Time has come for me to start thinking about starting a new Locost after scum nicked my other and tools. Does anyone have any useful views about using a Porsche 924? Let's be honest, plenty around, cheap enough now and quite nippy. All views wellcome, almost.
Heavy Engine!!!!!!
I rebuilt a 924 a couple of years ago and generally was a fairly simple build. The main problem was with chassis etc which shouldn't bother you
if using as a donor. The block is very heavy though but can be easily tuned.
The gear box can be a bit of a pig on ones with high mileage and you'd have to move it forward as it's rear mounted.
So with some weight saving could be a good choic!
Not that heavy surely? Couldn't be heavier than a Pinto
Couldn't the box stay at the rear?
Probably is...not by a long way though....
[Edited on 17/5/07 by jobsagooden]
sorry hadn't though of leaving the box at the rear if you can make it fit would give you great weight distribution!
not as good distribution as an R1 engine
I'm not sure you are thinking about the right Porsche there...
Isn't the gearbox attached to the van-type VW engine in the front of a 924, and only in the back (seperated by a type of prop) in a 944???
apologies if I'm totally wrong!
Steve
quote:
Originally posted by marcjagman
Couldn't the box stay at the rear?
The engine in the 924 is a VW unit (not sure about van though
) The one I worked on the gearbox was in the rear it's possible that earlier
versions had it up front but seems unlikely.
Tha 944 set up is basically the same just a better engine.
The Audi 4 pot used in the 924 weighs around 154kgs (pinto 145kgs)
Not massive but early models only produced around 110 BHp and considering a Rover V8 weights around 145kgs and produces 160bhp in its very basic form
it does not compare well.
later Tubos had around 170BHP which does put it in a better light.
I think the engine height may be a problem for the usual locost design and I think the engine sat at a fair angle to reduce its height in the car when
it was produced.
But having said that anything goes in a locost if you want to fit it!!!
it mite sit at a small angle but not much if its the same engine in the gt coupe which as standard gives 118bhp which aint bad from the 1.7, if its the 2 liter in the 924 im sure it can give more power than 110 id say with a hot cam and webers it could give a very nice amount of power
Okay, I actually have a 924 on my Driveway at the moment.
I think you'll have issues with the height of the engine, as has been said. In the 24 its canted about 30 degrees away from vertical to get it
under the low bonnet.
All 924's had the gearbox in the rear
There is an LSD but its pretty rare, I doubt you'll find one.
Stock form the >80 had 125 BHP. If you can get a turbo that was 177 BHP.
The engine is ex VW LT van, so bottom end is ex diesel and bullet proof. Porsche reworked the head, but biggest hinderence for power gains is the
Head.
Most parts are VW/Audi so pretty cheap. If buy one for the running gear, you'll probably make your money back selling the body panels and
electric stuff.
If you need any measurements or owt gimme a shout.
I have little dobt that the VW/Audi engine could be tuned to provide ample power but there many other donor vehicles that could provide a lighter and
more powefull engine. It has a cast iron block, and as you can see , is quite tall.
The main problem trying to fit the engine to a suitable rear wheel drive configuration.
The porsche had the gearbox in the rear transaxle . It would be difficult to fit this configuration in a traditional 7 type cahssis .
The Alfa 75 had a similar set up and had som great engines from a 1.6 4cyl - a 3.0l v6 but the gearbox is too large to fit in the rear of a 7 type
vehicle. I considered this option when i looked at building a car but it was going to be a real hassle
If you have the donor and are willing to try then you could build a chassis round the transmission set up.
Good luck
the rear gearbox is the biggest hindrance - and youll need to redesign your chassis .
volvo have the same layout and it sort of sticks in your hips !!! , but somebody has done it , its not a book chassis tho .
Would it not be possible to consider using all 924 running gear and 'box, but running a zetec to it instead - you get the porsche running gear
with a lightweight engine that is known to fit, plus the rear mounted box gives better weight distribution?
Plus it'd beat telling people it's yet another sierra baed kit!
Using a transaxle in the rear of a 7 type is very difficult because the height of the gearbox is where you sit.
You would have to completely reshape the chasiss.
No longer a 7 after that!!!
wouldent require that much extra space in the back about 4" if i remember right, the 924 uses an audi 100 gbox, i have one of these and
considered the rear mounted gbox idea since i had the stuff for it, well most of it, and i did a few drawings to scale and the front of the bell
housing is just inline with the end of the transmission tunnel, this means that the gearbox just needs afew more inches because you have a bell
housing to torque tube adaptor plate.
the hardest part i could see with usen the running gear is shortening the torque tube but that could be done im sure, otherwise its a very good idea
far as i can see, go for it i say if you want