if a standard spec mk1 fiesta weighs 700kg what do you think it could be lightened to with a rear engined hayabusa, fibreglass panels etc? dont forget it has still got to be road legal.

cheers des

i would say so. never known it to be done, or how light it needs to be for a BEC, but like you say, a mk1 in standard form weighs 700kg, i guess you could bin most of the interior carpets, door cards etc (replace with ali sheet where necessary) the fiesta engine and gearbox would weigh more than the bike ones i'd say, figreblass bonnet... yeah, it sounds possible to lose a fair bit of weight

[Edited on 1/9/08 by blakep82]

Put the engine up front and drive the back wheels.

Or to make it more interesting and probably lighter you could put the engine in the front and have it FWD with a chain diff

Id vote for FR

Id vote for FR

i think the fiesta is more like 800kg. my kitten weighed 530kg before i stripped it and after i finished with a v twin in the back it came down to 470 kg , you might get it dowm to 600ish but its still on the heavy side , an r1 z cars mini is aorund the 600 mark. there is a bec polo in next months ppc magazine . iwould defo chain drive it or you have the same gearing issues that all the bec lads have in their sevens,
wieght wise i cant see any difference putting the engine up front or in the back

have a look at JMA automotive web site they seem to indicate any small car can be Bike powered

http://www.jmacarconversions.co.uk/frameset2.html

Slightly OT but my yearning for a Mk1 Escort (not being able to afford one) has led to me thinking of a Saxo stripped out turned to RWD with world cup cross member, billies and a 2L zetec... target weight around 700Kg. Should be quite a hoon in the wet!

how heavy is a mk 1 fiesta i have one out side my workshop lad next door is putting a cossie engine and 4x4 running gear in it and on the vin plate it says front axle 655kg rear axle 645kg then above that 1200kg ???

What's the chassis on a Mk1 Fester like?
Is it going to handle when you put some vavavoom in it or will it be like an over-powered shopping trolly.

Not sure what the tuning scene is like for Fiestas but the standard ones I've ever had a ride in were not the best handling vehicles ever created..... but then maybe they were poverty spec bangers....

Just a thought.....

I looked at putting a V8 in my old Mk 1 fiesta. It was mint too, but i scrapped it in the end due to no more time and trying it in a council garage with no power.

The body needs strengthening, but a roll cage will do this.

We cut the rear floorpan out, and made a square tube subframe that would have held the V8 and the renault 21 gearbox suspension and inboard brakes.

Any car can get a bike engine, though i would say that to get any reasonable accelleration, you would ideally need to go as low in weight as possible. Personally, i would leave carpets in, build a firewall from ali (or engine compartment), and replace the front wings with fibreglass replacements. Move the fuel tank and battery to the front (put the battery in a box though).

Theres no point sacrificing comfort if you dont need to. The weight of the carpets really wont make a difference unless your competing. Same with stereos etc, though i wouldnt add any "ICE" at all. The engine noise should be enough!!


[Edited on 4/9/08 by MakeEverything]

[Edited on 4/9/08 by MakeEverything]