hi all.on the verge of putting the zetec in when i remebered that i wanted to put a bike engine in when i started.so what would it cost to go with say a fireblade?
could it be done for under a grand?
cheers andy

Don't waste your money on a Fireblade - use the ZZR1100 & yes it could be done for under a grand easily as long as you don't want a reverse box (nasty, heavy things that break!), use a pre '95 engine & no Cat or emission issues either.

There's nowt wrong with the Fireblade. It's a great engine......

Phil

The blade is a good choice IMHO, it may be a couple of hundred quid dearer than (generally older and heavier) engines like the CBR1000F and ZZR1100, but everything is available off the shelf which balances out the costs.

The budget really depends on how "Locost" you want to be, if you dont mind scavenging everything from a scrappie and you have the skills to weld / fabricate a lot of things then yep its doable, but if you want to buy most of the bits off the shelf then unless you got the engine free I think you'll struggle to do it for a grand all in, but I doubt you'll do a Zetec for that either if you're honest and count all the ancilliary bits you need. This is off the top of my head, but the following wont be far wrong for a budget assuming you don't plan on making everything yourself:

Engine / ancilliaries - £4-500 off Ebay etc if you're feeling lucky, more if you want one with a bit of comeback if it turns out to be a duffer. Not sure how much Malc at Yorkshire engines charges for a blade now, maybe £6-700?

Manifold - £300 if you can get one off the shelf (doubtful with something like a ZZR1100). Realistically £400+ if custom made, especially if you include the hassle / cost of having to get the car to a fabricators.

Prop - £200+ if you want a proper one, less if you trust yourself to mod a Sierra one.

Prop Adapter - £60

Silencer - £40 if you mod you an old bike can

Gear Linkage - £50+ if you buy off the shelf.

Dash / Guages - £100 minimum for bike clocks + a few other guages (fuel etc)

Plumbing + Rad - £100 min (a lot more with silicone hoses) unless you scavenge everything from a scrappie.

Engine cradle / mounts £80-100 off the shelf, £20 maybe if you can weld them yourself.

Baffle plate £40+ unless you make it

Fuel pump £25

etc etc.

A lot of the above you will also need in some form or other with a Zetec install though, so comparing like for like I dont think there would be a lot in it price wise.

Chris

an accurate assessment there chris.

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisGamlin
Prop - £200+ if you want a proper one, less if you trust yourself to mod a Sierra one.

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quote:

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Originally posted by iank

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisGamlin
Prop - £200+ if you want a proper one, less if you trust yourself to mod a Sierra one.

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Modifying props is one job I'd always suggest leaving to a specialist.

Many people have got away without it being rebalanced, but if you're unlucky (and there's no good way I've heard about to tell without the appropriate machine) it will do more than £200 of damage as it tries to beat it's way through the tunnel not to mention the laundry problems.

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Ian

Agreed RE: Prop!

Bailey Morris (www.baileymorris.co.uk) are excellent fabricators of props - they're doing me a race spec S2000 one for my kitcar for £275 all in! How good is that!!!

Pity - I just sold my complete plug + play Zetec engine + gearbox with Gixer TB's megasquirt, mounts, 4-2-1 exhaust (thanks MAC1 - awesome bit of kit!!!) a 160hp Map with rolling road print out , waterhoses, oil catch tank etc for £1k...

So I'm sure if you hunt around it can be done.

The thing is - I know this goes against locost - and I'll get moaned at - EVEN if it costs £1500-£2000 (and it will in the end - trust me) YOU will not BELIEVE the enjoyment you get from it - I will safely say it will be the best MONEY you ever spend - the first time it fires up, the first nerve wracking drive, the sweating during SVA and the anger/frustration at the DVLA!

It's a rollercoaster of emotions - but you'll cherish every single penny spent and if you treat the car right - it'll pay you back in dividends!

So please don't get too hung up on cost



Good luck!

Muzchap