Opel drivetrain possibilities

At the one week point in my ownership of the Opel project car, I've started considering potential drivetrain donors. Not that I'm anywhere near installing an engine and trans into the car, but keeping my eyes and ears open to possibilities out there.

While there are a number of exciting engine possibilities out there, finding a compatible manual RWD trans seems to be a bit more difficult. For cheap, readily available transmissions that easily bolt to lightweight (aluminum block?) 1.6 to 2.0L motors ... what's available? What vehicles would make good potential donors? Obvious answers are Miata and E30, but what else?

Consider the motor/trans combo of the merkur xr4ti or even an rx-7 drivetrain. light weight, easily modifiable or just as fun left stock.

Depends some on which Opel you're talking about, and how much you're willing to cut the tunnel. Ascona, Kadett, and Mantas will tolerate a shifter position more rearward than the GT, which doesn't have any rom for rearward travel at all, as long as you are willing to cut the top out of the tunnel and allow for that shifter. In the Manta and Ascona I actually prefer the shifter further back.

So, the usual suspects are the S10 T5 because of the shifter position, or the camaro or ford ones if you're moving it back. Pretty much anything can be bolted to them.

For a little more exotic set-up there is the Miata drivetrain you already mentioned, as well as the suzuki Samurai trans with one of the G-series motors up front or Vitara/Sidekick 2WD engine/trans combos. I also like the Isuzu stuff from the Impulse and Imark myself.

With some brand engineering and scrounging you can also use the Jeep bell-housings to bolt Toyota truck and NA Supra 5-speeds up to chevy/isuzu/jeep/dodge/Northstar engines.

I was thinking more along the lines of the classic 4-cylinder, 5-speed combo, but any thing he mentioned would work well...

Forgot to mention that it is an 1971 Ascona, the same one as in my Reader's Ride page. Originally it had the TH180 installed, so a trans of similar size to bolt to the original mount would be nice. I agree that the shifter seems way too far forward for normal use, let alone spirited driving.

I had thought about the Suzuki drivetrain, but had completely forgotten the identical Trackers that are so much easier to find around here. What can be bolted to the T5 that is lightweight and low power?

Keeping it light is my ideal here, as the car is pretty light as is and upsetting the balance wouldn't be good. Also, keeping the power low is good because: 1) the car is light and doesn't need much to scoot along nicely and 2) from what I can find the rear axle doesn't like much more than about 120hp. Don't want to go blowing that up quite yet.

The 4x4 sites are often good sources for bellhousing adapters. Those guys aren't afraid of weird combinations.

The Ford 2.3 is a heavy mother of an engine for it's size, and I think there are better and more modern alternatives these days. A Chrysler 2.2 turbo would be just as good if you can find one of those rwd Dakota pickup transmissions. Still old tech though.

Any of the Japanese mini pickups would be worth considering. While they do not have as impressive HP ratings as cars, compared to what the Opel had originally it will still be a vast improvement. You also have to consider what the rear diff can handle. Tremendous explosive horsepower may simply grenade the OE diff when the clutch is released.

I think the automatic version of the Fiat Spider used a TH180. So maybe one of those engines would work. They came in 1.4 1.6 1.8 and 2.0L displacements. 1.8s are probably the best in terms of power/torque output and willingness to rev.

The suzuki drivetrain sounds like a good choice. 100 HP and 7500 RPM in a lightweight package.

My opinion, but it's your car.

The Tracker used the TH180 as well, so that's even easier. The Vitara engine was available up to and over 2L I think as well.

One constraining factor with the Opel is clearance for a low mounted starter between the firewall, engine crossmember, and sway bar. Suzuki, Mazda, and Isuzu engines have the starter mounted up high like the Opel and are easier fits.

well, can give you some weights on the fiat drivetrain...

block (with waterpump, flywheel, and clutch is 200 pounds. head is another 60ish pounds with manifolds... trans is another 60 to 70ish pounds...

if you are looking into the fiat drivetrain and your shifter is far forward, try the trans from the 131.. it is more robust and does not have the shift extension the 124 has

My vote would be for either an isuzu truck engine (or one from an i-mark, etc) or a turbo impulse engine if you want a bit more power.

f20C a la S2k?

4AGE out of an AE86 corolla?

both have stand alone engine management on their sides plus lots o' bolt on goodness.

just my .02...Im a transplant noob, so what do I know

g13b w/ samurai trans

I think I'm really beginning to lean towards one of the various Suzuki engine/trans combos. Light, high revving, decent power (without going overboard). I hope I didn't imply I wanted to keep the TH180 ... nope, this car will definitely have a stick.

Is there any advantage to running the G13b versus a stock G16a/b out of a Tracker? What about the 2.0L (G20?)

mith612 wrote: What about the 2.0L (G20?)

LOL probably not the G20 you meant, but Infiniti G20s run the SR20DE 2.0 ltr Nissan motor...a RWD can be found in S13/14 240SXs...very good power can be had out of one of these, and theyre boost happy out of the box...a little ECU tuneage and youre good to 250-300 hp...Im just sayin

Nissan KA24DE. Use a truck tranny to move the shifter forward.

The G13B has a much higher RPM potential from what I understand... there are swaps for a stroker, but they seem excessive. In my opinion, getting a G13B running in another car is a good start. If that's not enough power, go from there once everything else is in place.

Anyone have a running Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara they want to sell on the cheap so I can scrounge the drivetrain, wiring harness, gauge cluster and all that other good stuff? Pretty please?

Since the answer is always Miata, what were the issues with running that drivetrain in the Opel? Was it that the shifter is further back?

While I'm no where near the point to needed a drivetrain, a running parts Miata is available nearby. It's a little more than I'd want to pay and still have lots left to do, but there's always room for dreaming.

Road & Track, Car & Driver, one of them did a story on an Opel Kadette with a 327 in it. They thought it was the ultimate sleeper until the frame started twisting.....

Poke around here for info and classifieds on the Zuk stuff. I bought a 1600cc short block for my Samurai for $200. I used the head from my 1300, a little bump in compression.

http://www.teamswift.net/

...and ya better put up pictures!

Dan

The Volvo 4 cylinders with a 5 speed comes available in many rusted out old bricks and have a good after market. Probably have the same short comings as the ford 2.3 though (...maybe not?) What about a Alfa 4 cylinder from a spider? Those look cool.

Or use a Quads4Rods bellhousing and put an Ecotec in there and stick with GM parts. Wait was Opel apart of GM when the car was made?

Definitely GM at the time (the seat belts told me so!)

There is an Ecotec motor for sale locally for a few hundred bucks, and while its tempting, I think the big sticking point with the project will be all the wiring. I'd rather pull a running motor from a working vehicle with all the wiring harness than have to wire it all from scratch.

So while at work yesterday (I work at an auto parts store) and overheard a customer looking for a belt for his Tracker. As an aside I mention I'm looking for such a vehicle to steal the drivetrain from, and he asks "do you wanna buy it?"

A day later (ie today), and my driveway is now home to a muddy red mid 90s Tracker with the 16 valve motor. The body is in rough shape, but the engine seems in good shape. It'll need new belts and a run through of the electricals, as there is a drain of some sort.

blown Hemi?

FYI, Opels have been part of GM since the 30's and still are. As a note about transmissions, most opels have manual (cable) clutch so that type is usually easier to install in them. Not that hydraulic clutch isn't impossible, just a little more work to put in the slave cylinders. A popular trans to use comes out of an early 80's S-10 as they used a cable operated clutch. Might be hard to find nowadays though. Late 70's & 80's Isuzu parts aren't that hard to swap. Some are direct interchange since GM shared Opel and Isuzu products. I've heard of some people swapping in a quad4 engine with S-10 trans and rear end (another popular swap, adds bigger brakes & posi). 80's Isuzu Impulse had the most compatability. Taking the rear end would net you rear disk brakes. Looks like you have a Trakker doner now that should net most of what you need. Good Luck!! and keep us posted.