Current 4-BANGER Projects- lets see them

Racer5C,
Most of the HAMB'rs think 5 grand for a complete EFI is too expensive!!Now you want Esslinger blocks with dry sumps!! The purpose of this deal is showoff our new computer and develop a relatively cheap (no such thing as cheap) street package. The plan is to make the components available. We do not want to be engine builders. We do EFI and blowers.
Gemini EFI

 

Fanbelt,
Did you know you can put an LTl aluminum head on your motor ?? We considered the Chevy ll before we settled on the 2.3
Gemini EFI

 

Powerwagon Maniac... love your cars... looking good.. can't wait to see the body construction... although I must question the rack-n-pinion? steering? I kinda get lost in the rubber boots... but love the engine and warford set-up... Nice to see you go a bit more traditional than the Gemini EFI haha


ohh and what for wheels are you using?

 

Thats bad ass!

 

Retro 54,

The wheels are Houck #4 knockoffs. most commonly used on board track racers in the day.

The rack and pinion steering is for safety reasons kinda like the the disc brakes . Somehow the rack will be covered so you won't be able to see it, that is the plan any way.

The red engine car isn't mine that would be my buddy Clayton's Model T sports roadster. This speedster is his first build.

Chris Becker

 

I'm building a 181 Mercruiser 4 banger. Sure would like to know the details of that head swap.

Bob

 

a few midget racers run a v/8 head on a chevy2 block but after the machine work is done you might be better off getting a KRS block that is set up for it.

 

Chris..what hes asking, I think ,is "are you aware that you will have to have a sliding link in the middle of the steering shaft to accomodate the axle going up and down. "
On my roadster I have morris rack and pinion, but it's a push pull set up as first invented by Renualt in the 1890's. If you like I can send a pic of it including design rules to ensure zero bump steer.
Another option was 1970's Renualt or Citroen racks which feed from one side only.

 

Gemini EFI,
You should Holset that sucker while your doing the head. Best upgrade to my 2.3. It uses an Hy-35 from a cummings and a powerstroke intercooler. She pounds 302's into the dirt and gets sweet gas mileage.I would like to chop a V-head when I find a good GTAW welder.

-my current 4 banger porject is still being planned. Would like to convert my 87' turbo coupe into a T-bucket roadster using as many parts from the t-bird as possible. I'll be taking picks of the tear down when parts arriving.

Jason

 

bobscogin,
Chevrolet Inline Six Cylinder Power Manual by Leo Santucci.
The Hybrid Cylinder Head -A Step Beyond pg. 103
four cylinder will except the whole head , still need to redrill block etc. an LT l head is worth an addittional 100 hp on a blown four . we passed on this set up because the availbility on the blocks.Machining is not all that $$$. It's a matter of what you want to do. EVERY BODY HAS A BELLY BUTTON!
Gemini EFI

 

Black*Eye*Bandit,
Our project will use a Rootes style blower. Most street guys don't care too much for turbo's. Also the Rootes will give a lot more torque. and throttle response. And that'd what street cars all about, spell that FUN. If i were building a balls out race car I would damn sure use a turbo! We too, plan to put the engine in a bucket, looking to make 1100 lbs.
Gemini EFI

 

Why not just build a Ford/Mazda 2.3 Duratec or a Volvo engine? Just cusrious not trying to cause trouble or flame.

As stout as the 2.3 Lima engine is, it's needlesly heavy. Almost as heavy as a V8. ~450 lbs in fuel injected ready to run form.

The Duratec is a light weight at around ~250 pounds.

No matter what your doing is pretty damn cool.

Also that Mercruiser with the blower is friggin sweet!!

 

tjm73,
Your absolutely right. The 2.3 Dura Tech is lighter actully 187 lbs. But compared to the older 2.3 it's expensive as hell to build.Crank shaft reliability goes away at about 300 hp.A reground Nissan crank will cost about a grand alone.Lots of cutting and measuring!The Bergenholtz Mazda (same engine) rice rocket car has won the points championship 2 years running.They make about 1200 hp!!
This project is provide a street killer for an AFFORDABLE price tag. Building the later engine wont even come close to affordable by comparison.Just about all of the durability issues on high hp Dura Techs are crank related. =BILLET CRANK =lots of money.I know of stock 2.3 Ford cranks going over 200 runs@ 500+ hp. We paid $100.00 for our rebuildable 2.3 Turbo engines.A ported Volvo head and a ported DuraTech flow almost the exact #s.
If were building a balls out race car it would be a Dura Tech but they cost too much for the average guy. We will have the blower package, the injection, the converted head, and a stock head package available so that you could build as mean or mild as you like.
Gemini EFI

 

I would be curious to see how your build with the T-bucket goes while incorperating a 2.3! The blower doesn't sound like a bad way to go. I'm only using the turbo because it's what I have on the car currenlty and works rather we'll.

Good luck and keep us in the loop.

 

I have read many people syaing that small engines and positive displacement blowers are bad mixs but I don't believe it.

 

I'm betting this'll be the smallest (dimension, weight AND displacement) 4 banger up here... This is the Fageol block I'm building up for my '51 Crosley roadster. Fageol bought out the rights to the Crosley motor in the late fifties and began bumping up the HP. Stock Crosleys were 26.5, Fageol eventually claimed 44. compression will be 11/1 with Zollner high dome pistons.

I've got a Braje aluminum oil pan, water jacket covers and cam cover to go with the dual exhaust. Carbs are NOS Tillotsons rebuilt with new gaskets. Chuck Koehler designed the linkage, and I've also got a set of his headers ready to go.

Not too far along on this, but I'm hoping to get a lot more done this winter.

 

Check out this banger motor on ebay,under Ford model A.You cant miss it!!!

 

Ever read that article in R&C in the early 70's about a guy building Crossly powered T roadster? the whole thing was scaled down by a third from memory. your's would be the second one i have seen rodded.

 

Here's something I can fit in, I believe Willys Go-Devil Flat 4.
Fresh from a side yard-
And machined.

 

I was seriously contemplating a little Go-Devil for my Model-Y when I was in the UK - stock, they had 60hp from 134cu", so not too bad.

A company called "Hickey" made an aftermarket hi-comp head for them too - very hard to find these days. Last one I saw on eBay went for about $700 or so...

 

So I guess I shouldn't be ashamed of my 60 horse 105 foot pound 55MPH in OD max flat head?
IIRC they made the "Willy Willy" head, named after the austrailian cyclone. Made 72 horse and some insane compression ratio then. But I would just go to the Hurricane 4 I have then
You up in Tijeras Canyon, NM?

 

WOW, talk about dancing to the beat of a different drummer!!! My hat's off to you.

 

Yeah - up at 7000' here in the Canyon - still lots of snow on the ground!

 

Ya jerk! Send some of the snow you may get down my way in Albuquerque! I may PM you at some point about local get togethers.

 

This was the rough mock-up last year of my Speedster project with all 41 Willys running gear.
Work will start again in about a month as I want her out for the summer.
Rich

 

Gemini,

It's clear that you've put alot of time and thought into engine choice, etc for your project- any thoughts on the 2.4l Quad4? I'm looking at using one in a T speedster project.

Thanks, Bill

 

does dropping fuel injected turbo t-bird 2.3l in a ranger count?

 

sorry the correct would not show its too big

 

If the pictures show up this is what my father in law is putting together It's A model T.

 

Phil..That is a sweet setup....do you have any more pics????