Looking for a small 4 cylinder engine

Frenchy,

I've been looking for a 2wd Samurai drivetrain, too.  Can't find one in Mpls but there's an engine core here in Columbia MO for $1100 at a salvage yard.  Doubt you're interested in that, but...  Perhaps the Hive knows of a Samurai specialist near the Twin Cities.

I found this tranmission, so all you need is a G series engine from a Swift/Metro.  I did find ($300) this, near Wausau.  And this, near Sioux Falls.  And ($100!) this, near St. Cloud.  And this, near Eau Claire.

Nothing free or even stupid-cheap, but you might get lucky with a lowball depending on how desperate the sellers are. 

EDIT: one last FB "ships to you" ($55) for a Samurai rebuildable engine/transmission.

This guy has a 1275cc engine and trans from a Mini. $200. He is in Maine, though...

https://maine.craigslist.org/pts/d/bar-mills-vintage-mini-cooper-minor/7529142869.html

Okay, expanded the search a bit...

BINGO! $100 Austin Healey engine unused for 40 years but it's in the UP... :(

Very ratty MG near Amery, WI

Possible Fiat 124 near Luck, WI

Another MG at Isanti, MN

This '71 MG has been listed for six months---he might deal.

Yet another Isanti MG

In reply to stroker :

Unfortunately the Ranger 2.3/2.5 is over 400 lbs and is really tall, so it's would be a major swap.

How about a 'Go Fund Me' page or something similar? I would send a few bucks his way to get him back on the track.

In reply to 78CobraII :

I agree on the go fund me.

Wat about a SOHC Honda from the 90s? I've seen those running on a carb setup and they are cheap to find.

^ Honda D series was my thought too but they spin counter-clockwise 

If that suits I have a D15B mpi conversion here he can have. Has challenge pedigree, might have lifted the head the two are related 

The 1275 engine is fairly cheap and simple, adapting to something else is going to take a lot of time and money.  Somehow adapt to the current transmission, or replace the transmission.  New mounting and connecting to the current drive shaft, it can get complicated, could be a advantage, but not typically a cheap solution.

In reply to TED_fiestaHP :

You are absolutely correct about all of it. The one thing is cost.   The current engine had rods take a vacation from the confinement of the block.  
We are looking for a replacement so he can continue to vintage race. If he could find a cheap BMC engine.  Doesn't really have to be a 1275, 1100 or 950 will both provide him with track time to keep his license current and give him an outlet.  
  But a couple of months of looking n Florida. And a few weeks looking here in Minnesota hasn't turned up a candidate.

    He might have to take a job.  He's desperately poor having gone from very upper crust. To house sitting for others for a place to stay.  I can probably get him in at the bus company. If he can deal with his depression and actually show up.  
    He's two years sober.  But I suspect that's more about not being able to afford booze  than any real commitment to sobriety. 

78CobraII said:

In reply to stroker :

Unfortunately the Ranger 2.3/2.5 is over 400 lbs and is really tall, so it's would be a major swap.

How about a 'Go Fund Me' page or something similar? I would send a few bucks his way to get him back on the track.

 

  Darn!  I was hoping something like the Ranger,S10, Datsun,  could be made to work.  So far no.  
   The guy has a severe depression issue.   I doubt he could deal with asking but I'll run it past him tonight. 
   The thing is he has time.  Lots of time. All winter.  
      A BMC. A series 1275/1100/950. Bolts in and meet his needs.  
    Trouble is the collectors know what they are worth.  ( which is a lot more than he has).  While we could assemble a bitsa  gaskets, bearings, rings, etc.  would way exceed his budget.  
He's  got to find some lump in the back yard, under the bench, somebody wants hauled away. Something that won't require major machine work etc to get running.  

stroker said:

Okay, expanded the search a bit...

BINGO! $100 Austin Healey engine unused for 40 years but it's in the UP... :(

Very ratty MG near Amery, WI

Possible Fiat 124 near Luck, WI

Another MG at Isanti, MN

This '71 MG has been listed for six months---he might deal.

Yet another Isanti MG

 

While all are too expensive for his budget.  We will follow them and see what happens.  Sometimes people will just want to get rid of them and accept real low ball and insulting offers.  
I absolutely hate to be that guy but  he sometimes needs to dig through his change bottle just to buy food until his Social security check hits his bank.  

Maybe a power head or engine from a boat or Jet Ski?

In reply to 78CobraII :

I can carry a Ranger 2.3/2.5 long block fairly easily, so I don't think that you'll see 400 lbs there without a transmission. But it is big, and this doesn't really fit the bill here.

Doing any racing on a tiny budget is tricky.  If you could update the drivetrain, to make it more practical, I would suggest Honda D series.  Use everything from the left hub to the right hub and everything in between.  That would be fairly reliable and fairly cheap parts available.  If running some sort of vintage, not sure if that would work.

  When is the next planned event?  I assume it is now the off season.  Keep a eye on E-bay, might find something, but could take some time.

   Is the current car worth something?  Might be able to sell and then pick up something else, something more practical.  Formula V  or maybe a B-spec Mini Cooper.

    If you have till the first spring event, with some time you have options

My only cheap and small suggestion would be chevette. And rusted out chevettes are in the crazy asking price range too, these days. Sadly.

When I was asking about what engine I already have, to use for something (all cheap as ya can get, but I still couldn't buy one) I specifically said I Can Not Afford An LS. People still suggested LS. I'm surprised it hasn't been said here. 

Aproaching 60, I'll be him in several years. Except the formerly well off part. I don't think  not affording booze is stopping him. Never stopped ANY alcoholic I've ever met. Hope he stays with it. 
I'm not sure a cheap engine will ever be doable again like our younger days, but this is definitely the place to try. 
Would you be able to pay a bit more for an engine, and then tell him ya got it for 75 bucks, or so? Just a random thought. 
sorry about the rambling!

Okay.  Eff this.

We're done with this search. 

I'll crowdsource $20 to get this to Frenchy and I'll bet we can get enough people to chip in and cover the cost of the engine and the transportation.  How are we going to get it the 600 miles to Minneapolis?

Found 

this

and

this

too.   The latter is two hours from me.  I've got friends near Mpls.  I can't spring for the whole engine but I could drive it up north in the spring.

Jeebus.  This'll never stop. 

Just found 

this

near Iowa City which is practically on the way to Mpls for me...

In reply to stroker :

Dang the generator looks almost as big as the engine!

In reply to stroker :

F sometimes doesn't have any money, and sometime is doing very well. Not an insult; I understand 

From that, I think he'll spring for it with out the crowd source, but GRM will have to get it there. At least that's where I'd be, and for all our bickering, i don't think we're too much different!!!

And, if that front end can make it the opposite direction (almost to challenge) I'll put in part for that! That'll help the cost, some. 

TED_fiestaHP said:

Doing any racing on a tiny budget is tricky.  If you could update the drivetrain, to make it more practical, I would suggest Honda D series.  Use everything from the left hub to the right hub and everything in between.  That would be fairly reliable and fairly cheap parts available.  If running some sort of vintage, not sure if that would work.

  When is the next planned event?  I assume it is now the off season.  Keep a eye on E-bay, might find something, but could take some time.

   Is the current car worth something?  Might be able to sell and then pick up something else, something more practical.  Formula V  or maybe a B-spec Mini Cooper.

    If you have till the first spring event, with some time you have options

I think he has until next August to keep his license. One event is all that's required per year. 
  As a running car he might get a grand from someone who just needs a car.  Patina doesn't begin to describe it. Shabby is more correct.  I told him to wait until the car was running.  I'd help him strip the remaining pant off.  remove any bondo and using my English wheel, straighten out the aluminum. Then buff and polish it.  
     If the Honda runs counterclockwise that eliminates that option.  Darn, 

   That engine down in Iowa city might do.  I suppose I could lend him the money and go down and get it.   I'll talk to him tomorrow.   
    That's a Triumph Spitfire motor not a BMC A motor but I see a gearbox  too.  ( it's what the factory put in MG midgets to meet smog laws.). 
Not particularly powerful  but it will likely fit and work.   All he's looking for.  
  Hey, I just remember I've got 3 sets of 1&1/2 SU's. Should be a piece of cake to whip up a manifold for a pair.  Hmmm I wonder how similar the exhaust manifold is to the BMC pattern.  Should be able to make his headers work. Mill the head to give it back some compression.  Oops head gasket set.  I wonder what Rock Auto gets for one. They don't list it.  Moss motors from $20-40. Should check Amazon. 

I just came to say turbo Saturn is the answer. 

Yes some Honda's do run the opposite direction, so can't just use the engine, need to used the entire drive train.  So that might be complicated.

Seems like staying with the old BMC set-up would be the simple solution.  

    Shipping can be frustrating, I often get free shipping on stuff from E-bay, don't know how they do that.  The last item I got free shipping on was a Honda transmission.  The price on the part was also rather good, actually cheaper than others that did not offer free shipping.

03Panther said:

My only cheap and small suggestion would be chevette. And rusted out chevettes are in the crazy asking price range too, these days. Sadly.

When I was asking about what engine I already have, to use for something (all cheap as ya can get, but I still couldn't buy one) I specifically said I Can Not Afford An LS. People still suggested LS. I'm surprised it hasn't been said here. 

Aproaching 60, I'll be him in several years. Except the formerly well off part. I don't think  not affording booze is stopping him. Never stopped ANY alcoholic I've ever met. Hope he stays with it. 
I'm not sure a cheap engine will ever be doable again like our younger days, but this is definitely the place to try. 
Would you be able to pay a bit more for an engine, and then tell him ya got it for 75 bucks, or so? Just a random thought. 
sorry about the rambling!

Those are all good thoughts and yes I'd help him out a bit.  I just don't want to finish it early for him and have it sit around tempting him to sell it to buy booze. 
      I'm pretty convinced that if I emptied my liquor cabinet I'd own it.  ( don't want it )     I'd like to help him stay sober so if I have to spend a little money to keep him motivated I'm willing to.  
   I think outright charity would crush him. But if he puts his own sweat into it pushing and pulling the panels through the English Wheel, I lend him the stuff to polish it up and it looks as good as I imagine I can make for him. Maybe that's the right path.  
    I wonder if it would be eligible for the Challenge?  Probably not. It's not a production anything.  But it would definitely meet the budget numbers.  But I think since he summers in Florida he could get a real boost out of the challenge. 

In reply to frenchyd :

Your friend sounds like he needs something to spark a desire to live life again.  I can empathize.  I hope you can arrange the engine near Iowa City.

(Did any of you guys look up and see what a "Metro Mite" is...?)

In reply to stroker :

It's a BMC A series engine. 1959 would be a 850 cc