Alternative engines? Originality rivet counters look away now.

[winchman]

For many years I have pondered about building a Special like an Austin 7 GN etc.
A GN is a pipe dream as Aircraft engines are phone numbers as are suitable donor cars.
Austin engines are often replaced with Reliant engines as they have good power to weight ration and used to be readily available. So my question is what else could be easily found and used in a 7?

 

[Blobber]

Toyota aygo, used in Peugeot and citroens as well I think, 3 cylinder 72bhp, used in a lot of small aircraft as well so must be reliable

 

[winchman]

Toyota aygo, used in Peugeot and citroens as well I think, 3 cylinder 72bhp, used in a lot of small aircraft as well so must be reliable

Thanks can it be made rear wheel drive? 72 BHP ! that would be shockingly fast in a seven

 

[tigdlo]

Hyabusa?

 

[8ob]

Kubota diesel, more than good enough and would be cheap and reliable to run

Awaiting the flaming

Bob

 

[winchman]

Hyabusa?

How though? that would possibly be too fast

 

[winchman]

Kubota diesel, more than good enough and would be cheap and reliable to run

Awaiting the flaming

Bob

I can see the chaps with Brogues and red trousers writing to the VSCC now.
Last year at a show when the Land Rover rivet counter found we have a Mercedes 5 pot in series 2 he nearly had an epileptic fit!
I must admit I do get some great satisfaction from this

 

[tigdlo]

How though? that would possibly be too fast

Same as all the bike engine Lotus 7 type kit cars, probably would be a little fast, other bike engines could be worth a look.

 

[Bornfree]

Kubota diesel, more than good enough and would be cheap and reliable to run

Awaiting the flaming

Bob

I've got a lovely kubota z400 twin cylinder in my lawnmower it does the entire year's cutting on 10litres of diesel I reckon it would do 150mpg in a car.

 

[Agrismith]

I would have thought the most obvious option would be mx5 engine and gearbox.

A slightly left wing option would be Suzuki Jimmy but not sure how easy it would be to remove the transfer box and run without

 

[qwakers]

rx8 engine. 200+hp, very cheap package, and much much more reliable than they're given credit for...

 

[Morris]

Suzuki Swift Sport engine, the older non turbo one. Lovely little screamer.

 

[winchman]

Same as all the bike engine Lotus 7 type kit cars, probably would be a little fast, other bike engines could be worth a look.

I did see some one on line talk about a CX500 engine sadly they are no longer cheap

 

[oldbikedavey]

Seem to remember that Citroen stuck a Honda CX engine into a 2CV, and that it performed remarkably well.
Worth a thought ?

 

[8ob]

The trouble with giving its some go is you then need to do something about the stopping and going around corners, best keep it modest and in line with the rest of the vehicles characteristics.

Bob

 

[bourbon]

For many years I have pondered about building a Special like an Austin 7 GN etc.
A GN is a pipe dream as Aircraft engines are phone numbers as are suitable donor cars.
Austin engines are often replaced with Reliant engines as they have good power to weight ration and used to be readily available. So my question is what else could be easily found and used in a 7?

The early Reliants used Austin 7 engines until they stopped making them. Then Reliant made their own based on the Austin 7 engine. (according to wiki anyway)

 

[sako243]

A GN is a pipe dream as Aircraft engines are phone numbers as are suitable donor cars.

The Toyota 1UZ was certified for aero use in the form of the FV2400-2TC if you wanted an aero themed engine


You'd have the power at least...

 

[OJCar]

Kubota diesel, more than good enough and would be cheap and reliable to run

Awaiting the flaming

Bob

Keep it British !
I have a Lister ST1 that would be ideal*.
635cc 10.5hp 235lb.

 

[winchman]

Keep it British !
I have a Lister ST1 that would be ideal*.
635cc 10.5hp 235lb.

I bet that’s heavier than the car

 

[OJCar]

a CX500 engine

Odgie used one in one of his Ant Hill specials.