For once I need a small engine...any ideas?

After trying to find things to cram huge MEL's into, I'm finally ready to go small. I need something that doesn't take up much space. Even the sbc is too big for this thing. I'm thinking of hot VW engines, Turbo Corvair motors, maybe a Buick 215, or even some kind of hot Crosley motor. I can mount the engine in front or in back. Anything else that might fit the bill and have performance parts available (even if scarce like the 215)? Anything I'm not thinking of that would be a good choice? I also want a four speed with it of course.

 

and "it" is?

 

sbc

 

8 more

 

what kind of power are you looking for? do you want to go fuel injected? what's this going in? i've been into VW's for years so i may have some answers if i can see where your going with this.

 

It's basically this. Mines a 1960 Fiat Bianchina but it looks almost identical. I can go this route but since there already is one like this, I'm hesitant. I've got a straight axle, ladder bars, a small block chevy, four speed, etc... but I actually like it down low, I like the dash, and I'm worried about fitting in the damn thing with the top up if I set the engine back through the firewall like I originally planned. I'm 6'1 and 250 and the car is exactly 10 feet long and 52 inches wide. The wheelbase is 74 inches right now which also concerns me for the driveshaft length.

I also have a mustang II front end and a chrysler 8 3/4 inch I can narrow if I go the low route. I got my fatlucky seats this week too. I finally got the 13x4 Mickey Thompson Rader front runners and whitewalls and am still looking for the 14 or 15 rears for whitewall slicks.

 

One word - ****el

Rich

 

is that a rotary reference or are you calling me a *****?


Obviously, I do dig the cartoonish look of the V8 and I do have a sweet mickey thompson sbc to keep the M/T wheel theme. I need help. I have to make a decision right now though or I won't be able to move on the ch***is and get this thing done.

 

damn, that's what i was gonna say when i saw the pics.

how about i do you one better, TURBO ****er!

 

I like the small car, the small Raders, the whitewalls, fatluckys bad*** interior and the car is going to be lime green metalflake with a black soft top in the center (it's got hardtop doors but the whole center of the roof is retractable cloth). This is why the small engine would be cool to keep it on the ground, wheels tucked under it with the rears out a bit. It's already got big 14's out back and radiused quarters but sits low.

 

How about three 65 491cc ****els stacked up with 3 turbos and an intercooler the size of an ice box? Put that in about anything, add noise, chill and stir.

 

Flathead.

 

Well, my Datsun is 12'9" and I am running a small Datsun motor. But since you are bigger than me in a small car, there are smaller more powerful engines. Aftermarket Harley style to be exact. I know they have been used in cars, and there is currently a shrunken duece roadster available with motorcycle power.

 

Hell Yeah!!!!

Im rolling

 

Mid engine?

Hayabusa, or maybe Alfa 164 ( if you want to keep it Italian ).
It has good Front Suspension, easy to swap Discs onto, get some Koni's...

 

Its a ford, with cosworth head, i want to say the owner called it a "Cosworth F1" head, its injected, so that might be a drag as far as period type stuff goes, but the little ******* is good for 10,000rpm and 290hp, not bad for a N/A four banger.

 

cool

 

why not 2.1 liter ford 4 banger

 

Aftermarket Harley style to be exact. I know they have been used in cars, and there is currently a shrunken duece roadster available with motorcycle power.[/quote]

Two big-inch harley motors mounted sideways, cam cover to drive pulley, would make a killer V-4. Causes problems with how to transfer power to trans though, in some old drawing a guy used a Moto Guzzi trans to mount the motor sideways like that.

 

How about a 2110cc VW motor mounted in front, hooked to an S10 5spd, running back to the rear wheels? Different and cool. Or a Harley V twin done the same way. Dean

 

Since length seems to be the problem, go V6. Take 2 extra cylinders when you can get them. I like the VW as it is narrow, only 15* between banks. And you get to adapt a regular ******. 74" WB will keep you off most sanctioned tracks, though, 90" minimum.

 

Jaguar 6 or Lancia 6 engine?

Would be cool in an italian car to run an italian hot 6... with a couple of webers..

 

With a 2.3 Ford you can go many different directions, carb'd, turbocharged, FI, as radical or low buck as you want it, there are plenty of T5 trannies laying around in every city it seems, etc. Or maybe a 60 degree GM 6 cylinder(3800 series, but shares nothing with the older 90* 3.8/231 found in turbo Regals), such as what's found in the newer FWD Grand Prix and whatnot? It would keep it "skinnier", and It's mounted sideway in those, but I'm pretty sure there's a company out there that makes adaptors to mount a ****** up to it traditionally, AND it might look pretty sweet with that Eaton poppin' through the hood a little. (if you were to go with the Supercharged 3800 found in the GTP/Regal GS/etc) Oh well, lots of choices....how much you wanna spend? And be careful with that smaller wheelbase, I think the NHRA has new rules, or maybe they are just older rules that are actually enforced now, that limit your speeds/Et's if your car is less than 90 inches in wheelbase. It would **** to slap it together and not be able to run all out, or not be able to run it at all!

 

http://www.peregrineengines.com/home.html

 

ya there is a big following for the gtp stuff
(i designed an intercooler for under the supercharger)( and made big hp)
also th 2.3 ford syuff is pretty serious
pushing fox bodies into the 9's
i have info on the 2.3s like you have on the mel
let me know
tom

 

Small? I dont get it, do motors come in anythin other than V-8??
Nuk nuk!!

 

alfaromeo overhead 6 mmm

 

Thanks. I'm not too concerned with being able to run this on the track. I don't get out much these days anyway. I want something I can run the piss out of on the street. I'd like to keep it fairly traditional if I can but hadn't even thought about the 2.3 Ford. I want to avoid any computers are electronic nightmares too. Am I thinking correctly that the 2.3 is what is run in Formula Fords? This car weighs about 1100 pounds with it's current configuration.

 

How about a Chevy II I4? That could even be a "period" modification since they came out in '62. If you're serious about motorcycle engines, older across-the-frame 3- and 4-cylinder Japanese bikes can be picked up dirt cheap and some of them are even shaft drive.

 

Opel GT or Opel kadett- rally. 1967 to 1974. The small 1200cc had twin carbs and a 4 speed.Even came as an automatic.As an automatic they were pretty good too. Maybe you could even use the front and rear end as well. For big wheels out back you could use something from an early BMW 2002 series. (Built in the 70s.) Same bolt pattern. I,m sure you know that the Opel was marketed as the small Buick in the USA & Canada.