motorbike engine in a front wheel drive car.

[sirhc]

Can anybody out there please tell me if they know of any motorbike engine transplants in a front wheel drive cars?
Or a similarly powerful lightweight engine g/box set up for a front driver?
Has this been in any previous forum threads?
I know alot of people don't see the point of doing anything interesting with front wheel drive but i also know there's a whole load of others out there that really make this setup work.
From a practical packaging point of view this set up is hard to beat.
There are a long list of small front drivers that weigh less than 800kg all crying out for some serious power.
With this set up you could still have 4 seats & some room for luggage.
And modern suspension setups mean the power would'nt have to be all spun away.
I would be greatful of any help or suggestions, positive or negative on this subject please.

Edited by sirhc on Monday 9th July 23:51

[chuntington101]

there is no doubt that you can make big power in a FWD ca these days! just look at the VW and ford guys. recently i have heard of storm developemnts making 600bhp in their FWD Golf with a supercharged R32 motor!

im not sure is bike power is a good idea though. they have proven themselves in rear wheel drive setups, but is there any really need for one in a FWD??

what car are you thinking about when it comes to this swap?? is there a car engine that would do the job "better"??

thanks Chris.

[sirhc]

Thanks for the reply.
Dont laugh but my car is a Perodua Nippa.
A what i hear ya cry?!?!
It's a re-badged Diahatsu really.
Their an 850cc 3 pot, 5-door hatchback with a whopping 42BHP.
No fancy stuff like power steering, airbags, rear wiper, lecky windows or central lockin ect. which goes along way to keeping it's weight down to 675kg.
No weight saving needed as the manufacturers already done it for me!
The reason i thought of a motorbike engine was to try n get the best power to weight ratio being as the car starts off so light in the first place.
If you can think of an alternative light weight power train id certainly give it some thought.
Ultimately i was thinking if i could find a set up that would fit & work alright in the front then it would be possible to have one in the rear to (so to speak).
Potentually giving you a twin engined monster that weighs 750-800kg with 400-500BHP per ton.
My calculations say thay should be pretty quick!!!

Im Chris too.

[chuntington101]

resting project chris (only just got it from your username! lol).

have you thought about the Diahatsu 3 pot turbo engine??? i think its similar to the nissan ones. they can make over 200bhp with uprated turbos and other stuff. and you would have to mess around with the bike/car drivetrain.

thanks Chris.

[skinny]

think there are quite a few motorbike engined mini's?

[chuntington101]

skinny said:

think there are quite a few motorbike engined mini's?

skinny they are but dont they normally run RWD. people like Zcars do kits for them. not seen any others.

Chris.

[sirhc]

I thought about the more powerful Diahatsu lump (the engine in mine is the Diahatsu 3-pot)but read on another forum that they are now quite difficult to get hold of n as such are now quite expensive.
I cant really think of any car engine & transmission set ups that could make the power of the bike lump but not weigh much more.
With abit of jiggery pokery im sure i could get any 200BHP lump to fit the bay.
Especially after a bloke had some how managed to fit a Rover V8 in the front of a Mini Clubman keeping it front wheel drive!!!!
Its all about keeping things light though.
Maybe i'll start another thread asking people to name the engine & gearbox setup with the biggest power to weight ratio.
Any ideas?

[MarfGTxx]

sirhc said:

I thought about the more powerful Diahatsu lump (the engine in mine is the Diahatsu 3-pot)but read on another forum that they are now quite difficult to get hold of n as such are now quite expensive.

A new GTti/GTxx 3 pot turbo short motor will set you back about £2500 from camskill, but thats minus manifold, head, turbo, plenum etc etc.

The cranks arent available seperately any more, and a bare head was about 600 i think the last time someone in the owners club checked.

Edited by MarfGTxx on Friday 13th July 23:44

[Ricky_M]

Starlet GT Turbo engine? 1.3 Four Cylinder 16v Turbo.

[sirhc]

Wah, that 3 pot motors not cheap eh.
How much for a whole car??
Can ya tell im into budget motoring!

Done some checkin on that Starlet lump, im guessin they make some big power as saw one do an 11.3 1/4 mile on the drag times site.
Did they ever sell that model over here?
Those Japs certainly know how to build an engine.

Don't think anybody over there heard of 'the laws of physics'!!
They seem to achieve the imposible then take it a step further with a sprinkling of reliability for good measure.

I reckon it all started when some American said "there's no substitute for cubic inches".
Obviously Japan's reply to that was something like "you wanna bet"!!!

Sad really when you think our once beloved Rover never even mastered building an engine that could hold a head gasket!!!

Thanks for the replys guys

[chuntington101]

sirhc said:

Wah, that 3 pot motors not cheap eh.
How much for a whole car??
Can ya tell im into budget motoring!

Done some checkin on that Starlet lump, im guessin they make some big power as saw one do an 11.3 1/4 mile on the drag times site.
Did they ever sell that model over here?
Those Japs certainly know how to build an engine.

Don't think anybody over there heard of 'the laws of physics'!!
They seem to achieve the imposible then take it a step further with a sprinkling of reliability for good measure.

I reckon it all started when some American said "there's no substitute for cubic inches".
Obviously Japan's reply to that was something like "you wanna bet"!!!

Sad really when you think our once beloved Rover never even mastered building an engine that could hold a head gasket!!!

Thanks for the replys guys

HAHA. yeahJapan has built some crazy engines! when you look at the Evo and hoda guys putting out over 900bhp it does make you think a bit! then you get the supra guys that can make over 1500bhp and you can still drive it to the shops.

Chris.

[Marf]

sirhc said:

Wah, that 3 pot motors not cheap eh.
How much for a whole car??
Can ya tell im into budget motoring!

You'll pick up a shed for under a grand, sometimes under 500 if the body work is really bad.

If its had an FCD on it, walk away. You simply cannot guarantee the health of the engine if some monkey has fitted one with a bleed valve and turned up the boost. Not so much of an issue if you intend to rebuild the engine but parts are getting sparser.

Engines do pop up on eBay, but there are some mickey mouse sellers about, one bloke wanting silly money for a supposedly mint 40,000 mile engine with no proof of mileage or compression test etc.

If your serious about tracking down a complete car, e-mail me and I'll put you in touch with the guy who runs the owners club, he has his ear firmly to the ground re: cars for sale.

Any questions about modding just ask, mines running somwhere north of 155hp at the moment(cams/hybrid/ECU), that was the power it made last time I had it dynoed and I've gone from 1bar to 1.3 since then. Its getting a front mount and a larger throttle body shortly along with more boost.