easiest engine swap for a cheeky 'sleeper' on the cheap.

[300bhp/ton]

TommyBuoy said:

[

On the topic of sleepers - obviously brake and suspension upgrades are a given, but what about the actual chassis? I wouldn't fancy planting my foot and crabbing down the road or just twisting myself in to knots.

I realise that cars obviously have to reach safety standards so the chances of twisting a newer car would be less, but with the suggestions of old minors etc, would you need to brace the car before putting your fire breathing nitrous swilling V8 in the bay.

I think many of the older cars would be fine tbh. And besides if you are making custom mounts and the like a bit of seem welding and bracing isn't much.

There's a company that fits K-Series and Ford 2.0 (Duratec???) into Minors, they have one with a supecharger and 300hp.

[TommyBuoy]

300bhp/ton said:

TommyBuoy said:

[

On the topic of sleepers - obviously brake and suspension upgrades are a given, but what about the actual chassis? I wouldn't fancy planting my foot and crabbing down the road or just twisting myself in to knots.

I realise that cars obviously have to reach safety standards so the chances of twisting a newer car would be less, but with the suggestions of old minors etc, would you need to brace the car before putting your fire breathing nitrous swilling V8 in the bay.

I think many of the older cars would be fine tbh. And besides if you are making custom mounts and the like a bit of seem welding and bracing isn't much.

There's a company that fits K-Series and Ford 2.0 (Duratec???) into Minors, they have one with a supecharger and 300hp.

I don't profess to know the first thing about structural integrity and conversions etc, but it just seems an easy engine swap would be something you could in your garage, but taking care of the chassis if required would start to require proper kit and getting into custom parts is pushing the cost up if you couldn't do it yourself, both of which the OP is against reading his post.

Just out of interest, why do you say the older cars would be ok - looking through the suggestions in the thread your talking about cars that don't have to handle any sort of real power (in terms of the engines being transplanted)?

Although I do like the idea of a 300bhp minor, but not with the skinny cross plys though.

Edited by TommyBuoy on Thursday 27th May 16:24

[Steameh]

I always fancied a Lexus IS200 with a 1JZ-GTE engine swap.

[TEKNOPUG]

300bhp/ton said:

TEKNOPUG said:

300bhp/ton said:

TEKNOPUG said:

SHutchinson said:

ZeeTacoe said:

Omega + chevy V8. You know it makes sense.

This.

A facelift Omega with a decent engine would be cracking. Even better if it was an estate.

It's no more cheap & easy than it is to fit a Chevy V8 into any other car, unfortunately. You'd still need to fabricate a load of parts. None of it is plug'n'play. Would be no different from fitting one to Sierra/Capri or 5 series BM.

There are a few knocking about though but you could just buy a Holden with one already in for the same cost of creating one.

I can't see the appeal of an Omega sleeper. The Police used them for years and the factory 3.2 ELITE was no slouch anyhow. I just can't see how anyone could really be surprised by one, which in my mind is the idea of a sleeper.

This is a big diffence between a 3.2 V6 220bhp Omega (which is brisk) and a 5.7 V8 350+bhp Omega which is going to tear up M3/Porkers etc!

Not saying it isn't, but they aren't unknown for modding and a nitrous kit would be cheaper and easier than a V8 conversion. Not saying its a bad idea, just think (personally!!! ) there are better ones

TBH there really isn't too much tuning to be had with the VX V6's as the blocks aren't designed with the required water ways and cooling to handle much over 250bhp. It pretty much a false economy trying to tune them. Shame Opel never released the V8 Omega.

[300bhp/ton]

TommyBuoy said:

300bhp/ton said:

TommyBuoy said:

[

On the topic of sleepers - obviously brake and suspension upgrades are a given, but what about the actual chassis? I wouldn't fancy planting my foot and crabbing down the road or just twisting myself in to knots.

I realise that cars obviously have to reach safety standards so the chances of twisting a newer car would be less, but with the suggestions of old minors etc, would you need to brace the car before putting your fire breathing nitrous swilling V8 in the bay.

I think many of the older cars would be fine tbh. And besides if you are making custom mounts and the like a bit of seem welding and bracing isn't much.

There's a company that fits K-Series and Ford 2.0 (Duratec???) into Minors, they have one with a supecharger and 300hp.

I don't profess to know the first thing about structural integrity and conversions etc, but it just seems an easy engine swap would be something you could in your garage, but taking care of the chassis if required would start to require proper kit and getting into custom parts is pushing the cost up if you couldn't do it yourself, both of which the OP is against reading his post.

Just out of interest, why do you say the older cars would be ok - looking through the suggestions in the thread your talking about cars that don't have to handle any sort of real power (in terms of the engines being transplanted)?

Although I do like the idea of a 300bhp minor, but not with the skinny cross plys though.

Edited by TommyBuoy on Thursday 27th May 16:24

You need to take each car on its own merits. Some newer cars might be pretty crap while some older ones very good.

So I don't claim all are ok. But in a custom build (which any engine swap like this will be) there is always scope.

Plus many of these things have been done already over the years. And at the end of the day a chassis is pretty strong even on very floppy cars. It'll be more like the axle, diff, shafts, gearbox, hub assy and mounting points that are likely to be the weak bits as opposed to the actual chassis twist and torsion rates.

[spanna123]

Seat Arosa/VW Polo/Lupo + 20vT from Cupra R

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEAT-LEON-CUPRA-R-225-BAM-1-...

[Chunky La Funga]

CampDavid said:

5678 said:

CampDavid said:

E30 Touring + E36 M3 Evo lump with failed VANOS + Throttle boddies

That is a rather naughty idea...

What's not to like?

With the back end being the same as the M3 Coupe and a decent set up at the front you'd basically be getting a better looking, lighter and more practical M Coupe.

fk me, I'm a genius

This is not a straightforward conversion. Lots of isues with steering, radiator clearance, propshaft alignment and exhaust. Same engine into an E36 Compact is far, far, easier.

[ShiggyBiggs]

Clio williams engine in a st looking 1.2 shell, for added sleeperness put a really st back box on it.

[poing]

MK1 mx5 - roughly £1500
Written off/cheap Lexus LS 4.0 with V8 - roughly £1500

Add the 2 together at home with a bit of help from online sources. Total cost less than £4000 including buying a few tools.

Being done here right now:
http://www.carartz.com/Forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?...

[Mazda Baiter]

RB26DETT said:

That's a minor 1000 ain't he using a beetle ??

Different car.

This one has no build thread yet. The PHer is a particularly lazy mazdabaiter.

[Mazda Baiter]

TommyBuoy said:

300bhp/ton said:

TommyBuoy said:

[

On the topic of sleepers - obviously brake and suspension upgrades are a given, but what about the actual chassis? I wouldn't fancy planting my foot and crabbing down the road or just twisting myself in to knots.

I realise that cars obviously have to reach safety standards so the chances of twisting a newer car would be less, but with the suggestions of old minors etc, would you need to brace the car before putting your fire breathing nitrous swilling V8 in the bay.

I think many of the older cars would be fine tbh. And besides if you are making custom mounts and the like a bit of seem welding and bracing isn't much.

There's a company that fits K-Series and Ford 2.0 (Duratec???) into Minors, they have one with a supecharger and 300hp.

I don't profess to know the first thing about structural integrity and conversions etc, but it just seems an easy engine swap would be something you could in your garage, but taking care of the chassis if required would start to require proper kit and getting into custom parts is pushing the cost up if you couldn't do it yourself, both of which the OP is against reading his post.

Just out of interest, why do you say the older cars would be ok - looking through the suggestions in the thread your talking about cars that don't have to handle any sort of real power (in terms of the engines being transplanted)?

Although I do like the idea of a 300bhp minor, but not with the skinny cross plys though.

I am the sort of person that would upgrade the suspension, brakes and tyres before adding power anyway.

The Minor project is having a full cage going to all the suspension load sites. It will effectively be a spaceframe with a body shell. The suspension and brakes are off a Legacy with a WRX engine, the minoru will weigh significantly less so it should be over braked anyway.

I shall get the PHer to make a thread when there is a bit of progress.

(Crossplies are awesome fun in a standard minor. Drifting within the speed limit. )

[howcanshe]

Why has no one mentioned bike engines?

I would do:
http://www.smartuki.com/

or

http://www.autofiends.com/2008/12/fools-gold-kawas...

or

http://www.zcars.org.uk/mini/conversion.htm

[vit4]

Saw a Bedford Rascal with a Kawasaki Ninja engine in it iirc a while ago, sounded immense!

Dunno if anyone's said, but Tomcat engine into a Metro?

[morgrp]

Volvo 960 with a chipped T5 and a manual box - RWD, approx 280bhp and old fart styling. reckon on around 700 quid for the 960, 300 quid for a T5 lump and 50 quid for a box of spanners. Engine/ bell housing should be pretty much a straight swap - essentially the same engine as the original six minus a cylinder. Obviously the 960 gearbox would need to be used.

Alternatively a 240 GLT with a 740 GLT 2.3 16valver under the bonnet would be quite good fun - 155bhp and rwd (16v lump makes a nice noise too) again. a straight swap.

[tyranical]

Without spending piles of money, I'd go for anything with the 1.8t VAG engine in tbh, alot of the cars look very bland, but that engine is a very tuneable lump.

My Ibiza FR went from 150 to 210 from a remap alone. Standard internals are good for 300bhp.