Hello!
Iv recently sold my TVR Chimaera and are in the market for a kit car to replace it with!
Iv seen a couple that have caught my eye, one is a MK Indy with a Fireblade engine in it and the other is a Mac 1 zr with a 2.1 pinto engine! Both
look like awsome machines and fun (which the TVR didnt give me)
Can anyone give me some feedback on them??
Which is going to be the quickest, best handeling, easiest to look after etc etc?
Thanks
J
Welcome to this nuthouse!
You'll never get a straight & unbiased answer to your question - there are groups who like one make over another, and groups that prefer one
kind of engine over another.
Both the cars you mention are good models; the pinto engine is heavy but will still impress you with its performance. The bike engine will go like
stink, but there's no reverse and you'll have to learn a new driving technique. Your choice depends on the kind of driving you'll
do.
Both will give you heaps of fun.
David
Bike Engine cars rule mate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LufBNhJEO60
how does 13,000rpm
sequential paddle shift
0-60 in late threes early 4's sound
ta chris
Oooo Ispy a can of worms being opened!!
The thing you need to sort out first is wether you want a car engine or a bike engine.
In my opinion:-
Bike engine pro's
Light
powerfull
sequential six speed box
Bike engne con's
Not as much torque as a car engine.
lack of a reverse or transmission losses from fitting a reverse box.
Buzzy nature seriously wearing on longer journeys.
Lots of gear changes.
There will now be a moment of calm before I am ripped to shreds!!
Seriously though, you've come to the right place, and welcome!
Cheers
Chris
The fireblade car will be slightly quicker if you drive it balls out all the time - as you would on a track.
The Pinto car will still be a very quick car and might suit you better if you are going touring in it
Handling will be more agile in the fireblade car as it is lighter But the pinto car will be good too.
The pinto is well understood from a maintenance point of view, if the blade motor blows you just drop another in for a few hundred quid.
It's really down to what you want to do with it once you have it.
Cheers
Mark
Welcome to the list!
Depends what you want to do with it!!! It's basically the big bike-engine vs car-engined debate!!!
Bike engines rev like crazy, produce frantic acceleration and are generally quite exhilarating... But for long journeys they can get tiresome....
They're often geared quite low- motorway cruising at 10krpm isn't much fun.... Also many don't have screens / wet weather equipment etc
to keep the weight down, another reason why they're often used as quick blasters rather than tourers.... Working on a bike engine isn't
overly complicated but it's rather more so that simpler technology like a Pinto.....
IIRC the max normal Pinto is a 2.0 which means the 2.1 is probably tuned already. Depending on the level of tune, getting more power out of the engine
will start getting expensive and difficult. Fireblades are pretty hotly tuned as standard but tune-up parts are available (though most people will
just swap for a later engine which are more powerful!!)....
The lack of a reverse in most bike-engined cars (and the lack of reliability of most reverse boxes) is also something to consider...
As far as I'm concerned the Mac1 and the MK indy are pretty much equal in terms of handling, the way they're setup will make all the
difference....
Have fun 
Horses for courses really.
A pinto is a bit of a heavy lump but is strong and can be tuned well. It should be a more relaxed road car.
A Fireblade engined car will almost certainly outperform the pinto via a combination of light weight (will stop and turn quicker) and a 6 speed
sequential box will allow lightening changes and real racecar feel. A pal of mine has done 45k in a blade engined car albeit on two engines but at
< £1k per engine thats still pretty impressive.
BEC for me every time but thats just me being biased
- Jim
[Edited on 28/2/07 by jimgiblett]
Blimey that was a quick reply!!
and sorry for opening the can o worms! Im just finding it hard to make that big decision!!
My problem is, i dont know which one would suite me best, i would only be using it for a couple of track days a year and the rest would be tottering
about county lanes and maybe taking the misses out for a sunday drive lol!
By the sound of it the bike engine route is the way forward as its lighter meaning better performance, handeling and braking! But never having driven
one on the road i dont know what there like!
I have driven a friends radical SR3 around a track but thats really a different kettle of fish!!
quote:
Originally posted by jaydee
I have driven a friends radical SR3 around a track but thats really a different kettle of fish!!
Jaydee, where are you located. Try and get a demo ride in both types of car. Many manufacturers give demonstration rides and this is the start of the
show season so you've got plenty of opportunity to suck em and see. Which KIT CAR run 2 shows that are based at racing circuits so you can get
some fast laps in both cars where you will be truely impressed with the real cornering ability off these cars.
Oh, and welcome aboard the forum
If those are your 2 choices it depends if you want the performance of the bec or the superior build of the Mac#1
(quickly runs and hides for cover)
Im in Birmingham so anywhere is accessable really!
My problem is i want one now lol!!
My intention was to sell the TVR and get a Lotus Elise but after seeing a few kit cars flying about recently i started to look into it and now i think
its the way forward!
I seen plenty of westie's for sale but for my price range im only really going to get ones with a 1600 - 1700cc engines and i dont think they
will satisfy me having just jumper out of a 4.3 V8!
Just don't think of running a "7" as a daily driver - some people do, but the fun wears off when you're soaked, cold, or sitting
in a traffic jam staring at the nuts on a HGV wheel a few feet from your head. Leaving your car in a car park can also be a worry.
Also, to be perfectly honest, a "7" is harsh, bumpy, noisy, draughty and can be just a wee bit scary... which is why I love driving it so
much, when the conditions are right!
I think of my car as a fair-weather motorcycle substitute - if it's raining, I'll take my tin-top. If I have to park in a carpark where I
can't keep an eye on my car, I'll take my tin-top. However, if it's a dry day and I'm in the mood - it's the toy car every
time!
David
[Edited on 28/2/07 by David Jenkins]
R1 engined MNR is the best, all the rest are sh*te.!!!!
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Just don't think of running a "7" as a daily driver - some people do, but the fun wears off when you're soaked, cold, or sitting in a traffic jam staring at the nuts on a HGV wheel a few feet from your head. Leaving your car in a car park can also be a worry.
Also, to be perfectly honest, a "7" is harsh, bumpy, noisy, draughty and can be just a wee bit scary... which is why I love driving it so much, when the conditions are right!
I think of my car as a fair-weather motorcycle substitute - if it's raining, I'll take my tin-top. If I have to park in a carpark where I can't keep an eye on my car, I'll take my tin-top. However, if it's a dry day and I'm in the mood - it's the toy car every time!
David
[Edited on 28/2/07 by David Jenkins]
ill take you for thrash in an R1 BEC in a fortnight mate
Ill take you out in my old car Im only in Cannock but the weathers no good at the moment.
stay around
ta chris
quote:
Originally posted by jaydee
Im in Birmingham so anywhere is accessable really!
My problem is i want one now lol!!
Theres a mix of people there with both BEC and CEC so you can hear both side of the story Welcome to the nuthouse.
I think you should buy Nitrams' F1 - 2!
quote:
Originally posted by zxrlocost
Bike Engine cars rule mate
ta chris
I dont see many people with 5.7 V8 engines in, is that because they go straight on at a bend?
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
quote:
Originally posted by jaydee
Im in Birmingham so anywhere is accessable really!
My problem is i want one now lol!!
Pop along to the south brum meet which is next monday (have a look here: http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=60952 ) and meet up with a few of us for a chat
Hope to see you there
David
[Edited on 28/2/07 by flak monkey]
It's worth riding in a pinto-powered car, especially one that's well tuned. I don't think you'll be disappointed...
If you are taking your wife out on a Sunday she would probably prefer a Pinto engined one
here we go again people who have never drove a BEC know all about them used mine day in day out, buzzed of it!
pinto over a BEC lol
I offered a comment based on what a passenger might think - and I have been a passenger in a BEC
Fully accept that they must be great fun to drive, but personally I am building a CEC as I fancy some touring in it and want to have some comforts!
I had a tuned Pinto and it was OK. I also swapped from a TVR (only an 'S' though) and the Pinto was similar in speed but handled far
better.
When it came to an engine swap, as I wanted more power, I thought about a bike engine but decided I wouldn't be happy living with it on long
drives.
I opted to swap for a 2.0 Zetec but am not sure how much better than the Pinto it will be.
I wouldn't limit yourself to a Pinto versus BEC. Wait a while and look at a few others 4age, XE, Zetec, Duratec, V6, V8 are all options for a car
engine with some being more common than others.
I wouldn't criticize a BEC as they look great fun. For a track toy they would be ideal but to take the GF out at the weekend I am not so sure..
you all must not have so understanding wives our GF's don there bike helmets and join us
Ah... but then I guess yours didn't spend a few months nursing you after a bridge drove into you. 
She is a little sensitive to me going fast now as I don't have too many bones left to break. She comes in but is a bit like a noisy wheel
bearing. She groans if I go over 70
Rite, thanks for all your comments on these Im going to have a look at both the weekend so i can make a decision!
The GF told me this morning that she wouldnt come in either, as both have aero screens instead of a glass screen
So my other options are to try and
find a screen to fit onto these or get a westie with weather gear!!
You can get windscreens to fit.
It's actually worse in a car with a screen sometimes, as the air smacks you in the side of the face. With an aero screen you can just wear a bike
helmet.
David
I dont think its the wind issue, its the having to wear a helmit issue and not having anything there to protect you if something comes up from the road, although i cant see a normal glass screen offering much protection!!
I'm a bit confused on the cruising issue in becs.
Mine does 70 at 6000rpm in top, that's only 1500 rpm more than my evo used to do it!
I don't have an aeroscreen on my car but I wear a helmet.
Get a drive in both, neither of them are going to be quiet or refined. How many miles do you plan a year?
dont worry to much mate most on here have done miles without any probs
afterall what protects a biker from flying objects
quote:
Originally posted by chockymonster
I'm a bit confused on the cruising issue in becs.
Mine does 70 at 6000rpm in top, that's only 1500 rpm more than my evo used to do it!
I don't have an aeroscreen on my car but I wear a helmet.
Get a drive in both, neither of them are going to be quiet or refined. How many miles do you plan a year?
afterall what protects a biker from flying objects
message me in a fortnight youll have a whole different prospective on it
bend + 100mph
quote:
Originally posted by jaydee
Only about 2500 max a year, it will only come out when the weather is good!!
quote:
Originally posted by jaydee
The GF told me this morning that she wouldnt come in either, as both have aero screens instead of a glass screen
quote:
Originally posted by chockymonster
I'm a bit confused on the cruising issue in becs.
Mine does 70 at 6000rpm in top, that's only 1500 rpm more than my evo used to do it!
quote:
Originally posted by andyps
Ahhh, now I see what you mean. Basing the comparison on that car well known as a smooth, refined cruiser - the evo
BEC!!!! dribble dribble!!
Hi and a very warm welcome
[Edited on 1/3/07 by matt.c]
Or stick a 300bhp turbo nissan lump in and have more power than a BEC AND heater, windscreen, doors, carpets, leather seats, etc etc
(Runs and ducks for cover like others have had too )
You're doing the right thing - try them both. I've owned a BEC and been in plenty of both. I personally now prefered CEC's, cos I want
to do long distance work ....