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Engine choices
flak monkey - 17/2/19 at 04:44 PM

Well, I'm back and soon to start another locost style build and contemplating engine choices - persuade me one way or another...

Having previously built the silly blown Duratec, this one will be much more sensible and I'm not aiming for anything more than 200hp this time around, and generally much more sensible and useable on the road.

Considering either going full old school and going 150hp pinto with type 9 - easy on emissions for IVA and a mega simple build. Cheap to get it on the road

Or 2l duratec with mazda 6 speed box - but it would presumably have to meet age related emissions at IVA which means EFI and CAT's etc from the outset. Much more expensive than the old school route.


big_wasa - 17/2/19 at 05:17 PM

2.0 Duratec on the ford ecu.

Yes it will only be 145bhp but it’s plug and play and will meet Iva / mot criteria with cat and relevant sensors and it will be cheap and refined.


flak monkey - 17/2/19 at 05:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
2.0 Duratec on the ford ecu.

Yes it will only be 145bhp but it’s plug and play and will meet Iva / mot criteria with cat and relevant sensors and it will be cheap and refined.


Easily tweakable after IVA though... right?


jossey - 17/2/19 at 05:47 PM

Ecoboost 1.6

220bhp with delta ecu

OR how about a BMW engine


rusty nuts - 17/2/19 at 06:37 PM

Stick ax flow in it, you know it makes sense!


Ugg10 - 17/2/19 at 07:13 PM

Stock mx5 1.8l engine, comes with free rwd gearbox (late mk2.5 have 145hp and 6 speed box and lsd) and there are Locost style kits to take the mx5 running gear.

Other is stock Zetec st170 on oem ecu (see big_wasa threads on here) with either type 9 or rx8 6 speed (gears 2-6 same as quailed clubman but helical and will rev to 9k and take 250 hp/ftlb).


Mr Whippy - 18/2/19 at 12:20 PM

surprised no ones recommended one of the tiny 3 cylinder car engines now becoming popular such as used in the Fiesta, Focus, VW Up! etc

There so small and light they are more like bike engines


big_wasa - 18/2/19 at 12:52 PM

Aftermarket Ecu's to run direct injection engines are still very expensive and not every mapper will have the experience to get it done.

Oem will be heavily interlinked with other systems on a network ie canbus. I am sure its doable by some one with a little more talent than me.

It's on my to do list. Three other engine to finish up first.


owelly - 18/2/19 at 05:18 PM

Watching with interest as I need a engine/gearbox package to fit in a thing currently under wraps......but it needs an o/s (right) exhaust.... Which Mazda gearbox bolts to the 2.0 Duratec?


James - 18/2/19 at 06:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Well, I'm back and soon to start another locost style build and contemplating engine choices - persuade me one way or another...



Welcome back!

Just started back myself and determined to get the car back on the road.

However just had some bad job news so not so sure I can afford to now.


Will follow your engine build with interest- especially if you go Duratec/Mazda.



Cheers,
J


flak monkey - 20/2/19 at 06:39 AM

Thanks for the input all, food for thought...


snapper - 20/2/19 at 07:29 AM

I have extensive experience of the Pinto and 150bhp is not much of a challenge except if you do the head porting and valves yourself.
I suspect you could get 150bhp with an injection head just big inlets and a medium cam.

The Duratec is my next learning curve and I’m contemplating using one of my ST versions with no internal work and possibly a supercharger giving mild boost.

At a recent Essex Kit Car club meet 2 members have MX5’s as well as kit cars and their MX5’s are both supercharged, they both get 230bhp at the wheels, no need to take the engine apart just an aftermarket ecu and I believe 1 came pre mapoed


sdh2903 - 20/2/19 at 08:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
surprised no ones recommended one of the tiny 3 cylinder car engines now becoming popular such as used in the Fiesta, Focus, VW Up! etc

There so small and light they are more like bike engines


No knowledge of the others but I do know the ford ecoboost 1.0 is not light by any stretch. Although tiny it's an iron block and has heavy balance shafts. I would say the 4 pot 1.6 ecoboost was probably lighter. These have started to be ran on port injection, believe dale at Bailey performance is doing it.


Mr Whippy - 20/2/19 at 04:45 PM

The little 3 cylinder in my Up is all alloy with wet liners, even the exhaust manifold is built into the alloy head. No balance shafts either. Rest of the engine is plastic. Tiny engine in a tiny engine bay... Mines non turbo so just 60bhp but even that the car is nippy