Lightweights: <1500#

I think you're about 100lbs short. Various sources give 245lbs to 255lbs for different versions of the A-series engine. That was a consideration for my Minor: pretty much all the alternatives I've been looking at are lighter than the 948cc that's in there now.

Not that there is any connexion to the engines in the above Austin Sevens. I have no idea what they weigh, except that it's not much. I've never heard of them being stretched very far beyond their stock 747cc.

If I were to build a Seven special/replica I would incline to a motorbike engine/gearbox as used in Legends cars and various bike-powered Lotus clones.

 

We were just talking about that car on the thread about Dirty Dougs track-nose T. Like I said over there, one of the best proportioned T's of all time. REALLY pretty little car.

 

I recall a couple high profile cars from the '60s that were built with 215s expressly to get under the 1500lb fender law. Couple of round-tube ch***is sbc t-buckets as well. But its not easy in a fully finished (interior) car.

 

Ned: in the early 60's my buddy was racing a Sprite 948CC, and we used a 2x4 and a rope to pull the engine and trans, and it wasn't that heavy. He would take it into his house and rebuild it on the kitchen table.

 

Pulled mine, too. It's not that heavy, but there are lighter alternatives.

 

FWIW any truck stop with a Caterpillar Authorized Scale will weigh you. Cost me about $9 when I had a trailer to weigh.

Whatever you use for power probably should have a fair amount of torque since you're not building an overly aerodynamic vehicle, it will need more power to overcome the drag of the air than it would if it was shaped like a dustbuster or something.

 

Volks rods too....

 

Yeah, since you mentioned it...

My Pinto powered sandrail weighs 1476Lb.

But I left it out of the discussion because of its V Double U ness.

 

I don't know if this counts, but my Brissette & Sutherland Cackle Car Fuel Dragster weighs 1200 pounds with a all cast iron 354 hemi ready to burn rubber.

 

I stole this picture from another HAMB post. Sorry, I didn't record any other information about it. But it has to be under 1500 pounds.

 

Cyclecar thread.

 

I know it's OT, but a mid 70s 1.6L (~97CI) VW diesel used to get 50 MPG in the Rabbits (aero bricks, usually weighed well over 1500 Lb).

We hotted the g***er equivalent up to the limit of the rules (raced 'em in the '80s) and managed 33 MPG @ 80 MPH (best ever, all highway).

Point being, for anything you plan to drive on the street gearing and tune will play a more immediate role than weight by itself (within a couple hundred pounds anyway).

If that's your goal then a modern I4 bike engine will be your best bet (already mentioned IIRC) as they tend to be more efficient per displacement.

If you do that, avoid air cooled, I used to run Legends cars, keeping the engine cooled evenly with it 90* to the airflow was the biggest issue I had for maintenance (as long as there weren't too many squirrels on the track ).

'Busa engine would likely be easiest (at B-vill they're called a "me too" bike or engine whichever is appropriate) as I believe there are companies supporting them in kit cars.

If you need a drive coupler (sprocket adapter) the dwarf cars have them too, as well as some kit makers (IIRC Kit Car Mag had some adds for them)

If that's not to your liking, then clue us in on other design criteria, and we will continue to try and help.

 

Less than 1500 pounds is very hard to achieve on anything street driven. Don't know if this counts but I'm presently building a Jr Fuel car that will be 1340# ready to run. That is wet, includes ballast and has me in it. It takes lots of ***anium and magnesium.

 

Then there is this:

A design exercise in response to the question of what one can do with the parts from a front-drive hatchback and as little as possible else.

 

My plastic 27 roadster with AMC inline 6,904 trans and a Volvo rearend weighs in at 1653.4 with a full tank of gas,did put some more stuff on to it since then so probably tips the scale at around 1680 now,will see when springtime comes around again in April/May so i can get it out of the garage-door again...

 

Hi, I was just looking thru the new posts and saw a picture of your modified. I am building a similar car now and was wondering if you had build pics online? Would sure like to see more thanks Steve Reddy....Camden, maine

 

Please direct any MPG replies to my project thread (I don't want to upset the natives):
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=592210

I heard motorcycles are more powerful but the power band is obviously at higher RPMs, so it's not the best for a car. Maybe down the road if I have the extra cashflow, and as I progress, though.

 

I bet that new Morgan 3-wheeler with the Harley motor has a ****** that the Busa guys could use, eh? Gary

 

The 'Busa is a conventional motorbike unit engine/gearbox (probably has the whole lot running in the same oil) which is rotated 90° as a unit for installation in the Lotus 7 clones, etc. The motorbike gearbox is therefore used, complete with its quadrant shift; but that means it's lacking a reverse gear. That's solved in various ways, from electric reverse to a forward-and-reverse auxiliary 'box. I've suggested elsewhere that a gearbox from a light rwd car can be used, with all but the upper two ratios and reverse removed: which would give an additional low range and might have a HAMBworthier feel than some of the alternatives.

The Morgan would have a car-type gearbox with a clutch that attaches in place of the HD primary drive, so the whole ***embly is concentric with the HD crank axis. According to Wikipedia it is a Mazda 5-speed unit.

 

Nevermind. Gary

 

Sounds like it needs a "wedge adjustment"!

 

Never had it weighed but I'm sure it is around 1500-1800#. SBC/T5, 2x3x.125 frame, interior is only bar stool seats, Speedway gl*** body. Check album for more pictures.

 

I have never weighted it but I am sure my modified is under 1500#. 2 liter Zetec, 10 lb flywheel, T5, mag Hildebrand quickee, Coleman Bros aluminum IMCA hubs, alum gas tank, alum radiator, alum firewall and interior.

BTW the bellhousing from a 1.6,2.0, and 2.3 SOHC Ford will bolt to the back of a Zetec but only 3 or 4 bolts line up but the locator dowels do center the ****** pilot dia with the crank centerline and the starter won't fit, other than that it is no problem. Quad 4 out of Denver has a good bellhousing that makes a Zetec fit to a T-5.

Rex

 

That's a tough-looking T!

 

I came across these images in the course of somethin else entirely:



Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa in Lotus 7 clone.

 

How about the Crosley Hot Shot 1250 lbs?

 

Is that at the Spokane fairgrounds?

If it is, is that the one with the V8-60?