Drivetrain suggestions needed
Drivetrain suggestions needed
Author
Discussion

It's fixable...

Original Poster:

471 posts

234 months

Wednesday 30th November 2011
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So between April - September I'm considering making my daily commute (100 mile round trip) in a "Hot Rod" styled turtledeck Model T Ford.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this style of vehicle, think Lotus Sevenesque to give a very general idea.

During the "driving season" the car will cover approximately 13k miles over normal two lane roads, a mixture of A, B or unclassified. Think motorbiking roads to get the character.

Obviously fuel economy, reliability and ease of serviceability will be prime considerations.

Based upon front engined, RWD format, what suggestions do the PH massive have for engine, gearbox and back axle selection ?

I was thinking NA 1900cc Peugeot XUD for the engine and gearbox / back axle from an older Peugeot estate, perhaps 305 or 505 if I can find one.

Preparing for a flaming....

Jon

dom9

8,673 posts

238 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
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Motorbiking roads? Light car? Good on fuel?

How about a 1000cc+ bike engine and any diff that gives you the nicest blend of ratios?

chard

29,007 posts

212 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
quotequote all
It's fixable... said:
"Hot Rod" styled turtledeck Model T Ford.


I was thinking NA 1900cc Peugeot XUD for the engine and gearbox

Jon
I watched American Graffiti the other day. I think the yanks were missing a trick by not using Peugeot power. You could run it on chip oil too for the authentic hot rod feel.

stevieturbo

18,077 posts

276 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
quotequote all
It's fixable... said:
So between April - September I'm considering making my daily commute (100 mile round trip) in a "Hot Rod" styled turtledeck Model T Ford.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this style of vehicle, think Lotus Sevenesque to give a very general idea.

During the "driving season" the car will cover approximately 13k miles over normal two lane roads, a mixture of A, B or unclassified. Think motorbiking roads to get the character.

Obviously fuel economy, reliability and ease of serviceability will be prime considerations.

Based upon front engined, RWD format, what suggestions do the PH massive have for engine, gearbox and back axle selection ?

I was thinking NA 1900cc Peugeot XUD for the engine and gearbox / back axle from an older Peugeot estate, perhaps 305 or 505 if I can find one.

Preparing for a flaming....

Jon
How much room have you ? It's going to make sense to try and find a rwd layout. so you can get the entire drivetrain.

Cheapish, if you have room for a straight 6. The Volvo 2.4 td engine ( 2.4 VW really )
Find a complete car and you get a fully mechanical diesel engine/box/axle

It's fixable...

Original Poster:

471 posts

234 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
quotequote all
OK guys - thanks for the replies.

@ Stevieturbo I'll have a look into your suggestion - space for a straight six shouldn't be a problem, but a bit concerned about weight distribution and fuel economy.

@ Ch tard - I'm looking for the right "styling" (hence the selection of a closed bonnet body style) with fuel economy thrown in. I'd love to sling in a 392" hemi and mount mondo meats on the back, but for a period correct V8 achieving ~10mpg I'd be throwing 1300 gals or a shade under £8000 in the tank to run the car for six months. Stuff that. Even 50 mpg would cost more than £1500....

Anyone else got suggestions for a petrol sipping engine that fits the bill ?

Cheers

Jon

Jon

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
quotequote all
Bung a Ford Valencia engine in there. 42mpg in a Ka or a Fiesta, still Ford, easy enough to get RWD if you've built a hotrod.

powerstroke

10,283 posts

189 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
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BMW turbo diesel or VW audi t diesel ???

stevieturbo

18,077 posts

276 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
quotequote all
TBH, a well tuned modern V8 with fuel injection etc should be able to achieve decent mpg.

The likes of a Monaro can achieve 30mpg on a motorway cruise without much bother.

SO a very small lightweight car should do a little better. Although stop start traffic will still hurt

But any fairly modern 4cyl petrol engine should see you hit 40mpg I'd hope

Some 2.4td diesel Volvo owners will claim 40mpg, and with a manual it may be possible. I had an auto and it was maybe 32-33mpg. But a very simple engine so would make for an easy swap.

Or perhaps an oldish Mercedes diesel, or Nissan ( black taxi ? )

anonymous-user

83 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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I'd go for a simple but modern small capacity petrol engine, with a transmission with a nice tall top gear (to downspeed).

Something like the Aygo/C1 (1 litre, 3 cyls and 70bhp) but in a much nicer to drive package than the old pug oil burner. With the correct gearing and driven gently (read slowly for a car with the aerodynamic drag of an outhouse !) it would return very good mpg. But then when given some stick it would go ok (i assume you cars going to be pretty low mass) and even sound interesting (like half a 911 ;-)

You will have to find a rwd drivetrain to suit, but it wouldn't be beyond the wit of man to link it up to say an MX5 gearbox and diff (infact, use the complete MX5 suspension etc)

stevieturbo

18,077 posts

276 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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I guess an MX5 engine/drivetrain wouldnt be a bad suggestion either, if one could be found ?


anonymous-user

83 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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Without VCT the early Mx5's don't get massively good fuel economy considering they are only 1.6/1.8 As the OP's car is likely to be significantly worse in terms of aero drag then he might not even return MX5 levels of economy? Advantage of course of a complete MX5 transplant is that they are cheap and availible (just find a crashed/rust early MX5) and would be simple to transplant into something else without massive electronic headaches of a more modern powertrain.

adyady1066

140 posts

213 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
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Dare I mention a 'K' series Rover 1.8 petrol? Great engines as long as you get the cooling system right. In the old days they used to make good everyday rod usage. They are hard engines that you can toy with providing you get one that isn't weak at the headgasket or has been repaired with a decent upgraded gasket. Worth a thought?!

The only trouble is the fuel injection if you can't get any old carb'd type (pre '95) but from what I've heard they bolt on to many different boxes so you could mate it up fairly easily.

Tony427

2,873 posts

262 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
quotequote all
A later Lexus V8 with its five speed auto box and a high rear axle ratio ( say 3.08, or 3.31 at a push)would get you 32 to 35 mpg tootling about and 275 to 300 bhp when you're in the mood to enjoy the twisties.

We have a Lexus V8 powered Cobra weighing 1235 kg with the 4 speed box and a 3.54 diff( too low tbh) and we're getting just over 30mpg. A previous 1300kg Cobra with a BMW 4.4 V8, 5 speed auto box and a 3.31 diff gave 35 mpg when driven gently.

hth,

Cheers,

Tony




It's fixable...

Original Poster:

471 posts

234 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for all the feedback - please keep it coming...

Cheers

Jon

Robmarriott

2,969 posts

187 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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Mercedes OM606 (E300 TD engine), or if space is tight, an OM605 (C250 TD).

Bulletproof, tuneable, decent MPG, RWD gearboxes are avaible from the donor cars. The 5 pot (OM605) will sound decent too!

Failing that, Saab turbo with an Omega gearbox.

Munter

31,331 posts

270 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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scratchchin Wonder if you could make use of say a E36 BMW. Plenty of engine options including diesel for economy.

Robmarriott

2,969 posts

187 months

Monday 5th December 2011
quotequote all
Munter said:
scratchchin Wonder if you could make use of say a E36 BMW. Plenty of engine options including diesel for economy.
Like the GKD Legend?

Uses 4 & 6 pot BMW engines, so should be possible to use the diesels, the 318tds is the obvious choice being the smallest of the range.

It's a bit agricultural though.

VAG 1.4 TDi 3 pot is a nice small engine, amazing on fuel too and 100 bhp with a remap!

Or even better, import a 1.2 TDi from Germany.