Alternative engines? Originality rivet counters look away now.

[winchman]

Hodgie used one in one of his Ant Hill specials.

Any links info?

 

[OJCar]

I bet that’s heavier than the car

Think an A7 rolling chassis is about 120lbs

 

[Stuartg1]

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

A company called jzr built a Morgan trike replica kitcar... I had one, lots of fun.... the prop ran down the driver's side of the chassis spine... it could be adapted to any rear end

 

[Smallfry]

Early 1.6 MX5 engine and box. Cheap as chips and very reliable.

Virtually everything else and newer is transverse, so will need adaptors to a suitable RWD gearbox ......... probably an MX5. TBH I think you will need a 3 cylinder though, as the engine bay is short.

 

[qwakers]

the rx8 is a very very compact unit....

 

[OJCar]

Any links info?

https://www.odgie.com/

 

[Ruffian]

Triumph tiger 1200 explorer,
1200cc, triple, with shaft drive.

BMW r11/1150/1200,
flat 2 shaft drive,

BMW 1 series, N13 (if i remember correctly)
PSA engine but already rear wheel drive. so could make it easier.

I know companies make bell housing adapters from bmw gearboxes to alot of things,
but even a 1.1/1.3 kent engine and 4 speed rocket box would be easy from a mk2 escort etc.

 

[Misterg]

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

They're very heavy, though (the engines) - 2.5L Jag V6 is lighter.

Got to be a bike engine of some sort.

 

[PhillipM]

Yaris 1.6L GR 3-pot. Damned things are built like brutes, there's one racing against us with 400 horsepower on stock internals. Tiny unit too.

 

[OJCar]

@Tinbasherdan Got a spare Cummings 6BT for Winchman ?

I'm sure he would fit it into a van somehow...

Only about 1100lbs so ideal* for the A7 chassis.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Plenty of gipsy engines floating around for not unreasonable money ~2k. We are still ploughing on with the 18 litre v8 petrol in the series 1, it’s starting to make some serious power now

 

[colnerov]

Give YouTubers 'Oak swamp' and 'The bracket factory' a look, they both build Austin 7 style cars. Oak swamp is more rough and ready using what he can get type of builds, The bracket factory is a more measured and engineered approach, he's even building one with an American La France engine. As for engines I would have initially said Ford Kent or BL A series, but they carry a bit of scene tax, but what about Vauxhall OHC engines as found in 80s Astra's and Cavalier's they do like to rev and they are non interference engines so a broken cambelt isn't a disaster.

 

[winchman]

Thanks for all your input I now have plenty of options to consider

 

[cheb]

If a CX engine then why not a Guzzi engine? Same configuaration, shaft drive and a variety of capacities. The main difference is that it would be aircooled.

 

[winchman]

https://www.odgie.com/

Thats great thanks

 

[winchman]

Give YouTubers 'Oak swamp' and 'The bracket factory' a look, they both build Austin 7 style cars. Oak swamp is more rough and ready using what he can get type of builds, The bracket factory is a more measured and engineered approach, he's even building one with an American La France engine. As for engines I would have initially said Ford Kent or BL A series, but they carry a bit of scene tax, but what about Vauxhall OHC engines as found in 80s Astra's and Cavalier's they do like to rev and they are non interference engines so a broken cambelt isn't a disaster.

Thanks but thats what is making me want to actually do it

 

[winchman]

If a CX engine then why not a Guzzi engine? Same configuaration, shaft drive and a variety of capacities. The main difference is that it would be aircooled.

I would have thought a Guzzi engine would be more expensive?

 

[james butler]

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

easily

 

[Rannsachair]

Not still worth looking for a rotten Reliant 3 wheeler, the way the car market is going prices are well down. Much easier conversion/upgrade and in keeping with the car? There is a Rialto with an MOT for £1500 on ebay, so a non roadworthy should be a lot less.

 

[Keithmac]

I've always fancied building a small car with a bike engine

Hyabusa Turbo would be an interesting lump!.