved it for just over 100 quid (il have to put some pics up at some point but i think there is a pick of the mk sports cars one on locostbuilders somewere. basicly the same but smaller, lighter, cheeper and no need to put a hole in the floor.. also cheep to insure
Im building mine with a honda CBR1100 XX2 blackbird engine 165Hp and at age 21 best quote iv had fully comp limited millage 1500 miles is 360 quid and no need to upgrade the engine later just slightly more expencive in the begining but saving yourself alot off hassle in the future

hope this helps
Tilly

ps thanks for the compliment slim ;)

[flyerncle]

Turbo Diesel ! No cat.

[Tilly819]

Turbo Diesel ! No cat.

and your own personal peice of global warming following you down the road....i like it :D

[mike_hunt]

Hi Tilly thanks for the info that was one of the only things that was bothering me .. well the other one was a friend who says that every 15,000 miles ill have to replace the engine. So decided to go with the car engine.

So how much has it cost you so far to get the bec on the road ? or how much you looking at spending ?

[Tilly819]

hi there its cost me about 5K so far but im almost there but i havnt done it poticualy lo-cost i have used alot of new parts, in responce to your consern about a new engine after 15K miles 1 at 1500 miles a year thats 10 years of smiles, and 2 you will find that the gear box will go before the engine so if you do go for a bike stick to 1000 cc or more since the gear boxes are much stronger. that was one of the things that made me choose the bird, it has a very strong gear box also i got one at a fairly good price, give malk at yorkshire engines a call he will sort you out, also good services, oil changes etc will keep the engine in good order as for reverse it gave me no end of sleepless nights but now iv sused it its soooo easy.

hope this helps
tilly

[flyerncle]

Think about it Tilly,no ignition,no cat,keep the smoke down and Bob is ones uncle.
Then fit something crazy after IVA,it is the master plan !!!!!!:D

[mr henderson]

I agree with those who recommend the use of whatever engine comes with the donor. If you haven't already got a donor, make sure you get something that is drivable, then drive it for a while and check out all the running gear.

After the build, drive the car and enjoy it. When you find it simply hasn't got enough power then upgrade it, makes a good winter project, plus you will have a much better idea of what you want by then

I would suggest getting a ride in a bike engined car before you decide to go that route.

[chriseyj]

How have you solved your reverse Tilly I have been scratching my head over it. I think of some cheap and simple solutions using a starter and flywheel, space permitting.
Also did you see my post about being offered a Kawasaki GPZ1000rx still undecided whether its suitable or not, 125bhp is still more than my old mx5 and the car should weigh half the mazda.

Cheers Chris

[HandyAndy]

How have you solved your reverse Tilly I have been scratching my head over it. I think of some cheap and simple solutions using a starter and flywheel, space permitting.
Also did you see my post about being offered a Kawasaki GPZ1000rx still undecided whether its suitable or not, 125bhp is still more than my old mx5 and the car should weigh half the mazda.

Cheers Chris

Chriseyj...

depending on where you are located i would suggest you think about the FZR1000 bike that fabby mentioned, more chance it,ll be easier in the long run as its a known runner for i think it was the same price as the one you,ve been offered.
sorry if i should keep my nose out but the Fzr motor is a nice engine ;)

cheers
andy
Ps ( ex bike racer ;) )

[chriseyj]

Hi Andy your not sticking your nose in at all, infact I could use some advice cant decide what to do and I think the guy needs an answer.:confused: I also don't know much about bikes so any advice from a biker is great. Where is fabby located? I am near Derby. Trouble is I can't ride a bike so I haven't got a clue how I'd get one home.:confused:
I dreamt about bike engnes last night.:(

[HandyAndy]

Fabby is way down in Devon so that may influence your choice.
the Fzr bike is a nice bike with a very strong motor, i,ve raced a few, the bike you have been offered is ok, but if i remember your original post the bike isn,t a runner at the mo????

maybe suggest to the owner that if you or him can get it running then it may be worth it for you, its not a bad engine but worries me its not running at the mo.
the kwack engine isn,t as free revving as the Fzr but has good torque so in a car it might still be a good choice.

has he said £300 for it? if so offer £200 as a non runner (subject to why its not running etc) or £300 for it if he gets it running.

sorry i know that doesn,t help much but thats what i would do, ;) :)

cheers
andy

ps.. its ok, i dream of my bike racing days too, smiles

[Tilly819]

hi chris

in reply to your question reverse is a very simple arangment using a gear mounted on the diff input flange and a starter moter mounted on the bracket in the transmision tunnel

as for the bike you were offered i cannot say i now that model perticualy well so am unable to offer an educated oppinion other than i went out in slims roadster a wile back with about 125hp and it goes like stink

I see you are neer derby, nyself i am neer melton mowbray leicestershire not to far away really you are more than welcome to pop over and see my bird engined roadster (not on the road yet but not far off) so you can see how you overcome some the the problems of fitting a bike engine, its very simple, in some aspects more simple than fitting a car engine belive it or not, though it does have its tricky bits

hope this helps
the offer is there is you want to come take a look

chears tilly:)

[Blade]

Bang a tuned fireblade motor in it (i'm biased).

Tilly , i had a reverse setup like that in my first bike engined rally car and it worked well till it stuck on , managed to reverse out of a ditch after a spin and went backwards into the ditch on the other side of the track :eek: it was embarrassing :o and funny :D at the same time, but up to that point it worked well, i'm using a quaife reverse box in my build

[HandyAndy]

Dave.(Blade)

thats funny :D :D can just picture the scene & imagine your words :eek: :D

andy

[chriseyj]

Thanks Tilly I thought thats how you would do it. I have heard that the clearance isn't great on the diff input flange, would guess you'd need quite a small gear. I actually live in swadlincote but come from Tamworth and I know where you live, I am actually not that far i will have to arrange to come over and have a nose some time.

As for the Kawasaki 1000rx, the guy is a really nice guy and I believe him that it did run before it sat hibernating in his shed, runs in 2 cylinders, it turned over fine and has only 24000 miles on it. Was working a treat until he slid it in 96. He said £100 at first then changed his mind when I went to look at it, he realised I basically need most of the parts to get it to run.

My mate sugessted I offer less, I think the guy was expecting me to haggle because he said £300 and then there was a pause. But I'm terrible at bartering so just went "Umm, I'll have to think about it".

I'm going on holiday to Cornwall on Friday so I am down that way, but I don't think that Yamaha will fit in the wifes 1 series.

Cheers Chris