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Best engine to get 300 to 400 bhp from?
INDY BIRD - 30/4/14 at 08:07 AM

Thought if put this out to all if you have a opionion on it,

I have a friend who is just going to start a project and a 7 chassis and is looking to go car engine,

Catch is he wants at least min 300 bhp but would prefer 400 bhp,

So what's the best engine to go for and weather turbo or supercharged,

And as it is a 7 rep to try to keep it light weight if he can, as the car is in the development stage he can make it to accommodate it,

Thanks for any opionions out there

Sean


GRRR - 30/4/14 at 08:47 AM

Saab 2.3 (or 2.0) turbo engine, probably need a hybrid turbo and bigger injectors but that should comfortably see nearly 400bhp. The Trionic T5 standard management system can be mapped at home too.


coozer - 30/4/14 at 08:48 AM

Lots of options, quite a few German barges with big power engines, vag diesels with 400bhp potential, Lexus v8? Merlin v12?

I'm looking to use a Cupra r bam 225 engine in mine that's easy to tune to mid 300's

Good luck!


mookaloid - 30/4/14 at 08:49 AM

I think budget is important here - getting that sort of power isn't all that difficult.

Getting it from a small light weight engine is a bit trickier. I think I would research a duratec for starters but Saab engines are good for this too


beaver34 - 30/4/14 at 09:08 AM

also its ok having the power

but if its not in a nice delivery then it will be a proper handful in a light car

jeffs supercharged car has a nice steady power & torque curve so puts it down fine

i run a turbo engine but built to delivery power like a n/a engine so no low down grunt and peak power high up rev range with no massive spike in power that will light the rear wheels up


jeffw - 30/4/14 at 09:14 AM

'Best' is a movable feast here....best in what sense. You could have a 500BHP Supercharged GSX1000 motor for enough £££ or a CEC with a turbo like the Saab. The difficulty is getting the transmission to stay with the power you are making and to design the install to suit what you want to do with it in the budget you have.


INDY BIRD - 30/4/14 at 09:29 AM

budget wise not really considering a locost option so can be easy 10 to 15k budget,

I suggested as said what jeff has done or a duratec,

I think supercharger would be better power delivery,

But need to keep it as light as possible. so poss zetec - duratec supercharged the way to go?

Any other options out there that could be possible welcome,

cheers
sean


jeffw - 30/4/14 at 09:34 AM

If you speak to TTS they can do you a superchargered Duratec which will make big HP for 7-8K installed. Have a word with Richard or Darran

http://www.tts-performance.co.uk/#!ford-duratec-/c1amx


James - 30/4/14 at 09:59 AM

Cosworth? Hicost has 450bhp in his car.

Needs a lot of pennies spent on it!


hkp57 - 30/4/14 at 10:41 AM

Some to choose from here

Linky


six mad - 30/4/14 at 11:24 AM

A 4g63 mitsubishi evo engine will easily produce 350hp with mild mods
ecu remap filter and exhaust, your just need a rwd gearbox to mate it to.
I would think you could pick up a complete engine for 1.5k.
There are tons of aftermarket parts for these motors and they are very tuneable.


coyoteboy - 30/4/14 at 11:41 AM

3rd gen 3SGTE (Mr2 turbo, celica GT4) will push out 300hp in standard form all day long on stock everything with a few tweaks and can be picked up for a grand.

Comes from the factory with forged crank and a yamaha engineered head, rods good for 700hp, crank good for 800 proven but you'd want to switch out the pistons to forged ones if pushing more than 400.
You might struggle to find a gearbox to mate in RWD format unless you're willing to do an adapter.

[Edited on 30/4/14 by coyoteboy]


ashg - 30/4/14 at 12:12 PM

have seen lots on here

200sx engine
saab b204 or b234
most ls v8's
cosworth yb
zetec turbo/sc
duratec turbo/sc
hyabusa turbo
calibra turbo engine


just depends how deep your pockets are.


loggyboy - 30/4/14 at 12:42 PM

Maybe a 250-300hp engine and a 150shot of Nitrous? Means you can keep it cheap and have the perforance when you need it.


INDY BIRD - 30/4/14 at 12:50 PM

thanks for the replies and u2u its very interesting,

v8 though out due to weight, and no nos as wil be a track day car only,

evo not heard of one being done before prob quite hard for conversion,

some u2u for a s2000 supercharged also being a option, that's interesting.

as it will be track car must be suitable for this with appropriate sump or dry sump kit etc,

no Bike engines though,


thanks again all


loggyboy - 30/4/14 at 01:02 PM

Just because its trackdays doesnt mean Nitrous isnt viable. Its certainly worh considering. If anything because its a track and not a race car it makes it even more viable (rules and regs). Having the option on damp or drying track to just switch it off round the wet areas and turn it on when its safe to do so, combined with a controller to stage its use would be a great benefit on track.
I have a 4 port controlled nos kit for mine which I plan on installing post IVA, should boost the zetec to a healthy 250hp.


rdodger - 30/4/14 at 01:12 PM

Why?

Isn't a 7 about being light weight, nimble car with great balance? Not nose heavy and over powered.

For me it would be NASP with the right gearbox and diff.

That budget would see a 250bhp plus Duratec with Caterham 6 speed or fancy sequential.

Build it light and it's 500bhp per ton, which is enough for every one .....................apart from Jeff!

[Edited on 30/4/14 by rdodger]


jeffw - 30/4/14 at 01:20 PM

lol....it isn't just me you know


rodgling - 30/4/14 at 01:25 PM

BMW E36 M3 or similar, 320 bhp stock and will happily go a lot higher with a turbo. Loads of torque, revs nicely, and the power delivery is very nice. Not the smallest engine, but it can be made to fit in a 7. Can be had with a loom and ECU for about £1500.

[Edited on 30/4/14 by rodgling]


INDY BIRD - 30/4/14 at 01:42 PM

why?

well I have 255 bhp and sequential box and you always want more,

The person building this car is somewhat used to power and can really peddle a car,

he has just built a dax cobra with over 600 bhp and it moves and is now focusing on another project with a 7 rep but aiming for very light weight and car engine,

he has done cosies in the past aswell as busa turbos so again don't want to go down that route,

looking for a modern engine with potential of that bhp,

cheers again for the feedback,


locost 7 k - 30/4/14 at 02:08 PM

K series turbo, I'm running a 1.4 turbo K series capable of running 400bhp (forged internals) obviously your need deep pockets but the power to weight of the engine is great as they weigh next to nothing, also a rover v8 aren't too heavy but can be tuned to run high power


jacko - 30/4/14 at 04:22 PM

If it wasn't for the weight a Nissan skyline and drive train


Mr C - 30/4/14 at 04:36 PM

My choices not in any particular order.....Supercharged duratec, Mazda 3 2.3 mps engine (in essence a 2.3 turbo duratec) or an M3 engine.


Pat_T - 30/4/14 at 06:12 PM

I'm currently starting a build with a similar objective. Albeit a middy. I also have just come from a 380bhp/ton, sequential Seven.

My best option so far is a turbocharged Honda K20a.

As someone on here has already pointed out, you will find it's not finding an engine at the suitable weight/ level, it's finding one that comes with a suitable transmission that will take that power on track!


p.s Locost 7 K
400bhp 1.4 K-series?? hmmmmm. Even the best 1.8 K-series turbo build (£10k) I have ever seen only runs just above 300.
http://www.morego.co.uk/bbr-gti/RoverK300T.php (2.3bar abs boost)
You need the following kit from morego with the base plate to stop the head lifting off at those levels of boost! http://www.morego.co.uk/bbr-gti/RoverK_photos.php


locost 7 k - 30/4/14 at 09:04 PM

U2u sent


Volvorsport - 30/4/14 at 09:08 PM

Where's the bloody Volvo engines in this list.......!


big_wasa - 30/4/14 at 09:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Volvorsport
Where's the bloody Volvo engines in this list.......!



get a bloody bell housing sorted then


Volvorsport - 30/4/14 at 09:25 PM

Or sell you a perfectly decent m90 ?

depends what gearbox you want on the bellhousing...!!!


Andybarbet - 30/4/14 at 09:28 PM

Buy my complete 2.3 litre saab 95 for £250 - only 99k on the engine, problem solved !


chrisxr2 - 30/4/14 at 09:56 PM

How much do the M series BMW engines go for?? More than enough power straight out of the box if they are light enough and available.


coyoteboy - 30/4/14 at 10:47 PM

quote:

v8 though out due to weight, and no nos as wil be a track day car only,



My all alloy Audi 4.2 weighs 10kg more (185Kg) than the 3S-GTE 4 pot (175 with turbo).


me! - 1/5/14 at 07:08 AM

What about a Zetec SE? Lighter than a light thing, and if the 1.6 can do 200 bhp N/A I'm sure a turbo could release some fireworks. I think there is someone on here who has done it but I can't remember his user name.


beaver34 - 1/5/14 at 07:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by me!
What about a Zetec SE? Lighter than a light thing, and if the 1.6 can do 200 bhp N/A I'm sure a turbo could release some fireworks. I think there is someone on here who has done it but I can't remember his user name.


me, mines 340bhp with 1 bar of boost would do 400 with 1.5 bar fine but my axle and box wont

its is the lightest 1600 engine ever being 80kg, but then you add the turbo gubbings to it


rodgling - 1/5/14 at 08:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by chrisxr2
How much do the M series BMW engines go for?? More than enough power straight out of the box if they are light enough and available.


M3 is about £1500, maybe 200 kg I think. Not sure about the V8 (M60?) but I think they're pretty good value.


scootz - 1/5/14 at 09:57 AM

Twin Turbo RX7???


jeffw - 1/5/14 at 10:33 AM

hahahahahah....trust you !


jeffw - 1/5/14 at 10:46 AM

How about something really left field

Supercharged Rocket3 !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtjjfbN52jg


Ugg10 - 1/5/14 at 11:45 AM

copy this - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=30&t=1398707&mid=59813&nmt=Sylva+Phoenix+%2D+397+BHP


S2kPower - 1/5/14 at 11:59 AM

Another shout for the S2000 engine

Bare in mind at this level you're going to need to upgrade the gearbox and the standard s2000 box will take it. 9000 rpm and supercharged will see a nice power delivery too.


jeffw - 1/5/14 at 12:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
copy this - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=30&t=1398707&mid=59813&nmt=Sylva+Phoenix+%2D+397+BHP


Nah....don't do that....bloke has no idea what he is up to


jeffw - 1/5/14 at 12:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by S2kPower
Another shout for the S2000 engine

Bare in mind at this level you're going to need to upgrade the gearbox and the standard s2000 box will take it. 9000 rpm and supercharged will see a nice power delivery too.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNnfS9nvsl8

S2000 engine with the box would be a smart choice. Stock internals will see well over 300BHP when supercharged and the box will take it. The engine is tall though and a little heavy.