engine size?

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

[aerosam]

Originally Posted by Davey

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

D.

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

[twinturbo]

Originally Posted by aerosam

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

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...




TT