Quote:
Originally Posted by acra
Sounds mad, right? 
The main thing is, I really want to build my own car, really like the looks of the 7 style cars, and power isn't an issue for me |
Not really an answer to using you preferred engine, but bearing what you said in mind, why not go down the original locost route and use the old crossflow. Building these cars is tried and tested.
If you want to build a Haynes roadster, you could always use a 1.6 pinto - just ask AshG just how much fun he has in his! Also, how available are the engines you want, and how much will a good one cost?
What worries me is that you are doing an apprenticeship and (no offence intended) you may be, at the moment, lacking the skills needed to make big changes to a tried and tested design and make them work successfully. Ive gone down that route to fit BMW engine and running gear, and have been building for 2 and a half years. If I had been more conventional and used more tried and tested engine, running gear combinations, I could have been enjoying my car all this summer instead of being in the garage still building it.
I don't mean to discourage you at all, in fact, I love the fact you want to be innovative, this is how these cars grow and evolve, but you need to weigh eveything up before you settle on how you want to proceed with your build.
Good luck.
Sam.