alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:28 PM |
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Small revvy car engines - hypothetical discussion
I'm building cars in my head again!
If one wanted to build a car based on an old, lightweight rwd car with a modern reliable engine, keeping the original light responsive revvy nature of
the car but with economy, refinement and reliability(at elast from the engine) what would you choose?
Preferably sub 1500cc to keep to lower tax bands and light weight.
No bike engines!
I considered the fiat FIRE engines in 16v form but they are tall and ultimately seem to struggle over 100bhp.
I then looked at vauxhall's small-block family one engines (familiar territory) and specifically the 1.5 Daewoo unit which is oversquare ( 81.5
bore and 76.5 stroke) and 1498cc. This engine with a reasonable plenum intake and exhaust would make around 120bhp on its original management but
being or iron block construction is quite heavy.
What would you use?
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balidey
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:31 PM |
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Rover K-series 1.4.
I am planning on using the 1.8, but if you want sub 1.5 for tax reasons, then fit a 1.4 and swap to 1.8 afterwards.
And its small, light, revvy.
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iank
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:33 PM |
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K series 1.4, they work well in Midgets
Await's the 'they aren't reliable' brigade to turn up in force.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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TimC
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:35 PM |
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The K-series hs to be the easy option - Caterham actually fitted the 1.4 at one stage. If you were a whiz with bellhousings, what about the Suziki
Ignis Sport 1.5 VVT motor?
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balidey
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:36 PM |
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Some fantastic articles written on the K series highlighting what the REAL problems were and how to overcome them. Trouble is, poo sticks as they
say, and now everyone say 'Head gasket' and walks away. Shame really as it is a cracking engine.
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balidey
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:38 PM |
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Wow, first 3 posts all suggesting the 1.4 K.
And you can pick up a complete car with one in for a handful of notes. Well, maybe not now thanks to Gifted Gordons scrappage fiasco... but there are
still plenty about.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:39 PM |
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How good bad or ugly are they then? Ive heard of the freelander gasket in 1.8s, but I dont know anyone who has had one and not had issues.....
How tuneable is the 1.4 (standard management and small spend)
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flibble
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:46 PM |
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I had a very breif drive in a 1.5l honda vtec civic(?) a while ago and that seemed a nice revvy little motor, I know nothing about them though 
Edit: Ignore that, just noticed the RWD element in your OP
[Edited on 4-3-10 by flibble]
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:51 PM |
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They are wonderful!
I kept my 216 and will remove the k from that for a future project sometime. great fizzy, eager engine. Gasket went at 78k, repaired it myself and
it now has 130k on the clock and sounds fantastic.
My wife has a MGZR 160 with the 1.8 VVT K in it. Very fast, having traction problems so may need a tire upgrade otherwise very strong @ 70k
Plenty of info out there on how to avoid HGF. Easily prevented.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:54 PM |
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link for me to digest later
http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?essaykseriesf.htm
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iank
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 12:58 PM |
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Also worth poking around http://www.dvapower.co.uk/
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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smart51
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:03 PM |
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1.4 K series revs to 6750 and makes 103 PS. 1.8 VVC revs to 7200 and makes 143 PS (there was a higher output version). Lotus VHPD 1.8 uses the vvc
head without the vvc and makes 190 BHP. All weigh 99-100kg
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D Beddows
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:04 PM |
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I'm actually quite a fan of the Vauxhall 16v 1.4 as fitted to Astras etc - Mrs Beddows has one and much to my surprise (not a Vauxhall fan at
all tbh) it's actually fun to drive even in an Astra if you keep it revving Plus you can get fairly huge BHP out of it if you spend a bit of
money........ but even with just a proper exhaust and intake system it would be a cracking engine!
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:11 PM |
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D Beddows: I know, I have the 1600 version in a nova track car! That was why I went looking as the 1400 is oversquare and the 1500 is better again!
Im actually ashamed to admit id forgotten about the k series even when thinking of small modern revvy alloy engines 
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stevec
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:19 PM |
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Another one for Kseries.
Very light and reliable if screwed together properly.
Steve.
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GRRR
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:26 PM |
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On a non-Vauxhall theme, the Suzuki Swift GTi (old shape early 90s) have very nice revy 1300 16v 100bhp standard engines and bolt on to the RWD box
from a Suzuki SJ jeep.
Friend of mine had one in a Striker.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:31 PM |
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What box would one use with the K series?
http://kengine.dvapower.com/
[Edited on 4/3/10 by alistairolsen]
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D Beddows
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:35 PM |
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quote:
On a non-Vauxhall theme, the Suzuki Swift GTi (old shape early 90s) have very nice revy 1300 16v 100bhp standard engines and bolt on to the RWD box
from a Suzuki SJ jeep.
Another 1300 engine I've always liked Nissan Micra 1.3 16v is another but the rwd aspect is an issue....
As you may have guessed I'm quite a fan of little revvy car engines too 
[Edited on 4/3/10 by D Beddows]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:39 PM |
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Standard K 1.8 series as used in the R45 R75 and MG ZT 1.8 and Freelander 1.8 only made 118 hp ---- but other versions made up to 160 hp
The 1.6 made about 116hp as standard, and the 1.4 usually made 103hp --- figures varied a bit depending on year.
For insurance reasons the the base model Rover 25 1.4 only made 81hp but only difference from the 104hp version was the butterfly in throttle
body was only allowed to open 50% .
Just change the throttle body and throttle cable and get an instant 23hp gain.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
What box would one use with the K series?
Type 9 but you need to buy a bellhousing.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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iank
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
What box would one use with the K series?
Type 9 with a bell housing is the normal route.
Caterham did one, as do frontline motorsport (probably others out there as well).
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/pricelst.htm
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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iank
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 01:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by D Beddows
...Nissan Micra 1.3 16v is another but the rwd aspect is an issue....
As you may have guessed I'm quite a fan of little revvy car engines too
Nice engine once you lose the peashooter exhaust, very underrated (though I've no idea if you could fit it on a rwd gearbox).
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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scootz
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 02:23 PM |
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Another vote for K-series and Type 9...
It's Evolution Baby!
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D Beddows
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 02:29 PM |
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1275 A series mini engine with a 16v BMW K1100 head is another idea I've always really liked
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/3/10 at 02:51 PM |
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seen that conversion and while neat I couldnt bring myself to pour that much work into an archaic 3 bearing iron bottom end when there are better
engines out there!
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