engine size?

[fluffy]

Whats the most powerful engine that could be fitted? with out making it imposable to drive

[deezee]

You could do with narrowing down the criteria. Is it for track use? Straight line speed? have to go through the IVA? What running gear is going to be used? Will the chassis be modified? What tyres are going on the car?

Looking at what other people have done, around 350bhp seems to be about the most you'd want going into this style of chassis. Do you have an engine and transmission in mind?

[fluffy]

It was just a thought, I've got access to a dvla recovery yard so just about anything might come my way

[Eternal]

Im doing a skyline engine roadster I plan to go to 350bhp. To be honest i dont think i will ever want more power. Had to upgrade to Granada running gear along with sierra front end. But in all honestly you can do pretty much anything you like. only engines i know that are a complete nightmares are Flat 4's and V12's heh

[fluffy]

did think about my spare v12 but its got an auto box and that would take up all the leg room

[deezee]

I've a kit car magazine kicking around. It has a MK Indy chassis with a 350bhp Huyabusa turbo engine in it, fits in without any chassis widening or lengthening. More importantly it weighs little in comparison to the likes of a big capacity car engine and gear box. I think this approach is in the spirit of the Lotus seven ethos, rather than dropping in a dirty yank V8 and slosh box.

[Eternal]

Hahah so true. I have to admit my roadster is not really in the spirit of things but then again i had the engine going spare so why not!
And i think thats the point really it just depends on what you have access to and how happy you are to work on it. Along with the cost of replacement parts ect.

[aerosam]

I've a kit car magazine kicking around. It has a MK Indy chassis with a 350bhp Huyabusa turbo engine in it, fits in without any chassis widening or lengthening. More importantly it weighs little in comparison to the likes of a big capacity car engine and gear box. I think this approach is in the spirit of the Lotus seven ethos, rather than dropping in a dirty yank V8 and slosh box.

Yeah, but how much does a 350bhp hayabusa engine cost?????

Much more bang for your buck from using a larger capacity engine with minimal tuning. It much more within the reach of the home builder rather than massively overtuning an engine at a cost of thousands, that will end up being unreliable due to it's extremely high state of tune. Not to mention that bike engine cars lack the driveability of car engined cars out on the road.

I agree that s small lightweight setup is more true to the Lotus Seven spirit, but then that depends on your approach to your own build. Are you building a Lotus Seven Replica, or are you building your own sportscar?

My 2 pence...

[twinturbo]

I am stoping my 2.9 12V build and switching to a 1.8 CVH puerly to get the car to the road. will then reconsider my options ... I don't want to mod the bonnet just now :rolleyes:

TT

[Davey]

Mine is having a 2.9 Cosworth V6 24V with ITBs, should be good for about 225BHP but more importantly it should have a smooth and fairly flat torque curve with lots available from low down the RPM range. Oldest saying in motor vehicle engineering is "torque turns wheels":D .

D.

[aerosam]

Oldest saying in motor vehicle engineering is "torque turns wheels":D .

D.

I thought it was "There's no replacement for displacement!" either one works though :D

[twinturbo]

I thought it was "There's no replacement for displacement!" either one works though :D

Tell that to the guys that built the old BMW M10 based F1 engine. That only displaced 1.5L but produced 1500HP!

Or the guys building the Qualifying engines for the Sierra RS500 GroupA. They Produced only ~650BHP from the 2L engine.


Realy, there's no replacement for ..... displacement, a well designed inlet and outlet, combustion chamber, forced induction, fuel control.

Just look at some of that big old american iron 5L engines producing sub 200BHP...


:D

TT

[aerosam]

true - but those were professionally prepared, to last just the one race. It goes back to my original post about power vs cost/reliablitly.

The Americans have never worried too much about getting massive power from displacement, they just shove superchargers on. They haven't so far had to worry that fuel costs lots of money. We went to Florida a few years ago and rented a Chrysler PT Cruiser with a 2.4 Turbo engine that produced a paltry 145bhp, and still only managed 22mpg. American engine design is just light years behind European and Japanese.

[twinturbo]

t power vs cost/reliablitly.

Yes, very true . 2.9 12V Ford engines don't go wrong. Make them into a 24V for an extra 50BHP and they sadly require careful checking and maintenance..

the DOHC 16V produces ~150BHP and is OK apart from head gaskets and other minor bits...

TT