4wd rear engined project, before I'm too old - v6 engine recommendations please?

[PhillipM]

Maybe...

I've a few friends made lookalikes - after borrowing our tube bender = albiet in one case with a BMW straight 6 instead:

(The grey one)
Your biggest issue if you're chasing lots of power if you intend on actually using the car on gravel tracks or rallying rather than just as a road going rep, will 100% be the drivetrain surviving the shock loadings, it's really going to be the limiting factor on what you can aim for out of the engine. So I would be planning the drivetrain first and then sorting the engine to suit.

 

[PhillipM]

Especially if you do any of this

 

[Nick DV]

I've a few friends made lookalikes - after borrowing our tube bender = albiet in one case with a BMW straight 6 instead:

View attachment 384116
(The grey one)
Your biggest issue if you're chasing lots of power if you intend on actually using the car on gravel tracks or rallying rather than just as a road going rep, will 100% be the drivetrain surviving the shock loadings, it's really going to be the limiting factor on what you can aim for out of the engine. So I would be planning the drivetrain first and then sorting the engine to suit.

View attachment 384117

Nice Are these your design and do you build these from scratch?

 

[PhillipM]

The 206 on the left was ours, from scratch but many years ago, then finished by the customer.
The Metro a friend built based on doing that one with us after borrowing our tube bender

 

[Nick DV]

The 206 on the left was ours, from scratch but many years ago, then finished by the customer.
The Metro a friend built based on doing that one with us after borrowing our tube bender

Do you still race now?

 

[PhillipM]

Yes, but not in that class of car, hence the buggy.
Although, looking at building something similar again shortly.

 

[Morrisman]

Essex v6. Proper v6 .Old school technology with no fancy silly mapping and all that crap. Most of the power gain on an essex v6 is through head work.

And you can literally buy them brand new.

Ford Essex V6 and V4 Engines/index.htm.

www.essexengines.com

 

[minimutly]

Ford Duratec V6, 2.5 or 3.0. As used in various supercars - usually with turbos, very tuneable.

Jaguar in another name?

 

[minimutly]

View attachment 384118
Especially if you do any of this

I'm guessing conventional gearbox with some sort of direction reversing box? 2 or 4 wd?

 

[minimutly]

The only limitations on the kv6 is the compression ratio. lower that and it’ll turbo well. I wouldn’t bother going down the nasp route, not enough worthwhile gains to bother. Look at the btcc 2.0l kv6, all the money in the world thrown at them (with some beautiful parts added) and they only made 300bhp. A k series turbo with a map will do that. There is a guy pushing for 800+ bhp with a tuned k series, yes it’s had lots of work but considering their reputation it’s been reliable.

Well if serious about turboing the kv6 I would be changing the rods and pistons, so cr shouldn't be an issue.
300 bhp from any na 2 litre is about it, isn't it? Seem to remember the Swindon 16valvers on Btcc getting about that?
I have toyed with a 2 litre kv6 turbo - more room for rods and pistons, more revs, I dunno really.

 

[minimutly]

I've a few friends made lookalikes - after borrowing our tube bender = albiet in one case with a BMW straight 6 instead:

View attachment 384116
(The grey one)
Your biggest issue if you're chasing lots of power if you intend on actually using the car on gravel tracks or rallying rather than just as a road going rep, will 100% be the drivetrain surviving the shock loadings, it's really going to be the limiting factor on what you can aim for out of the engine. So I would be planning the drivetrain first and then sorting the engine to suit.

View attachment 384117

Agree about the drivetrain - inline gearboxes are getting rare, if you ignore the BMW offerings, which is difficult. I quite like the look of the Dodge truck zf box, but the ratios are dreadful. You can get road car versions, but they were GT spec in their day, so aren't cheap now.
I expect I'll select a geabox which will be fine until I boost the engine, then have to start again

 

[minimutly]

Does it definitely have to be a V6?

Toyota / Lexus 1UZ? Cast Ali block, sure its a big engine (4l and basically a 700mm cube) but readily available. NA by default, runs out of a vehicle on stock ECU. Get the VVTI version, turbo it and silly figures can be made.

I've got one in the workshop, no idea how much it weighs though, might be able to borrow some scales from the local trailer company to weigh it if you want.

Thanks, but it wouldn't fit...

 

[pint]

toyota GR

 

[Mittens]

VQ35DE/HR, (they're virtually identical)
Can be had in a 350Z (RWD) or Elgrand (AWD)

Bit of a largeish lump but the 350Z manual boxes, CD009 are apparently sought after for one reason or another
Elgrands are auto
The noise out the back can be fantastic, donor vehicles can occasionally be nabbed cheap, plenty of knowledge and parts availability

 

[PhillipM]

I'm guessing conventional gearbox with some sort of direction reversing box? 2 or 4 wd?

4wd, either stock 'boxes or sequentials with dropboxes, TVR diffs, or billet for some, etc.

 

[dyno-tron]

Jaguar in another name?

More or less yes.

 

[minimutly]

4wd, either stock 'boxes or sequentials with dropboxes, TVR diffs, or billet for some, etc.

Stock or sequentials with drop boxes - depends on depth of pocket I guess...

 

[Bornfree]

There must be loads of tremec t5 gearbox around they were fitted in several rwd cars.

 

[PhillipM]

Stock or sequentials with drop boxes - depends on depth of pocket I guess...

Yep, and how much abuse you intent to give it. If you're gearing down through diffs for big rally tyres they help take some of the shock off the 'box itself.

 

[stuvy]

There must be loads of tremec t5 gearbox around they were fitted in several rwd cars.

Very expensive for what they are as the ford boys like them

The ford v6 is narrower than the vauxhall equivalent
There was a ford Ka with a vectra v6 in the front of it