looking for a cheeeeeap 1.6 ecoboost block or donor engine

looking for a cheeeeeap 1.6 ecoboost block or donor engine

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shirt

Original Poster:

22,603 posts

202 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
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any sources other than ebay?

i need a block asap to start my project build [its going longitudinal into a radical SR8 chassis].

they didn't sell this engine in the GCC so having to import. most of it other than the block will be binned so seems pointless paying 1500+ for one.

any good breakers/suppliers you know of?

shirt

Original Poster:

22,603 posts

202 months

Saturday 24th August 2019
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
If they're so expensive, is there not a better engine platform you could use ?

Or why just buy a block, if you're going to need to buy a full engine to use anyway ?
a scrap block could be taken as flight luggage and enable me to start chassis fabrication, order driveshafts etc. a £1500 donor would need shipping here, then back to uk again to be modified [i want it sleeved, closed deck etc.] and i don't fancy putting a ton of cash into a built long block only to discover some potentially catastrophic packaging issues.

shirt

Original Poster:

22,603 posts

202 months

Saturday 24th August 2019
quotequote all
As long as it’s clean and degreased I’ve taken far worse on planes!

Yeah I went through tons of choices (Subaru, rotary, v6) before I lucked into a brand new hewland ftr200 for about 1/4 of rrp (ex TOMs team toyota, unused) which is an f3 Box with limited torque capacity. Then mygale (who use the ecoboost in their ff200) had a sale on so the bellhousing, clutch shaft, release brg etc were all 50% off. This somewhat sealed the ecoboost option concisively!

The transaxle is rated to 240 ft lbs according to hewland but I have seen hill climb ff200’s running above this. I need to talk to someone at hewland to understand the real limits and it which gears.

Big part of the ecoboost appeal is that I can run a fairly standard engine at 300bhp/300ft lbs with a decent ecu, can torque limit in gear by bleeding boost etc. it’s a very light engine and at those figures it’d make for a very potent car indeed. The radical roller (inc bag tank, split rims intrax 4 way, big brake kits all round) cost me £3k so I’m trying my best to come in under £20k all in but at a top spec build.

From what I read the 1.6 head is better than the 2.0 and the issues with the ecoboost in general seem to be limited to cooling which is less of an issue with a race car doing limited miles with much more prep and engine monitoring. If I build it strong then 8.5k rpm rev limit is doable which should give it the right kind of engine note for the car. I can run it on any trackday here as well as in the local race series as long as I don’t accumulate championship points. whenever I move back to Europe I should be able to find a suitable series or else do sprints and hill climbs. All without the usual expensive service intervals associated with a radical (this is the man maths anyway).

A readers cars build thread will be started once I have the engine or at least the block.


Edited by shirt on Saturday 24th August 22:39

shirt

Original Poster:

22,603 posts

202 months

Sunday 25th August 2019
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stevieturbo said:
There a couple of Mygale runners here.

http://www.uphillracers.com/forum.php

Graham B has certainly done plenty of work to his, although actual engine I think is untouched and it's making good power and has for some time.

http://www.uphillracers.com/showthread.php?t=11600
i've been reading graham's blog for a while now. i was almost tempted by the life ecu but the cost plus the fact they don't seem at all easy to deal with puts me off.

steve at SBD has made good gains using MBE ecu's, you can get his full engine kit for around the cost of the life F88 set-up and he puts a decent amount of info online to back up the development. one of his customers has set up a company to sell tuned ecoboosts for rally applications so there's another solid option.

GreenV8S said:
If it's only for packaging, and so expensive / difficult to get a real one shipped to you, how about getting a dummy made up?
hmm. i wonder if i can get a 3d file online... got a recommendation for a scrappy up in the northern emirates who deals in non GCC parts who i'll visit at the weekend. i have garage space now so itching to start!


shirt

Original Poster:

22,603 posts

202 months

Sunday 25th August 2019
quotequote all
Syvecs is still an option for me as I may be able to get one via a contact for a reasonable outlay. That said the sbd/mbe unit looks very richly featured as well. Good to have options and there’s plenty of spendy stages yet to come until I need an ecu!

shirt

Original Poster:

22,603 posts

202 months

Sunday 25th August 2019
quotequote all
a friend had a specialist components ecu in his caterham. that has been discounted already.

another friend runs syvecs in his world time attack racer. he told me about the life/syvecs tie up [little bit more complex than i thought] and he may be able to secure a discount on the latter. i believe one of the syvecs owners travels here regularly as well.

certainly the ability to do everything from one box appeals and a good ECU never loses much money 2nd hand so it'd be a good buy.

as with everything motorsport related, its just very easy to stack up big bills when putting your project shopping list together! will be having a bash at making the loom at least, the SBD engine loom is £1800 alone!