Fun Friday - Help pick a powertrain for a '31 Model A hot rod

What about that V8 Hyabusa engine, did it ever make it into production?

Ford 2.3 Liter Turbo. Easy electronics, Rear Wheel Drive, Manual, NOT V-8 and will make 300hp with a little extra boost.

Plus NOT big money.

I know where you can get a nice one cheap and very local to you too = bonus

Keep it ford.
1.0l ecoboost with all the boost. 3 cylinders to piss off everybody.

I was on board with the 2.3 until somebody said "keep it Ford". Now I'm thinking Supercharged Brobalt SS engine.

The 2.3 is probably an easier/cheaper path to cool though.

Porsche 928 V8. Not sure of an trans solution, but throwing it out there.

MadScientistMatt wrote: BMW V12 would have a lot of visual impact. For angering crotchety old men at car shows, I like the idea of a rotary - particularly if you did a lakes pipe style easily uncorked exhaust, or a Honda K or J series. Although picturing it with Subaru cylinder heads poking through each side of the hood might be even better.

You really want to tick off the crochety old men, put a BMW V12 in a 71 Corvette convertible... like my friend Richard is doing!

As far as the model A goes... I can't help much. My ideal DD would be a model A sedan high boy with a flathead and a T-5. It would sound good. Look good and be dead nuts simple. I have the drive train sitting in my garage, I just need the model A

Edit: with V8 not an option I would vote turbo four flavor of the day

Zetec with a BDA valve cover for a vintage FORD look. Use a SVT Zetec and a turbo or supercharger?

Grab a T5 and a quad4rods bell, or just modify a 2.3 bell. There are older trans that will bolt up for a real wheel drive but will need more money than a T5 will for the horsepower youre looking for. I would dial back that anyways but thats me, since i have an old type E trans that bolts to the zetec sitting in my shed.

You know whats makes angry old hot rod guys even more angry? Not pushing the easy button (v8) and still coming up short on horsepower.

SolsticeGXP/SkyRedline drivetrain?

Volvo 5-cylinder turbo converted to RWD?

Is there a parts bin solution to make an Audi 5 cylinder hook up to a Porsche 924/944 torque tube/transaxle?

EDIT: YOU CAN DO THAT http://www.944-20v.nl/

your all a little nuts I like that.

I say a S2000 F20C with 10K RPM head springs and ITB's, at least that is what I am thinking of doing on my next one.

I'll toss out whatever my brain thinks after two beers:

• I always lean toward diesel. 6.2L would be dirt simple and pretty cheap. 3.9L Cummins would be dirt simple, but far less cheap. OM6xx Mercedes might fit the bill, but hacking the electronics to make 300+ hp probably isn't easy.
• On ebay right now is an 01 Mercedes 5.0L for $500. Complete with 124k
• xUZ-FE from a Toyota truck? It makes up to 300 in stock trim and I'm sure there is a manual that could go behind it. You can often find engine/tranny combos for under $1500.
• VQ35DE's can be had with the six speed manual for around $2000. Horsepower goals are already met, RWD manual already attached, and the exhaust note is SO distinctive. That will really piss off the old guys.

If high HP and pissing traditionalist off is the goal, then German is the answer, especially Audi. Be warned, you may piss yourself off trying to get it to work right.

The SAAB B234 was mentioned early on in this thread, I've spent a lot of time with them, and they are wonderful engines when properly cared for. They really feel like they want to be in a RWD chassis too. I don't know how hard or costly it is to make that happen, I've heard there is a RWD GM bellhousing, possibly from an Opal, and I've heard of a custom unit, I can't confirm either one, but I know it has been done. They love big turbos, make great noises and have super hackable control systems. A donor 9-3 or 9-5 could be had really cheap.

That may confuse the old-timers more than piss them off, but will still meet the other goals easily.

In reply to curtis73:

I know a guy who put a mechanical pump from something older on a OM606, he had a stick behind it too, not sure how you get to 300+HP from there, though he was planning on doing that somehow the last time I heard.

Something 4cyl and foreign would annoy traditionalist.

Or do something like an iron duke or a metro 3 cyl

Or.....s2000 engine for lols

Jag V12, or rotary.

Porsche 944 engine. Piss off the old folks and Porsche folks.

Hyundai 2.0T

Knew somebody had do it before but look at the "great depression" F20C turbo powered 31.

The whole idea of doing something just to annoy others never made sense to me. Do what you like, and don't worry about other people's opinions.

Jag v12 with itb's and crisscrossing trumpets.

In reply to stuart in mn:

I think it's more combating snobbery than flat out annoying people. I find I agree with the idea less as I get older, but that's the reasoning.

stuart in mn wrote: The whole idea of doing something just to annoy others never made sense to me. Do what you like, and don't worry about other people's opinions.

I agree, do what you like!

Little short on the HP but this got some reactions.

The extra velocity stack, plastic boat fuel tank with a yard stick for a fuel gauge, and a bunch of other things put it over the top. Dan(white hat), the builder(now deceased) was good at doing vehicles that PO'ed a lot of the purists.

In reply to Hal:

Is that a Chevy 153? Or the 3.0 liter/181 mercury variant?