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engine choice for locost
commonmann - 18/1/03 at 08:49 PM

Has anyone fitted the 2.0L 16V Vauxhall engine to a locost, if so what problems did they come across. We are at present building a locost with this engine but have not heard of anyone else using this lump.

stephen_gusterson - 18/1/03 at 11:14 PM

i think there may be one or two on here that are, but in 2+ years of being on groups like this I have not encountered many. There are also those that bang on about the rover k series, but those that use em are similarly few.

My guess, is that people want to use rwd drive trains with minimal hassle, so ford products bolted to a type 9 box is a nice easy option.

there are available adaptors for other engine gearbox combos, but its tempting to get what you want out of a donor already joined together!

atb

steve

jollygreengiant - 19/1/03 at 12:04 AM

for the gearbox you could use the carlton/omega gearbox.



Enjoy.

Viper - 19/1/03 at 12:18 AM

and its a good choice of engine, if you like to rev em...only drawback i can see is the same as the pinto, its a tall engine compared to the crossflow..

Stu16v - 19/1/03 at 02:10 PM

Yep, I'm building one, and there are a couple of others on this forum too.
It is a tall motor, in fact in standard form it is exactly the same height as the Pinto, from sump to rocker cover.
Sumps are your first headache. The standard FWD one is no good, there is too much depth to it and there is no baffling. You have a number of options-
a) buy a sump off SBD, Westfield etc. Over two hundred quid....
b)Find a Manta big wing sump, and have some depth cut out of it. Two problems here, thats actually finding one (quite rare), and getting it modifed (you may not be able to do this yourself, it's alloy).
c)get a sump off a 2 litre Cav 8v etc, which is a steel sump, and modify and baffle to fit.

The oil filter is also in an odd position. Ideally it could do with remote mounting, or alternatively remove the oil cooler sandwich plate, and replace the threaded stud for the oil filter with one off a later 8v VX engine. If space is still tight, your can use a Reno Fuego oil filter IIRC, which is a bit shorter.
The standard injection system cannot be fitted without serious modification to the inlet manifold, so really you are looking at carbs or throttle bodies, as well as then having to sort out an ignition system (1800 Mk2 Astra SRi ignition can be fitted IIRC, a cheap alternative).
A Manta/Carlton gearbox can be used, of a bell housing kit can be purchased to convert to Ford type 9 gearbox. Again the conversion eats into the budget, but I have gone this way as there are loads of Ford gearboxes about, they are smaller, and eventually it gives you thr option of changing gear ratios at a reasonable(!) price.....
Anything else I can help you with mate?

[Edited on 19/1/03 by Stu16v]

Viper - 19/1/03 at 03:59 PM

Stu excuse my ignorance but is there any reason why you can't modify the original sump?

commonmann - 19/1/03 at 04:05 PM

In reply to Stu16v, we already have a manta GTI gearbox and winged sump which came with the engine for £250. I have fitted the engine and gearbox already but found the height would give one hell of a bulge in the bonnet. I have re-adjusted the engine mounts to drop the engine down 1 1/2" and back by the same amount. this should give a better bonnet line. The only problem I had with the gearbox was the gearlever which had to be extended by 6". It now sits nicely positioned in the tunnel adjacent to the sterring wheel. Propshaft is Opel Manta with a MK1 Ford Escort estate flange welded on to match the rear axle. My next problem is shortening the winged sump. This may not be to bad as I have just been practicing my ally welding using 0.8 ally wire in a mig welder with argon gas, so far some reasonable results, so maybe I could crack it.

Northy - 19/1/03 at 08:25 PM

Stu16V,

Do you know how the 8 Valve Vx compares to the Pinto and 16 Valve in height?

Do you have any idea if the 8 Valve can be used with the standard injection (ie will it fit under the bonnet?). When you talk about serious modification of the inlet manifold, what do you mean? 'Cut and shut' to angle it down a bit?

Thanks for any info you may have,

[Edited on 20/1/03 by Northy]

Stu16v - 21/1/03 at 07:10 PM

quote:

Stu excuse my ignorance but is there any reason why you can't modify the original sump?


Viper, the original sump would not hold enough oil if it was cut and shut, its alloy, and would need baffles fitting to prevent surge. IMO much easier to use a steel sump off an 8v or ideally, the Manta big wing sump. Or go the SBD/Westfield route. *ucking expensive, but cheaper than another engine.........

Northy, the 8v engine minus inlet manifold is slightly shorter than the 16v/Pinto engines, but not by much. The 8v manifold is much more 'kit' friendly, but as standard the manifold sits up on the engine rather like the EFI system on a Pinto. The 16v manifold sits lower, but to keep a good inlet tract length, it sweeps down the side of the block, just where the steering column wants to go. The plenum chamber that sits on top of the throttle body also takes up a lot of room, but sideways in the engine bay.

HTH Stu.

Viper - 21/1/03 at 08:23 PM

If its that expensive to buy a sump then i would have thought a better route to take would have been a second hand dry sump kit??

Northy - 21/1/03 at 10:01 PM

Stu,

What do you suggest I do then? Ditch the injection? You mentioned modifying the inlet manifold. Is this possible?

Thanks