Other possible (but more expensive) donor cars?
 

I've done a lot of driving this week but noticed quite a few cars which I thought could *possibly* be used as donors simply for their FR steering/transmission setup except the costs would be significantly higher.

I noticed a bmw 1 series which I know is the only "1" in it's class with rear wheel drive. Would the major components from one of these be useable albeit at a cost?

Also, mazda rx8's - are they rear wheel drive? would the rotary engine be unusually bigger?

Vauxhall omega too - I'm sure someone once told me they were rwd?

was just a thought :)

rx8 would be cool the engines are good but can not start if left for a long time

The one I've been looking at are the Omega, the BMW 3 series (E36) and the Mercedes 190.

All of them are significantly more difficult to use than the Sierra bits, Some bits are easy to accomodate (Diffs for example) but the multi link rear suspensions mean that it is difficult to incorporate the bearings/hub into a new wishbone system. It may be possible to cut the bearing carrier out and weld it to a similar upright to the Roadster or have a bearing carrier turned up on the lathe.

The fronts have different problems, the BMW has a very short upright which means that a new fabrication is required, the Omega has rearward facing steering arms. This means that the steering rack would be in the same place as the sump/crankcase in a Roadster. This might be solveable by swapping the uprights side-for-side.

I've not had a detailed look at the Merc bits but I believe that that too is a "rear steerer".

I don't know wether the RX8 is RWD or not.

Other possible rear axle donors are four-wheel-drive versions of front drive hatches or saloons. The Golf 4motion and the Peugeot 405 come to mind. There is a very rare 4x4 Mondeo too.

If we can get the parts It should be possible to use them but it won't be easy!

Cheers

Chris :)

interesting :) thanks for the replies so far everyone.

it's all confirmed that me and the missus are moving to york on may 1st so my first major project will be champion's off road buggy to see if I can hack it.

Funnily enough I've seen 2 lo-costs/roadsters today alone (one at the angel/toby carvery pub near morely, west yorkshire - and the other just down the road from my apartment in the warehouse unit district of cleckheaton). I'm guessing there was a meet today?

other donor
 

hey chris
what about the nissaan 200 sx
rn,t they meant to be flying machines
les g :eek:

Chris when you were looking at omega bits how does the gearbox look? I was wondering about the width and how they compare with an mt75.

It's about 30mm wider than the MT75 at it's widest point, I really need to get hold of one to check but I think it should fit into a MT75 modified Chassis.

I've no experience of the Nissan, as a general rule you can make anything RWD work, it's just a matter of the time/work/cash required.

Cheers

Chris:)

Caterhams would be a good donor, it's almost made for the job :D

Seriously though......

Our demonstrator is going to be Nissan powered, but only the N/A version, we're aiming for 200BHP.

Later Saab turbo units will fit on the Omega box without too much hassle.

Geert at AlphaX does a conversion kit to mount the Audi/VW 20v turbo unit to the ford box.

And don't forget the MX5 is plentyful now, bound to be a few in the brakers.

The Westfield MX5 SDV kit has been around for a year or so and is pretty popular. Using Mazda power has the advantage of access to all the aftermarket tuning products available, if thats your thing.

I guess, as with the old Escort, eventually the supply of Sierras will dry up so we'll always be looking for alternatives. I wonder what happens when the glue in an Elise chassis gives up?

What about the Lexus is 2XX series, not cheap, but rear wheel drive.



The Old Man :)

Rolls-Royce lol still rwd thouge

The Rx-8 is rwd and the rotary engine is physically tiny when you see one. At the end of the day it is only 1300 odd cc.

A few people have used the engine and drivetrain in a locost before, its just not that cheap. Similar costs to using honda S2000 donor parts, they surely make awesome locosts with the type R vtec engine.

If you want a Wankel on a budget, the RX-7 is an alternative.

As seen here http://www.centrinity.com/~ron/locost/Aug1999.html

for the psa engines it have a little problem what abot i have thinking, 3 way can be offered at me
first an 505 donnor car
second an youger engine like XU or TU whith an ford MT75 and an adaptator
third the same engine than in second whith an suzuki gearbox (some of there 4x4 have xd9 xud9t or hdi engine for non diesel engine it can be XU TU or EW.
i havent test all that bt i thinking its can be usable.

I think you're right jnjb, any of those options are possible.

Other things to consider are 4 wheel drive versions of standard salloons/hatchbacks, ones that come to mind are the VW Golf, Peugeot 405 and the rare Mondeo 4x4.

You could find a way to use the four wheel drive system, which would be interesting or just use the rear axle with a engine and RWD gearbox.

Cheers

Chris :)

Chris for the 405 same as 405 4x4 its look like hard the 4x4 version its an fwd whith rear wheel drive add but not change the engine orientation.
for have an car like bmw or mercedes whith rwd and you take an 505.
405 have an BE box if i have a good memory
there gearbox are on the left of engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_405

hello.
what yours opinion about s2000?

Honda S2000 must be one of the best engines, theres not many engines that can produce over 100 bhp per litre n/a. Doesn't the S2000 still hold the record for the most power from a mass produced 2ltr, and its 10 years old!

There still expensive though!!