this is a hypothetical question.
if you were considering building a rear/mid engine car on a limited budget which engine/gearbox unit would you choose.
preferably scratch built not a kit

[Edited on 23/2/07 by gy351100]

Volkswagen beetle




Originally posted by gy351100
this is a hypothetical question.
if you were considering building a rear/mid engine car on a limited budget which engine/gearbox unit would you choose.

R1OT se uses zetec se engine,reasonably priced kit.imo
New mev rocket uses zetec e ,and the prices of the kit are very reasonable..........

Choose the engine, gearbox and driveshaft package from an appropriate front wheel drive car. Much easier and cheaper than trying to locate a transaxle type layout.

If the engine and gearbox package you have selected has McPherson strut suspension you can retain the struts at the rear and make new lower wishbones. This will simplify the design of the rear suspension geometry and driveshafts.

Toyota MR2 Mk 1, it's what I currently use as a donor, already mid engined so most of the bits fit in the right places, readily available & cheap as chips - often comes with a useable set of alloys too - also has a natural successor in the Mk2 version.
Only real drawback is that you need to either use quite short top rear wishbones or retain the McPherson strut arrangemaent depending on what sort of thing you're building.

If you decide on a Zetec, try and find a Sigma version - the head is reversed so the exhaust points rearwards so it is a lot easier to plumb the noisy bits

[Edited on 23-2-07 by RazMan]

Mini........ As in proper mini, not the BMW copy.

depends on what you want,

engine mount transverse: anything cheap and powerfull (honda toyota ford or Volvo)

engine mount lengthways: audi, renault, or combi of renault NG1 or UN1 transaxle with an engine of choice.

my choice: Un1 with a 1uzfe (toyota lexus) V8 in front of it. cheap and very reliable. or audi V8 compelte driveline which is cheaper I think

grtz Thomas

There might be a way of using the majority of the rear suspension, tank, radiator (although it's very wide), plumbing, and exhaust. Cheap as rust and good parts supply. Use an Uno turbo engine if you have a death wish. The best reason of all: the rev counter goes in an anti-clockwise direction, which is nice!

Cheers
Dave