Right, after all this time I still don't know which engine to use!

I've considered:

CVH (FWD) - apparently fitting the alternator is a head test

CVH (RWD) - difficult to find

Pinto - heavy and a bit tall

Zetec - my choice but apparently there are issues with cat converters? (anyone give me a definate answer as to the age limit for the engine to not need a cat for the SVA?)

X-flow - still a possibility?

Any other suggestions?? Needs to be cheap and preferably Ford and non-injection (or easy convert to carbs)

HELP!!!

Chris

Oh my dear Chris,fancy you of all people asking this question!!!

The only sane choice has to be a Vauxhall 2.o 8v,
130 horses standard and you can buy a whole car for £35 from the auctions as an mot failure.

FORD? whoooooooooooooo?

get ready for the usual "get a blade response" from Ison!!!!

Would love a blade engine is someone has one for free (or at least very cheap!)

As for Vauxhall - I'm a Ford owner so it's against my principals to haven anything to do with Vauxhall, although I would like one of their 2.0 16v 'blue top' engines!

Chris

Anything registered before the first half of 1992 doesn't require a cat.

I keep asking myself the same question, its all jumbled up in my head mine are as follows,

Vauxhall - Top engines

Pinto (2.1) or X-flow (1600) seems an easy option

I am also trying to find out if the volvo 340 box mates up with the Renault 5 turbo motor as ive bee told there the same engine (ish)

Danny

So if the engine comes from a J plate or earlier you don't need a CAT??

Cheers

Chris

Aye, even if the car was fitted with a cat, if it's registered before mid-92 you can replace your exhaust with a none-cat system.

A little known fact is, no car is actually required by law to have a cat, its just that it's difficult to get the emissions down to acceptable levels without a cat (but not impossible, many cars come close even without a cat, due to modern clever computer controlled engines being clean "as is")

I guessed that was the case. Not knowing a huge amount about emissions and things is it possible to detune an engine to such and extent that it'll pass the tests? (and then accidentally tune it properly the next day!)

I looked on Parker's guide and it looks like there are Zetec's out there on J plates so it may be possible afterall...?

Chris

Some of the aftermarket engine management systems (emerald etc.) have a switchable map, one for power, flick the switch, one for emissions (up to you to sort it out tho').
I'm not really au fait with emissions etc. it's just what I've gleaned from the web

Right (in case anyone is interested aswell as me) the following have Zetec engines and are available on a 92J plate. (according to Parker's guide)

- Fiesta RS1800i
- Fiesta XR2i 1.8 16v

- Orion 1.8 16v Ghia
- Orion 1.8 16v Si
- Orion 1.8 16v LX

- Escort XR3i 1.6 16v

Hopefully I can find one of these to donate it's engine!

Chris

Hello...

I would have thought that de-tuning an engine may give it worse emissions. Look at your bike engines - they are so beautifully engineered and just, well, 'optimal' that many of them can pass the emissions tests without a cat. They can hardly be considered de-tuned.

I heard a while ago that a Honda NSX can pass Californian emissions levels without a Cat. Probably blow your 250 quid budget, mind.

I also heard that some people (Stuart Taylor rings a small bell) will actually rent you a Cat for passing SVAs/MOTs if you want to use a modern engine.

If you like fitting big things in small spaces, love large wiring diagrams and making adaptor plates, you could have a nice 2.7 litre honda V6 from an old Rover 800 for bugger all - I know people giving them away for nowt. 180bhp.

Liam

well ere it is, put a "Blade" engine in it, that aside if i was going car engined it would be, 1st, Vauxhaul 16v, 2nd, Fiat Twin Cam, last would be Pinto, they can make decent power but are heavy and tall, the cams wear out, unless you cross drill em that is....... there thats my 2p worth...


go on, bike, you know you want too

oh, another engine i allways fancied was the mazda rotary, seen a couple in my grass racing days, very light and spit flames outa exhaust on overun.......nice, last one i saw was in ccc for £500, including re-built turbo, only the bike stop'd me going that route

I'm probably going the bike route myself. The other option I also looked at is Mazda rotary.

Here in Canada any engine before 1986 is exempt of emissions testing. Ron, a fellow Canadian Locost builder, used a 1979 12B rotary in his and it's pretty quick (apparently).

The plan is Bike powered for now. Honda Fireblade or Blackbird, Suzuki Hayabusa or Kawasaki ZX12. But if I can't go that route then it's defintely Mazda rotary!