small car to blow up

Jul 05, 2005 43 Replies

A friend and I, after a visit to Santa Pod the other week, have come up with a hare-brained scheme to build a small hatchback to run within an inch of its life (and beyond) on a RWYB.



We think a K10 Micra or Citroen AX GT would be a good base. We want to pile in loads of Nitrous, basically enough to make it really shift for a couple of practice runs and then loads for the final run in which the engine may explode if it wants.



I like the idea of the AX GT with its bigger carbs. Although we could fit big carbs to a Micra and run it rich with loads of Nitrous.



Any suggestions or guidance? Perhaps we'd be better off with a bigger RWD car like a Sierra that has more power to start with and could take more Nitrous before it blows up. We'd really rather take a small hatch though.



Forget big carbs. You can get up to and including around 600 percent power boost using nitrous. if you are lucky! Provided you are: a) well rich (nitrous system not pocket!) b) well retarded (ignition not brain)

You need to look for something with strong head gasket area, not known for weak pistons like a pinto engine has, with a very good clutch, or a rear drive auto.

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Yeah but we don't care if the engine turns into a smouldering mess!! Good point about the clutch though.

Surely we need big carbs to get enough fuel in to take advantage of the Nitrous?? Isn't it similar to other forms of forced induction in that respect?

You put a wet plate below the carb. It pumps in extra petrol and Nitrous through it's own jets and if needed an extra electric pump.

I like it

You mean carb. But I think the AX would be a good idea (or 205 XS/GT which is near enough the same car)

Wanna Sierra 2.8 V6? Find a rotten SD1 V8, that would also be amusing!

In news: snipped-for-privacy@individual.net, Carl Gibbs decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

It'd be criminal to do it to an SD1. So criminal I'd have to spend the rest of the week driving round Lymm with my mates in 4x4s looking for you :-p

Lymm? But if you found a rotten one, what would it matter? If you blow the engine up, it's not as if the Rover V8 is in short supply if you wanted to do it all over again :)

In news: snipped-for-privacy@individual.net, Carl Gibbs decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

Where Fishbloke lives.

I happen to like SD1s, probably more than most cars on the road.. I get upset and slightly violent when I see people wrecking the V8 ones.

Now, if you'd said "Use a 2.6 Rover SD1" I'd be nodding in agreement like a rabid nodding thing.

Ahhh

Me too, but I've seen plenty of rotten ones that really werent good for anything.

:)

I'm sure the AXGT has twin carbs !

I'm now thinking a small diesel hatch would be better because the engine can take more abuse (as shown on 5th Gear a while ago!)

The AX weighs less than the 205 IIRC. Whad diesel lumps came in these cars? Would a bigger lump be better or perhaps a turbodiesel with nitrous?

Nope. It had a Solex twin choke POS. 32-34 IIRC.

Early 205s had a twin carb (single chokes) setup, but I'm pretty sure these engines were never fitted to an AX

AXs had the s***ty 1.5 TU diesel lump (n/a). Whereas the 205 had the 1.8 XU lump (n/a and turbo).

I have no idea what would be best, but personally I'd go for something with a bigger engine. Like at least 6 cylinders, preferably more. Even if it was just for the noise you could let them make :)

You need the biggest cubes you can get, forget diesels, turbos etc they are for woosies! The bigger the engine the less stressed it will be when you lean properly on it!

Its not for nothing that pro mods use 10 litre 2000 bhp nitrous motors

Shame he didn't post this earlier, I saw a ford transit 2.9 V6 engine go for

1p on ebay a week or so ago :(

But yeah a ford 2.9 v6 or a cheapo rover v8 with high miles on the clock shouldn't cost you the earth.

The question is what is the smallest car these engines will fit into beside kit cars?

Any engine fits in any car if you have the right attitude! My v8 sierra was dead easy straight swap, but I have seen them in reliant 3 wheelers, mini vans, etc... Rover v8 is light, v6 fords are around the heaviest engines apart from jag motors. What about an old jag? They are strong? Dont pussy about like trev did on top gear give it loads!

ooo best idea yet! I just had a quick look on ebay and there are ALOT of big capacity jags that went for as low as £100-200.

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Thats just one I took at random, plenty of 4.0+ models in the same price bracket.

Perfect! 5.3 litre! Currently @ £100 with 1day 20hours left.

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Needs a little work but nothing expensive I should expect?

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If you are just going for 1/4 mile runs that is?

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Several of the spark plugs will be knackered and will take an eternity to change.

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