Olds Quad 4 performance/ dress up

Hi. Just dragged home another T roadster and thinking on engine options for this one. Would like to go with something a little different for this one, especially with $5/gallon gas. I've heard that the Olds Quad 4 can be dressed up into looking more like an old school engine than a modern 4 banger. Does anyone have pictures of this engine dressed up? Can anyone give me any leads on websites/suppliers of performance and dress up parts for these engines. The names of any Quad 4 books would be great too. Thanks in advance for the help!
Nathan

 

Please do some homework before asking questions, a google search of "Quad-4 engines" will turn up lots of information.

 

http://quad4rods.com/

 

Thanks (F.A.W) Iv been looking for something like that.


39, Why do F tard's like you feel you need to be here.

 

Here are a couple shots of one.....

 

Just a thought, the Quad 4 is expensive to convert to a rear wheel drive configuration. Then you have the ignition, and fuel delivery problems to think about, as in carbs, or electronic fuel injection. I too was thinking about running a Quad 4, I even bought a running Grand Am for the engine. The car ran so good I drove it for a year, then sold it for a profit. I've heard they like to go through head gaskets though. I'm running a 2000cc Pinto in my T roadster. If I was going to build another one, I would look at 2300cc Ford Rangers. You could use the rear end, drive shaft, 5spd ******, and the engine in your car. Lots of hopup stuff is available for them too. Dean

 

Thanks F.A.W. good advice. The ford sounds like the easiest way to go for sure!

 

Hey junkcollector, where in Canada are you from???

 

was this hard to get to north and south? and how did you work around the wiring issues? im thinking about going this route on my next build.

 

Lostn51,

I think that one belongs to the owner of Quad4rods- don't remember his name, but he's a heck of a nice guys and very happy to help with tech, etc.

Junkcollector82,

I'll try to post some pics of a great T roadster with a Quad4. Yes the bellhousing is about $50, but I think there may be another avenue to go with that (adapting a formed steel bellhousing). Also, you want a 2.4l (much better than a 2.3l).

If anyone DOES have any book ***les on the Quad4, please share!

 

Sorry, Quad4rods bellhousings are $450 (not $50)!!!

 

I've heard of Alfa Romeo engines used as well. Looks similar to the offy / quad4 engines. RWD and you could probably pick one up for a reasonable price. Don't know anything about their reliability, though. Anybody here used one?

 

Alfa engines have the reputation for being tough and dependable.

 

Any pics of the Alfa?

 

Alfa’s actually run very good.
I had to work on one for a boss’s wife. (Motors are good the car is ****)
Oddly the old bags Alfa is the only car iv ever driven that would not shift without the clutch.

This little lakes mod. thing runs one.

 

Okay... any pics of an Alfa ENGINE???

 

Here's an Alfa engine for sale on weebay right now.

 

Wow, looks similar to an Offy, VERY cool.

 

I thought also that the Alfa heads had hemi chambers. Can anyone confirm?

 

Brizio built this car. I can't remember the guys name that owns it, but he has a Scott blown flathead powered 32 three window surviver also.

 

thats a good looking motor!

 

Here are some pics of my Ford Zetec, 2 liter, 2 cam, 4 valve motor from a 2000 ****** ZX2 with 20,000 miles. I paid $750 for it and it was a standard shift so I got an adaptor from Quad 4 in Denver, $424 and a T Bird T5 for $350. I did the headers and the Fuel injection is Hilborn. My car weights about 1400 lbs so it is pretty quick.
Rex

 

bttt..

A family member bought a new grand am Quad 4 in 96. Just sold it 6 months ago with 120k miles. I did all the service since new; One alternator and one water pump...nothing else! Other friends bought the late 80s ones new, and had head probs...but not the newer ones.

God, that is great motor with SUPER good power and unbelievable gas mileage, but crammed in a grand am, it was miserable to do the water pump. I always said it would be so easy to work on that motor IF it was in a rod.

With all the builders here, I hope someone has found a way to get it rear drive without pricey parts.

 

Thanks for the Alfa engine pics!

Rex, I like the Zetec, but for my project (T speedster with a Frontenac style DOHC), I needed an engine with p***enger side exhaust, so I picked up the Quad4. Now I see that the newer Ford Focus engines have the exhaust where I want it... oh well!

- here are the Quad4 pics I promised

 

Mac,
Car looks great, have any more pics? My Son is interested in doing something similar to that.

 

WOW Mac.. that is PERFECT.. ive had a similar image built in my head since i was little...and you built it..bad ***! Did you build that frame?

What about the body, gl*** or steel?

 

No, I didn't build it (wish I DID)...

Someone posted them on one of the other "Alternate 4 Cyl/Quad4/blah, blah, blah" threads- I will try to post some of the other pics I have tomorrow.

 

Yep-it's a true hemispherical head....

Lots of other neat features, too...
*all factory crankshafts nitrided
*"wet-liners" mean cylinder wear is not an issue
*10.4:1 pistons available reasonably priced
*several cam profiles available from various sources
*older engines come with dual side-draft Webers, newer ones can be converted
*all-aluminum engine-head, block, the works....tend to be a bit "leaky"-modern sealers should make them less prone to oozing oil, though
*light-weight engine with about 120 hp stock, can be built to quite a bit more

I haven't seen one in a rod, but it would be great in a lightweight vehicle, torquey, good transmission (avoid speed-shifting to prevent synchro failures, though)

 

An option for getting the Quad4 in the north/south direction is a later model Colorado or trailblazer trans that is mated to the in-line 5-cylinder. Supposed to be the same bellhousing pattern. At least that was what I was told.