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Author: Subject: What’s the best pre-80’s engine
locost15

posted on 24/8/11 at 02:43 PM Reply With Quote
What’s the best pre-80’s engine

Hi guys,

I have a replica lotus 11 / 15 I’ve been working on it for years, its a early Ron Champion project (+/- 1988) so basically a book chassis with extension and a very early extended Lotus 15 body... GTS Engineering offer the latest development.

Anyway I’m thinking again of engine choice, I would like a pre 80’s engine and box, the easiest route is a Ford 1600cc with 4 speed; but also thinking

- Jaguar 6 cylinder - too big
- Lotus Eclat 2.0 twin cam – measured too big
- Lotus / Ford twink – I fear for the price
- 1275 A series – very expensive to tune and also becoming expensive to buy
- Triumph ?
- Fiat twin cam – know nothing about them..
- And of course the Coventry Climax – way out of budget

Its fitted with Triumph suspension, steering and Ford rear axle, Now as I live in Belgium and need to registrar it locally I should stick to a old engine.....

Any ideas ...

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alistairolsen

posted on 24/8/11 at 02:48 PM Reply With Quote
depending on the rules, find a 2.0 8v vauxhall block and a manta gearbox and then rebuilt it with an XE head and internals :p





My Build Thread

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speedyxjs

posted on 24/8/11 at 02:51 PM Reply With Quote
Daimler V8 if the Jag S6 is too big/heavy





How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?

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britishtrident

posted on 24/8/11 at 03:06 PM Reply With Quote
Leaving the obvious Xflo, Pinto, Valencia aside for now. The early CVH is out of it as it came out in 1980.

Best bet is a BMC A series Marina cheap enough too tune if you don't want enormous power

Chrysler Sunbeam 928cc engine & box --- rare but very light most of the hot Imp bits can be fitted.
Chrysler Averger engine


Climax fire pump engines are relative cheap to buy but expensive to mod for use in a car.


The 1500 Triumph engines have fragile bottom ends, smaller versions less of a problem.

The BMC B series is goo but big and heavy and the BL 1700 O series only came out in late 1980.

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johnq

posted on 24/8/11 at 03:21 PM Reply With Quote
i am building a similar project but have not yet soursed a body/no money, but would like some pics of your chassis/extensions etc, sincerely john,





looks like rain again

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johnq

posted on 24/8/11 at 03:24 PM Reply With Quote
to add to my last post ,i would consider a crossflow or even a pre crossflow would suit the car and chassis setup,





looks like rain again

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whitestu

posted on 24/8/11 at 03:40 PM Reply With Quote
Fiat / Lancia twin cam would be my choice.

Stu

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Surrey Dave

posted on 24/8/11 at 04:12 PM Reply With Quote
'A' series, Ford Crossflow, Ford Pre Crossflow
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JimSpencer

posted on 24/8/11 at 04:20 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
Fiat / Lancia twin cam would be my choice.

Stu


Yup, and me.. a 70's lump c.w five speed box, RWD as it comes, and sometimes with a nice pair of webbers too, sound lovely..

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Volvorsport

posted on 24/8/11 at 05:00 PM Reply With Quote
youll find plenty of old volvo engines in belgium.....





www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus

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Ivan

posted on 24/8/11 at 05:27 PM Reply With Quote
I would go for an early twincam 1600 alfa engine - very reliable, light and has twin sidedafts - assuming you can find one of course. Another truly great engine is the Renault Gordini 1300 (also very light) which is also an incredible engine that comes standard with twin sidedrafts (mine would rev to 8750 RPM) - it's the only engine I ever had that had static timing set at TDC - maybe because it had a pre-combustion chamber with nozzles firing into the main combustion chamber - similar to some deisels I believe.

Another great engine is the BMW motor from the 2002 models.

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coozer

posted on 24/8/11 at 05:38 PM Reply With Quote
900 Fireblade??





1972 V8 Jago

1980 Z750

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scudderfish

posted on 24/8/11 at 06:16 PM Reply With Quote
Rover V8!






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Kwik

posted on 24/8/11 at 07:15 PM Reply With Quote
A series if you want to keep plugging up oil leaks...
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JC

posted on 24/8/11 at 07:22 PM Reply With Quote
If you want a Coventry Climax, hunt out a Green Goddess Fire engine - the water pumps used Climax engines that can be adapted for use!
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imp paul

posted on 24/8/11 at 07:50 PM Reply With Quote
what about lotus sunbeam 2.3 engine twin cam monster i would stay clear of A series its a lead balloon with a crap gear box i know as i have few jk gear boxes oops lol

[Edited on 24/8/11 by imp paul]

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iank

posted on 24/8/11 at 07:54 PM Reply With Quote
Hillman Imp engine is a development of, and very similar to, the Climax. But probably not a very practical choice compared to others on your list.





--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous

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thunderace

posted on 24/8/11 at 08:10 PM Reply With Quote
bda BDD BDG engine.all around £20k
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Confused but excited.

posted on 24/8/11 at 08:42 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
Fiat / Lancia twin cam would be my choice.

Stu


+2 The Fiat twink is easily obtainable, cheap and eminently tunable.





Tell them about the bent treacle edges!

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locost15

posted on 25/8/11 at 10:15 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Confused but excited.
quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
Fiat / Lancia twin cam would be my choice.

Stu


+2 The Fiat twink is easily obtainable, cheap and eminently tunable.


Thanks for the input, I rather fancy a fiat / lancia twin cam... any ideas where to start looking apart from fleebay... I'll also need a gearbox....

Or it will be a Ford 1600 which is a little boring (sorry don't want to offend) everything else is heavy, poor on power or massive money...

cheers Matt

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whitestu

posted on 25/8/11 at 10:44 AM Reply With Quote
Rusty Lancia Betas are a good source of engines. Thye still come up cheaply every so often.
Fiat 124's have RWD boxes but pretty rare now. Another option is a type 9 with an appropriate bellhousing.

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bartonp

posted on 25/8/11 at 10:58 AM Reply With Quote
Lancia 1300 V4 DOHC (just to be different)

[Edited on 25/8/11 by bartonp]

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blakep82

posted on 25/8/11 at 11:08 AM Reply With Quote
small block chevy V8, obviously





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nz_climber

posted on 28/8/11 at 09:26 AM Reply With Quote
why not look to the Japanese, Toyota T series engines, or R series or Kseries are about the vintage you are after.. all of which have rwd gearboxes available..

[Edited on 28/8/11 by nz_climber]





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probablyleon

posted on 28/8/11 at 10:57 AM Reply With Quote
I needed to rebuild my fiat twincam a few years back and found the parts very tricky / expensive to come by (standard parts being almost impossible). I really liked the engine but for this reason alone wouldn't go there again. Long gone are the days where Fiat/Lancia TCs offered cheap thrills. Its mostly just Fiat/Lancia enthusiasts, that have to take this route these days. If you do decide to go down this path make sure you talk to Guy Croft, (he's one of the main, if not only) people still seriously tuning them. Just to make sure you can stomach the prices associated.
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