Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Radical engine swap, easiest to make run? « 1 2 »
  • John Brown

    Oct. 19, 2009 9:52 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    Suppose you wanted to replace a 110hp lump with something else ranging from 180hp-300hp but more importantly you would like a ton of torque as well, you have no issues making nearly any engine fit in the engine bay BUT you want to do the swap within a very small budget.

    What is the EASIEST FWD engine to use when swapping into another FWD chassis?

    I am considering a PreOBD Buick 3.8L (1989-1994) that would eventually get unnaturally aspirated.

    What ideas do you have for EASY to wire engine swaps?

  • RossD

    Oct. 19, 2009 9:58 a.m. RossD HalfDork

    "tons of torque" means to me Powerstroke/Duramax/Cummins with a bigger turbo and a LP tank on board.

    Calling all cars!

  • Keith

    Oct. 19, 2009 10:00 a.m. Keith SuperDork

    SBC? If you go with a carb and dizzy, the wiring doesn't get much easier.

    Square left in 50 caution ocean!

  • andrave

    Oct. 19, 2009 10:04 a.m. andrave HalfDork

    sbc

  • John Brown

    Oct. 19, 2009 10:45 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    Let me add one parameter that was omitted.

    FWD.

    Internationally known as The Brown Stig

  • andrave

    Oct. 19, 2009 10:55 a.m. andrave HalfDork

    quad 4?

    Nissan SR20? (jim wolf has those thoroughly cracked and could sell you a plug and play ecu deal)

    Northstar v8 (the sand rail guys get them to run, and they are dirt cheap)

  • unevolved

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:11 a.m. unevolved New Reader

    I'd look into a Mazda KL-DE. They're very common and can be found for $100 if you look hard enough, and they're 60-degree 2.5L V6s with an aluminum block, 24 valves, DOHC, and very oversquare. Very compact and FWD as well.

    Kid can't even read.

  • Appleseed

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:26 a.m. Appleseed Dork

    LS4? Not sure on the electronics. Northstar, perhaps?

  • BoneYard_Racing

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:29 a.m. BoneYard_Racing New Reader

    2.0/2.4 chrysler 2.2/2.5 chrysler

  • 93celicaGT2

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:31 a.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

    unevolved wrote: I'd look into a Mazda KL-DE. They're very common and can be found for $100 if you look hard enough, and they're 60-degree 2.5L V6s with an aluminum block, 24 valves, DOHC, and very oversquare. Very compact and FWD as well.

    This. Great motor.

    1992 Celica GT (FSP), 1993 Ford Escort GT (HS), 1990 Mazda MX6 GT Turbo (13.27@118mph)

  • John Brown

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:43 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    Great motor, but how hard are they to wire?

    Internationally known as The Brown Stig

  • Giant Purple Snorklewacker

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:43 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker Dork

    Northstar? Whatever the V8 was they stuck in the Malibu?

    walterj, playing with the 'preferred username' feature

  • mw

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:52 a.m. mw Reader

    Mazda KLDE

    I have one with a 5speed, ecu, and wiring harness that I'd let go for $300

  • Keith

    Oct. 19, 2009 11:58 a.m. Keith SuperDork

    Toronado. Get one of the older ones with a carb and a dizzy.

    Is wiring really that hard?

    Square left in 50 caution ocean!

  • 93celicaGT2

    Oct. 19, 2009 12:07 p.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

    mw wrote: Mazda KLDE I have one with a 5speed, ecu, and wiring harness that I'd let go for $300

    Hell, if you weren't over the border, i'd buy that.

    1992 Celica GT (FSP), 1993 Ford Escort GT (HS), 1990 Mazda MX6 GT Turbo (13.27@118mph)

  • John Brown

    Oct. 19, 2009 12:13 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

    mw wrote: Mazda KLDE I have one with a 5speed, ecu, and wiring harness that I'd let go for $300

    I will PM you.

    Internationally known as The Brown Stig

  • alfadriver

    Oct. 19, 2009 12:14 p.m. alfadriver HalfDork

    John Brown wrote: Suppose you wanted to replace a 110hp lump with something else ranging from 180hp-300hp but more importantly you would like a ton of torque as well, you have no issues making nearly any engine fit in the engine bay BUT you want to do the swap within a very small budget. What is the EASIEST FWD engine to use when swapping into another FWD chassis? I am considering a PreOBD Buick 3.8L (1989-1994) that would eventually get unnaturally aspirated. What ideas do you have for EASY to wire engine swaps?

    It depends on who's doing it.

    If it were Andy, well, I'd tell him to go ahead and stuff the big block into the mini anyway he sees fit.

    OTOH, for a Mr Quasi, it would be more on the line- don't even change the oil filter- you may not get done.

    Just sayin.

    Eric

  • John Brown

    Oct. 19, 2009 12:24 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

    alfadriver wrote:
    John Brown wrote: Suppose you wanted to replace a 110hp lump with something else ranging from 180hp-300hp but more importantly you would like a ton of torque as well, you have no issues making nearly any engine fit in the engine bay BUT you want to do the swap within a very small budget. What is the EASIEST FWD engine to use when swapping into another FWD chassis? I am considering a PreOBD Buick 3.8L (1989-1994) that would eventually get unnaturally aspirated. What ideas do you have for EASY to wire engine swaps?

    It depends on who's doing it.

    If it were Andy, well, I'd tell him to go ahead and stuff the big block into the mini anyway he sees fit.

    OTOH, for a Mr Quasi, it would be more on the line- don't even change the oil filter- you may not get done.

    Just sayin.

    Eric

    Somewhere in between, the Audi tech that took the black Beetle carcass when I was done getting parts from it.

    Internationally known as The Brown Stig

  • stuart in mn

    Oct. 19, 2009 12:28 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

    Aren't there a lot of modifications available for the 3.8? I know a number of guys are drag racing late model Grand Prixs, etc. with the supercharged version of that engine.

  • RossD

    Oct. 19, 2009 12:41 p.m. RossD HalfDork

    what about the turbo'ed version (3.1L?) You should be able to turn the boost up pretty good.

    Calling all cars!

  • andrave

    Oct. 19, 2009 1:07 p.m. andrave HalfDork

    the sand rail guys also use the supercharged pontiac/buick motor... I have no idea if they are running factory ecu's or stand alone or what. they've also been showing up in some of the midengined "rock buggies" lately..

  • tuna55

    Oct. 19, 2009 1:20 p.m. tuna55 Reader

    You didn't specify some important bits, but I will give it a go

    The small LS variant they put in the malibu SS with a edelbrock carb and intake and MSD box. That stuff is pretty pricy, but it makes the same power as the injected route, and it can be done very easily. The downsides are that it's a carb, and it's (I think) an automatic.

  • andrave

    Oct. 19, 2009 2:10 p.m. andrave HalfDork

    how would you control the auto if you carb'd the motor?

  • andrave

    Oct. 19, 2009 2:10 p.m. andrave HalfDork

    how would you control the auto if you carb'd the motor?

  • njansenv

    Oct. 19, 2009 5:33 p.m. njansenv Reader

    SRT-4/PT Cruiser turbo. Stock turbo = excellent response, 300+ wtq without much effort. I giggled every time I took the 1g ACR for a spin.... I miss that car....sometimes.

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