Old car most needing engine swap?

Mazdax605 wrote: Again I am not looking to argue,but rather wondering if the RX engine bay looks wide with the narrow engine in it.

I'm not trying to argue either. I just come off that way sometimes...

Enthusiasts who typically do not have a steering gearbox and A/C in the way typically won't have a problem. I suspect that it's even worse in RHD countries because the steering and exhaust need to share the same space, whereas in LHD countries, the accessories at least sit forward of the steering box, and the only problem on the right side is cooking the idler arm bushings.

Plus, I suspect that on the assembly line, they dropped the body onto a drivetrain/subframe assembly, so there needs to be room. Officially, Ford didn't put the Mod motor in Fox-bodies for this very reason - not enough room for a drop-over.

Enthusiasts don't have to worry about that - we can spend two hours wrestling an engine into a oddly-configured engine bay if we deem it worthwhile

ObSwap: Find a totalled ZX2 and a four-door 2l Escort and mate the two. I like that chassis' handling dynamics but the ZX2 interior and trunk are a little cramped compared to the four-door, but the four-door only ever came with the 2.0l CVH that seems to have a 100% failure rate on exhaust valve seats, which sticks a "done" stamp on the whole engine.

Knurled wrote:

Mazdax605 wrote: Again I am not looking to argue,but rather wondering if the RX engine bay looks wide with the narrow engine in it.

I'm not trying to argue either. I just come off that way sometimes... Enthusiasts who typically do not have a steering gearbox and A/C in the way typically won't have a problem. I suspect that it's even worse in RHD countries because the steering and exhaust need to share the same space, whereas in LHD countries, the accessories at least sit forward of the steering box, and the only problem on the right side is cooking the idler arm bushings. Plus, I suspect that on the assembly line, they dropped the body onto a drivetrain/subframe assembly, so there needs to be room. Officially, Ford didn't put the Mod motor in Fox-bodies for this very reason - not enough room for a drop-over. Enthusiasts don't have to worry about that - we can spend two hours wrestling an engine into a oddly-configured engine bay if we deem it worthwhile ObSwap: Find a totalled ZX2 and a four-door 2l Escort and mate the two. I like that chassis' handling dynamics but the ZX2 interior and trunk are a little cramped compared to the four-door, but the four-door only ever came with the 2.0l CVH that seems to have a 100% failure rate on exhaust valve seats, which sticks a "done" stamp on the whole engine.

They don't all fail. I know of four right now that didn't. My 1.9 escort engine did fail on the other hand. Took the head off, sent it to a machine shop and for 400 bucks it was good as new. Ran great getting 38 mpg delivering pizzas till rust consumed the car 70k miles after the repair. My 1994 wagon would be happy with a 2.5 probe/mx6 engine swap though.

Joey

First Gen Celicas.

They all should have come with the 18RG or 2TG engine. None of this pansy 18R-C crap.

And Chevettes. Definitely Chevettes. If we got a Vauxhall Chevette HSR here, we would ALL think differently about that econobox!

But mostly, I just think the Suzuki H27A is an engine that needs a better chassis. It's like a Mazda KL v6, but already in longitudinal format.

Clapped out TR7 with a 4.6L Land Rover V8 swap... this would be the ultimate TR8.

Not sure about the car to put it in, but the big 6cyl Honda goldwing boxer engines somehow appeal to me. Kinda like a mini-Porsche. Maybe put it in a S800 roadster, spridget, or old formula vee...

Im really only into bolt in engine swaps, just like putting the best version of the engine that fits into the car. Like I dont really like LS1s in euro cars, but I think its pretty awesome when someone puts one in anything that came with a old small block. Or ABA 2.0 or TDI into a VW that came with a crossflow 1.7. Or anything like that. Sometimes radical engine swaps are cool, but most people fail to realize a car is designed for a particular engine, and you need to change alot more than just that for an engine swap to work well.

A good number of Euro cars came with American or American-designed V8's... not such a radical idea when you see how often the manufacturers themselves did it.

And if Mercedes could drop a 4.5 V8 into a W111 car, why is it a capital offense (as my W111 buddy maintains) to drop in an LS1 that weighs even less... but the "ultimate swap" to drop in a heavyweight 6.3 from a Grosser?

Still a fan of the Ro-Spit

Turbocharged Vortec 4200 I6 in a 70 Chevelle. Got the car, still need the engine.

Turbo MZR Mazda GLC.

A mildly tuned Rover V8 into a BMW 2002 or 320 would make for an awesome family cruiser. Saw one in an old Volvo 240 and it was very very cool.

Say guys, did you know that the Kia Sorento uses a 3.5l V6 that looks exactly like the Mitsubishi quad-cam six, in rear drive format?

Just throwing that out there.

With all the Ro-Spits, I would like to see/own a Ro-Spridget....assuming it isn't already "old hat".

Another candidate, that probably is "been there..." is a small displacement Porsche air-cooled 6 in a Karmann-Ghia.

Or, a K-G with that Honda Goldwing engine (above).

For off the wall... Liter bike motor in a Messerschmidt tiger. On the normal side a Porsche 924/944 had a Chassis that could take more power maybe an Audi v8 to keep the family ties.

My '53 Chevy Pickup screamed for a real motor. The 4200 Atlas mill would be perfect, except then I'd just be copying DIYautotune's project (minus the turbo).

A 600cc sportbike motor into a Vespa

The Karmman-Ghia swap sounds real good, but I'd probably want to take it a step further and build a new chasis and suspension like Rorty did.

integraguy wrote: With all the Ro-Spits, I would like to see/own a Ro-Spridget....assuming it isn't already "old hat". Another candidate, that probably is "been there..." is a small displacement Porsche air-cooled 6 in a Karmann-Ghia. Or, a K-G with that Honda Goldwing engine (above).

Ro-Spridgets are at least as 'old hat' as ro-spits. Doesn't mean they aren't worth the shot though. Plenty of rubber bumper cars out there on their way to the 'yard.

I seem to recall Miata engines and drivetrains into MGBs...

Ro-spits can eat up money very quickly once you start getting into 180+hp output into the rear suspension....uprights, coil overs, beefy differentials with big mounts, then making it all fit. Check the back issues when this mag or its sister built one. Bleeding money.

But then they also built a $10,000 street midget engine....

Nope, something different, NEVER SEEN. V-6 ALFA POWERED Spitfire, with Hilborn injection and velocity stocks. Solid rear axle conversion. There's a winter project for you.

oldtin wrote: On the normal side a Porsche 924/944 had a Chassis that could take more power maybe an Audi v8 to keep the family ties.

I've been seriously thinking about doing this swap...to the point where I now have a 944 with a bad engine, and a wrecked V8 Audi (engine donor) taking up space in my yard.

Early C4 Corvette. The L98 motor can get it to 14 second quarter mile times, so it's not dog slow, but it still feels like an exotic powered by a truck motor. I'd sometimes wondered what mine would do with a Northstar under the hood instead of the somewhat more obvious LS1 swap.

Ford Escort EXP with a Zetec or Duratec. Don't know why, but I can be a sucker for weird excessively '80s designs like that.

And as another former Spitfire 1500 owner, I'd definitely agree that these things could use a swap. Even if it's not as crazy as a rotary - perhaps a BMW M44, now that BMW owns the brand...

kreb wrote: I've been playing with the idea of transplanting a modern Duratec 2.3 into a Volvo 544; while also considering how, despite my love for my Miatas, I don't really enjoy working in the engine compartment due to all the crap in there. Which get's the mind turning: What older cars have a lot of inherent goodness, but a substandard/unreliable/gutless powerplant? And what motor would be the magic pill? Guidelines: Yes, I know that a LSX will make practically any car better, but that's too easy. Be creative but grounded. A turbo 3-rotor in an E-type is just wrong.......

Well, I'm kinda in your neck of the woods...

I'd take a 1970+ Volvo 1800 (either coupe, or wagon - depending on your preference) and fit in a Toyota 3SGE BEAMS engine with the 6 speed. Double the power and 50# less mass.

IPD makes all the goodies to make the chassis better able to match the doubled power

Classic lines, able to fit large people (albeit just 2) AND their luggage, with double the power AND Japanese reliability... DONE!

Or if that isn't your cup of tea... you could always fit a Hartley under the bonnet

I have always wanted to buy a TR7 a RX7 and a V8. Take the rotary out of the RX7 put it in TR7 and then the V8 in the RX7.

M030 wrote: I've been seriously thinking about doing this swap...to the point where I now have a 944 with a bad engine, and a wrecked V8 Audi (engine donor) taking up space in my yard.

There are quite a few of them out there with turbo 20v Audi engines. The five cylinder.

Now, if you want to get fancy, I wonder what bolt pattern the W12 has...

32 ford hotrod with any modern 4 or 6 cyl with a turbo hangin off the side. i would do it -just- to upset the purists.

coll9947 wrote: i would do it -just- to upset the purists.

Have you ever seen a Japanese Hemi?

This is Toyota's "V" engine, it began in the 60s, under 3 liters in volume, and grew untill the late 90s when it was almost 5 liters

A bit more info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_V_engine