sub 1400cc engines
Discussion
Why not use a 1300 Hyabusa engine? 
When choosing between the 2 you've selected you have to consider a few things:
K-series
Advantages:
- Lighter
- More powerful (in standard spec)
- Better fuel economy
Disadvantages:
- More expensive
- Head gaskets are fragile
- Should be fuel injected thus you need ECU, high pressure fuel pump, return feeds etc. (££££)
X-flow
Advantages
- NOISE (especially on twin carbs)
- Cheaper
- mates to a type-9 gearbox easily
- cheap parts
Disadvantages:
- Heavier
- Getting a bit old now
I'm sure others will add to the above but depending on cash I'd go for the K-series.
When choosing between the 2 you've selected you have to consider a few things:
K-series
Advantages:
- Lighter
- More powerful (in standard spec)
- Better fuel economy
Disadvantages:
- More expensive
- Head gaskets are fragile
- Should be fuel injected thus you need ECU, high pressure fuel pump, return feeds etc. (££££)
X-flow
Advantages
- NOISE (especially on twin carbs
) - Cheaper
- mates to a type-9 gearbox easily
- cheap parts
Disadvantages:
- Heavier
- Getting a bit old now
I'm sure others will add to the above but depending on cash I'd go for the K-series.
I'd go for the solution that would fit your long term aims for the car. As in 1400 K series now 1800 later = easy swap!
1300 xflow to 1600 xflow would also be an easy swap and the intitial instalation would be much easier and cheaper.
Have you tried www.locostbuilders.co.uk for more info?
edited to say: Kitt raises some good points, although if you are doing this to save on insurance then insurers have got wise to the extra performance from motorbike engines. Also it's easy to change from a xflow to a pinto in the future too.
>> Edited by peetbee on Tuesday 15th June 13:49
1300 xflow to 1600 xflow would also be an easy swap and the intitial instalation would be much easier and cheaper.
Have you tried www.locostbuilders.co.uk for more info?
edited to say: Kitt raises some good points, although if you are doing this to save on insurance then insurers have got wise to the extra performance from motorbike engines. Also it's easy to change from a xflow to a pinto in the future too.
>> Edited by peetbee on Tuesday 15th June 13:49
KITT said:
Disadvantages:
- More expensive
- Head gaskets are fragile
- Should be fuel injected thus you need ECU, high pressure fuel pump, return feeds etc. (££££)
Not arguing with the head gasket but you'd be surprised how cheap these engines are now. my brother had a 214 and they are so cheap to buy now its worth getting a car just for the engine!
And as far as the injection system if he is thinking of fitting carbs to the xflow the same could be fitted to the K series at the same expense
i'm sure there are adapters already out there for a type 9 fitment as this is a popular conversion.
its for a sprint/hillclimb car i have started planning. i need a car engine under 1400cc or a bike engine under 875cc to fit the regs. the car will probably be a stuart taylor or mk engineering chassis and will not be road legal to begin with. the intention is to run the car as mod prod for a while and then add on the lights etc at a later date. cant afford anything more than the 1400cc class as i want to be reasonably competitive and the next class will include megabusas, 1.7xflows and 1.8Ks and so on!
i think i would prefer the rover engine for the weight and the power available as standard, as well as the availability but cant find any info on how people get the engine to fit a ford gear box so if any one has an idea.....
class competitors would be similar engined sevens, modified minis and the occasional clan meaning A series engines and heavily tuned 998cc imp engines . cant see a bike engine under 875cc being fast enough personally.
i think i would prefer the rover engine for the weight and the power available as standard, as well as the availability but cant find any info on how people get the engine to fit a ford gear box so if any one has an idea.....
class competitors would be similar engined sevens, modified minis and the occasional clan meaning A series engines and heavily tuned 998cc imp engines . cant see a bike engine under 875cc being fast enough personally.
Aah, I would suspect the K series could be the best bet then.
A quick google for K series locost revealed:
www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=295
but not a lot else, sorry
A quick google for K series locost revealed:
www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=295
but not a lot else, sorry
peetbee said:
Aah, I would suspect the K series could be the best bet then.
A quick google for K series locost revealed:
www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=295
but not a lot else, sorry
excellent, many thanks. thats a lot of cash though! hmmm.....
rickbrown74 said:
...K series shouldnt be expensive (but it is a bit fragile).
If going for an older K and worried about fragility, you could consider having the head skimmed and at the same time replace the plastic locating dowels with metal ones as found in later Ks.
The other advantage with a K, especially if keeping the injection would be that regs allowing, you could whack on an Emerald ECU or similar and get it mapped on a RR for a power/torque curve to suit your driving style and peculiarities of sprinting/hill climbing.
must admit I'm an Alfa fan (engines) aswell, weren't fiat and alfa's engines similar in the good old days? Very cheap now and have a sports feel breed into them. Saw one on Ebay for £50 a little while ago, but that was a v6 3.0. There are plenty of options available to you 'cause you're talking family saloon material. Have you not considered a small zetec?
Has anyone ever considered the TU series engines as used in a zillion little Pugs and Citroens? They are either all alloy or cast block/alloy head depending on model. The AX GTi lump is around 100bhp (1370cc IIRC). I suspect mating them to a suitable box may be a sticking point. One better would be the 16v 1600cc lump from the Saxo VTS.
Mr2Mike said:
Has anyone ever considered the TU series engines as used in a zillion little Pugs and Citroens? They are either all alloy or cast block/alloy head depending on model. The AX GTi lump is around 100bhp (1370cc IIRC). I suspect mating them to a suitable box may be a sticking point. One better would be the 16v 1600cc lump from the Saxo VTS.
A mate has a 106 rallye with the 1.3 unit, since having it rebuilt, lightened, balanced, LAD head and mild cam with a remap on standard injection. he has had it R/roaded and shown nearly 130 bhp at flywheel. with carbs he has been told he can see 150bhp with a wilder cam.
Not bad for 1300cc and 8 valves
and at a recent local club trackday i can vouch for how well it goes But fitting to type 9 or any rear drive box may be the problem.
Did anyone mention a Caterham bellhousing will do type 9 - 1.4 k-series? ( - I think ). Caterham do a 1.4 k engined car and I believe their gearbox is type-9 based, and shares the stud pattern. You may have to replace your input shaft in the type 9, or have it machined to size. The Caterham bellhousing will be a nice light aluminium or magnesium one aswell.
Don't take this as gospel, but I think it is right. Check it out with Google and see what you can find.
K-series would be my choice, as everything for a good 7 installation, and tuning options, will be avaivable as Caterham use it.
>> Edited by feet on Wednesday 16th June 23:39
Don't take this as gospel, but I think it is right. Check it out with Google and see what you can find.
K-series would be my choice, as everything for a good 7 installation, and tuning options, will be avaivable as Caterham use it.
>> Edited by feet on Wednesday 16th June 23:39
perhaps its not practical for hillclimbs, but if the question was suitable sub 1400cc engines for a locost, particularly with insurance in mind, I'd go for a Suzuki super carry "sooty" van. 660cc up to 1300cc now, live axle, RWD as standard.
Oh, and being a suzuki there will be loads of revvy tuning bits.
Oh, and being a suzuki there will be loads of revvy tuning bits.
I know I'm joining this a bit late but have only just joined Piston Heads. K Series to Type 9 Box is common in the MG world as the K Series goes well in the Midget. Frontline Costello do the whole shooting match with recon type 9s, bell housings to suit as well as RWD compatible manifolds etc. I got a Type 9 to fit my MG Midget A series engine with one of their kits.
....after another read of the regs its any engine upto 1400cc thus bike engines are eligable... what would people here do? bike or car engine? I cant afford much (very small budget!) but a bike engine would be very tempting. I cant see a car engined locost keeping up with a similar bike engined car, especially as I will be running in Sports Libre class with slicks, no lights etc..
I have found Yamaha R1 engine and boxes for under £1000 but is that worth it when that would get me a fast K series/X flow on carbs... help!...
I have found Yamaha R1 engine and boxes for under £1000 but is that worth it when that would get me a fast K series/X flow on carbs... help!...
R1 engine deffo worth it, where else can you get around 150bhp in a compact light unit complete with 6 speed sequential gearbox into the bargain?
For a similar spec on a car engine you would probably need a good 4-5k plus depending on gearbox etc... and then theres the weight......
Would be money well spent IMO
For a similar spec on a car engine you would probably need a good 4-5k plus depending on gearbox etc... and then theres the weight......
Would be money well spent IMO
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