Engine change.
 

Ever since getting interested in kit cars, I've always liked the idea of building a bike engined car. I just enjoy working on bike engines, and I love the way the power is delivered and the fact that the car ends up weighing about 100 kgs less.
Anyway, I almost decided to give up the idea of fitting one when I worked out last week it was going to add nearly 2 grand to my build cost.
Luckily i didn't give up so easily, and saw an ad on locostbuilders for an R1 engine, 10k on clock complete with engine cradle, prop adapter, gear linkage, loom, fuel pump, bike clocks with gizmo to convert them to different sized wheels (speedo healer), baffled sump, converted airbox, exhaust headers and a partridge in a pear tree for £750. Couldn't afford to give him that much, especially considering it was in devon and would cost 70 quid to have it delivered. Surprisingly he accepted an offer of £600, and so I'm now almost the proud owner of said engine. I say almost cos it's on it's way to me on a pallet as we speak. I'll post some pics as soon as I've got it unwrapped and sorted.
I'm hoping to have the car on the road with a weight of around 450 kgs and with the R1 motor kicking out 160bhp, should give me a rather impressive 355 bhp/ton. :D If I can get the weight down to 400 kgs, it'll give 400 bhp/ton.
Looking forward to really getting started with my build now, can't wait.
I've already agreed to sell some of my surplus bits and pieces, but there should be some stuff left over, so will advertise on here before succumbing to ebay.

Alan

Thats a dam fine bargain there Alan, should be an awesome machine.

BTW we've got our first visit on Wednesday to get everything underway.....:D Had to phone them first though to give them a poke.


Andrew

Get used to poking Andrew, it'll become like a full time job ;) you'll soon have a mohammed and mountain attitude.
Good luck
by the way, any idea what a full bodywork set weighs (roughly)

About 20kg Alan

bloody hell thats a good buy. I got a full bike ( cbr1100xx) for 900 quid plus some tree work. However said treework has now turned into a week off work on holiday and im going to have to work saturday and sunday to get it finished:mad:

Still, i couldnt give the bike back and ask for a refund as id already stripped it before seeing the job, and putting things back together again aint my strongest skill:p, i can just imagine the look on his face when i returned the bike in several cardboard boxes!

Shh20m I can see the look on his face as his pride and joy comes back in half a dozen boxes :eek:
Engine arrived tonight just as I was about to come out to work, so never got chance to even look at it :(
Guess where I'll be tomorrow after my kip

What are you doing about reverse gear?

Oh dear, the dreaded reverse gear. I'm going to have a look in the boxes of stuff that came with the engine and see what's in there before buying anything. There was no mention of anything to do with reverse, but you never know.
Chances are I'll need to sort it, so will be posting for help on here and locostbuilders for help. There's a couple of guys on LB who've made their own using a VAG starter motor and a large cog. Cog has to be machined to be balanced correctly and it sits between diff flange and driveshaft flange. Seems the way to go, but need to see someone's up close to get it right.
If you're doing the same we might be able to get a deal on 2 cogs. could be cheaper than 1 with a bit of luck.
Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Been done on here too Alan,you can get a prop made local too on TVTE friend of mine.
One of the kit car makers does them but as far as I remember from the post not to keen to sell them seperate.

You will have fun with that! I build a Sylva riot with an R1 engine and its so powerful its frightning. There are several options on reverse gears I think MK do one and there was a review in Complete kit car last year, if you need more detail ask and i will dig it out

rob