hi i'm planning on building a locost using chris gibbs book. my main question is can i use a honda d16a9 engine and if so what gearbox and axle would be best. if this isnt possible then i guess i just have to use a good old zetec any advice would be most appreciated

Check which way the engine rotates as some if not all? of the Honda engines rotate aniclockwise.

The honda S2000 spins the right way, and I think one other engine does too, but not entirely sure which one.

Sounds like a job for google!

B,D,F and H series all run backwards and AFAIK don't have a common bolt pattern (not sure on that point though).

Think F20C is the exception from the S2000.

ISTR Mitchell Cotts make a reverse rotation RWD box, but that's gonna be one whole pile of cash, and certainly more than the car containing the engine is worth...

D series spin the wrong way round. but can be converted either in the box or in the engine, there's a B16 vtec running clockwise, but I don't even want to know what that would cost to build custom everything

K20 and F20c engines will do on a normal box.

shame really because they respond very well to a nice tuned set-up.

the easiest way is to fit a 4age.

grtz Thomas

Can you not just turn the rear diff upside down?

[Edited on 21/1/08 by Mark G]

Yes You can, but you'd need a straight cut gearbox so no side loads are put on the gears. if you don;t the gears will force themselves appart under load and wear out at a quick rate.

straight cut everything with the diff inverted wouldn't be a problem I think.

go for it show us what can be done! opens up a whole new can of worms to be able to use the couterclock honda engines.

grtz Thomas

hmm posted twice

[Edited on 21/1/08 by thomas4age]

aren't there any boxes that would run in that direction.

What about double helical gears, surely they'd be ok?

Hey mark, no there aren't any usefull (seven) boxes that can do that exept staright cut boxes. by my knowledge at least, could be some in honda 4wd like the CRV but I'm not sure. CRV uses straigt cut diffs so I've read.

those gears will probably hold op but the bearing they run on will be forced to death pretty quickly as it seems, the gears don;t calmp into eachother but be forced away from eachtother.

Grtz Thomas

What would it actually take to change the rotation direction of an engine?

Obviously:
*Water pump direction - probably easy enough if belt driven.
*Oil pump - bigger problem, dry sump maybe?
*Cam drive tensioner - probably needs to be mooved or rearranged
*Cam timing - assuming cams opperate directly onto tappets, not rockers which may complicate matters.
*Firing order (if stock cams are retained)
*Sensor location if using stock ecu

Subtleties:
*turn pistons 180deg if the little end pin (I forget its name) is bored offset
*Screwthreads - ensure any threaded connections won't work loose if rotated the wrong way.

I've probably missed something there but it's only really the oil pump that strikes me as being especially tricky/expensive.

<edit>No idea what would happen with the VTEC though, wasn't thinking of that earlier.

jk

[Edited on 22/1/08 by jkarran]

I think but not 100% sure that the wirstpins in the D series engines aren't offset so no need to reverse install the conrods and pistons if you do that you'd have problems with recess cut-outs in the pistons for the valves (in bigger than ex)

appart from that you've got the list quite covvered,
don't think V-tec opreation would seriously need altering, but cam timing will be a true horror, propably vtec lobes vs non vtec lobes need to be remachined.

sensor pickups would do ok I think. trigger wheels might not.

starter motor needs to reverse when cranking.

the timing belt idler pully needs to move to the oppiste side or an additional one mounted.

waterpump runs of the timing belt on these engines, that might pose a problem, easiest way is to look up a mirrored impellor wheel and fit that to the waterpump shaft, (there must be something that fits)

would require a lot of work, but that's what diy is all about isn'tit.
would be very nice and unique thats for sure.

G7tz Thomas

Hi Cams and a whole host of other things. we where involved in one of the first uses of a honda in a seven 18 years ago.. Do not even think of trying to get the engine to run the other way round. Just use the S2000 setup complete and save your sanity. 240 bhp would be enough i would think. And has been done many times .

Cheers Matt

Just use a honda V6 like me

Liam