Rear mount engines

[Supra967]

I doubt you'll get the car engine/box/running gear and required accessories in for 160kg.

If you are dead set on a FWD car engine, i'd be looking to weld/bolt a front cut chassis with brakes and running gear to the rear, because it would be a whole lot easier (and heavier). You might even be able to use the reo bar bolts on the chassis as a starting point for mounting.

By this time though, you might have been better off getting a rusted out vw beetle for next to nothing, stripping the body a bit and flogging it. There are even classes to race vw's if you want to compete later.

[Hiro]

Do you guys have the FWD imprezas there? engine and box from one of those, the 1800 makes plenty of power for a small buggy. And if you want more, ej20....
the subie engines are very small and compact

The _very_ first Imprezas came out here with FWD, but Subaru Aus had a AWD-only policy from '94 (-ish) onwards. Supposedly one of the reasons why we won't get the Subaru version of the FT86.

[Harreh]

Have you not thought of a smallish sports bike engine, something from say a 600CC Supersport? Surely the power will be plentyful and a damsight easier to install

[Mr Revhead]

Bike engines bring another pile of installation and drive train problems and costs.

Would any engine importers have the 2wd subaru box?

I have been looking into alternative engines and transmissons for an Imp. Subie 2wd is the best I have found so far, for pretty much the same reasons I think it would be perfect for a Buggy. Lots of buggys here use them, although usually with a proper off road box

[Hiro]

Bike engines bring another pile of installation and drive train problems and costs.

If you're having to fab up any kind of spaceframe/cage in the rear of the car then bike engines aren't that bad. FSAE teams the world over seem to have no trouble chucking 600s and custom-made driveshafts/sprockets etc in to a frame made by the uni workshop staff (I should know, I was involved with it for several years) on a _very_ limited (depends on your uni ) budget.

[Noof]

Yeah Hiro has hit on the big one there.... budget at the moment.. I can get car gear much cheaper than bike gear at this stage. Unless anyone knows a good bike wrecker in Adelaide?

We are fabricating from the ground up on this one so the bike motor is no dramas to mount. It is just that we are approaching the stage where we need the motor to fabricate the rest of the frame. Probably going to be easier to build the frame round the motor and running gear I think.
Cheers
Nathan

[Supra967]

Any vw for rear mounted engine will be fine
Any front wheel drive car for mr2 style mounting will work (i'd go 4A-FE corolla)
Subaru brumby/leone would be good for a mid/rear mounted engine if you can disconnect the rear tail shaft and drive from the front axels.

I'd be getting a donar car/half cut to get everything. Shouldn't be more than $500 to get what you need.

[Talasas]

You want cheap and with a bit more guts than a VW motor you can use a pre EJ series Subaru engine like an EA82, they are simple enough (vast majority are carby) and they are reliable. You can get bellhousings to mate most Subaru engines to a VW gearbox and you're set. EA82s are a dime as dozen as well.

[wa5]

I get the feeling, the 4-500 that an adaptor plate and flywheel (not to mention starter motor.cos VW ones arent great)... will cost, is about what Noof wants to spend on the whole thing..

[13btt lotus]

mate have a look on www.oz-clubbies.com

there are heaps of guys talking about building a "mid" engined clubman, concept is the same.......