So what engine would YOU use?

I have a BMW 1600 engine (M40 type out of a E30 316i) and gearbox I can measure up if you're interested. (Email me if you want as I'll be away from news until next Monday). The engine itself's knackered, but it would give an idea of whether a BMW lump would fit. It leans over to one side in the BMW, which could be a problem and is quite a tall unit otherwise. It doesn't feel too weighty for a cast iron lump as it has an alloy head (and overhead cam). The gearbox is a nice, compact Getrag 5-speed unit which should go in between the chassis rails OK. I've also been squinting at the diff wondering how much of a job it would be to get into the Vitesse. Again it's reasonably compact with external driveshafts.

As for cheaply, this is the car I was asking advice about last month. I got it for nothing and have cleared 500 pounds so far by selling parts of it on Ebay. With that sort of margin, you could afford to buy a running one for a couple of hundred quid and still turn a profit.

BTW Bill, that wire mesh under-dash basket you were selling on Ebay brought me over all nostalgic. I had a mental image of one in my Grandfather's early Herald from when I was about six. Never having seen one since, I'd become convinced my memory was playing tricks on me.

Toyota Starlet engine and box? I'm sure I've seen these in a Herald before...

Mike

I was trying to think of something which might be fun.... Cheers, Bill.

Rover 2l turbo stuck to a 5 speed Rover rwd box, going through maybe a Sierra back axle.

Or if the turbo is too hard to find (saw a 16v one at the breakers the other week), go for the 16v NA instead. Must be plenty of rotten old 820s around by now :)

Nissan CA18ET 135bhp as fitted to Silvia S12 and Simitar SS1 or CA18DET 169bhp 200SX S13. Should pull the car apart a treat.

"Bill Davies" realised it was Wed, 19 Jan

Easiest would be another Triumph engine, like a 1300 or 1500 from a Spitfire, Toledo or a RWD 1500.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Bill Davies" saying something like:

Toyota 4AGE?

: 1 - Mustn't be too big and heavy, roughly the size of a Herald engine. : 2 - Cheap and readily available. : 3 - Must be easily (and cheaply) fitted in North-South configuration. : Point 3 is the usual stumbling block.

I've been told there is a nice Toyota engine which can be used for such things.

Ian

Lovely engine, but is there any easily obtained RWD gearbox for it? Expensive custom bellhousings are out of the question, Cheers, Bill.

MX5 engine and box? At least it's RWD. And pretty long lived, so the early smaller one might not be too expensive.

BMW fours have already been suggested. Again, something like the E28 518 engine and 5 speed box can be bought for pennies - if you get the entire car. But it would be heavier than the original.

That's the obvious solution, but having owned something over 50 heralds with all flavours of the small 4 cylinder engine, I fancied doing something different. Bolting together original bits in various combinations can only be interesting for so long :-) Cheers, Bill.

Small Triumph 6 cylinder. The 1600 Vitesse is a lovely engine and it isn't _so_ powerful that the handling becomes an embarassment.

(must sort mine out)

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Bill Davies" saying something like:

I'm sure you could pick one up via the rally cars or kitcars small ads. Such things sometimes go for surprisingly reasonable prices compared to the new cost.

Alternatively, there's the chance of picking up a RWD Toyota box...

I see he's also flogging the 4AGE/Ford bellhousing, but, as you say, it's a bit pricey.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Bill Davies" saying something like:

Forgot to add... the Vauxhall RedTop - another nice lump and no shortage of RWD boxes for it.

I'm afraid you're going to have to enlighten me on this one, I know precious little about Vauxhalls, Cheers, Bill.

Well I have to admit that it is tempting, especially as I have one sat in the workshop - condition unknown, but plenty of good signs in being quite clean and some clean antifreeze in it. I've always really liked the 1600, but there's still a lot of weight up front. Cheers, Bill.

Is this of any use - it's actually from a page discussing Spitfire engine swaps, but has a list of engines and weights that may be of use .Well, the first couple anyway, the rest would give interesting results though :-)

Standard Spit:............ 125 Kg................71 Bhp

- Vaxhaull 16V...............130 Kg...............120 Bhp

- Ford Zetec..................135 Kg...............120 Bhp

- Triumph Sprint 16v...140 Kg...............127 Bhp.................(nice to keep it Triumph)

- Rover V8:....................145 Kg...............150>190 Bhp........ (depending on capacity)

- Cosworth DFV (V8)...145 Kg...............400>500 Bhp........ (not a real option but an interesting comparison)

- Ford Cosworth 16v....150 Kg................200 Bhp............... (Bhp can be double that with sufficient cash)

- Triumph TR6...............200 Kg...............135>150 Bhp........ (depending on spec)

- UK Ford V6.................200Kg................145 Bhp................ (might as well use a V8)

- Ford 289 V8.................222Kg................190 Bhp

- Chev V8 S-Block........261Kg................250 Bhp

- Ford V8 S-Block.........265Kg................250 Bhp

- Jaguar V12..................309Kg................300 Bhp

- Chev V8 Big Block......313Kg...............400 +Bhp

- Ford 427 Big Block.....318Kg................400 +Bhp..............(the powerplant of the mighty AC Cobra 427)

Transmission Weights: (all but the Spit ones do not include bellhousing weights)

- Standard spit with OD & Iron Bellhousing.......42Kg

- Standard spit with OD and alloy B-Housing....34Kg

- Tremec 5 speed (alloy cased US Toploader)...45Kg

- Toyota 5 Speed..............................................35Kg

Miike

But the weight spoils the handling.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Bill Davies" saying something like:

Here's a couple of examples...

You just missed this one... but it was perfect for the RWD installation...