Decisions decisions

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by TalonMotorFabrication

Having seen builds started and never finished I would say get an engine that was intended to be RWD as standard and get the matching gearbox, it will be a much easier build from the start. The hardest part of building a Roadster is finishing it in the first place, build it with a NA engine with the IVA in mind and then either add a turbo to it or swap it for some thing else.

I hate to agree with TMF but, keep it simple. I went through a lot of engine options including the 1.8T but ultimately kept to a relatively simple build in the end using a 1.6 mx5 from my main donor. Believe me when I say the "devil is in the detail" and there is plenty of detail to be going on with without an exotic engine and gearbox combination to add to it.

Check out this thread, it hasn't moved in over a year and it looked like for all the world it was going to be finished by a very enthusiastic builder. I hope he gets back to it one day.

I'm not being negative but at some point you will feel like throwing the towel in, I think we all do at some point, don't give yourself added excuses by overcomplicating the build unless you've done stuff like this before successfully.

hth

edit: Oh and any engine made after 1995 will require an expensive IVA friendly CAT to pass the emissions test.