Getting transmission to engine adapter plate made??

[Ms55]

Hi
This isn't really Toyota related, but i thought i'd ask here anyway..
I have a little Subaru Sherpa (2cyl 660cc) as my daily/pizza delivery car. Engine is crap. Its reliable, but rattly and i don't know how much longer its gonna last. I can get a Daihatsu 3 cyl (charade engine) for cheap, and i know the swap is possible as its been done before.
This is where i run into trouble. I need an adapter plate made to fit the Daihatsu motor to the Sherpa gearbox.
I spoke to an engineer the other day and he pretty much said its not worth making up adapter plates because of the time it takes to make (would take him a whole day to design/make, so around $500-$600)
And i can't get a hold of the guy who has done the conversion anymore either.
Any suggestions on where to go from here? I really like the little car and its in really good nic. would be a pity to get rid of it just cause of the motor!
I don't really want to rebuild the current motor as bits are very hard to find for it and its underpowered anyway!
Maybe i could run the Daihatsu's 5 speed? But then i guess there would be custom cv's and more mounts to be made? anything else i would have to do?
Any ideas for me to keep this little beast on the road would be very much appreciated!!

[Ms55]

Nobody?

10char

[slidn_ways]

I think for the money it will cost you would be better off buying another Sherpa

[Ms55]

Maybe. Or getting the current engine rebuilt. That being said it doesn't seem to be getting any worse... still very reliable. Just seems ridiculous that it would be that difficult to get an adapter made..

[slidn_ways]

Then you'll need engine mount and the list goes on. Just get a replacement motor from the weckers.

[Ms55]

Actually i've already looked into that.. only one mount needs to be fabricated, and i have a friend who can do that.. only problem is the adapter plate which is why its so frustrating..
And a replacement motor may end up costing 3/4 of what the conversion might cost, and then i would have the same rattly poo motor. They have balance shafts, for crying out loud.

[Rex_Kelway]

Ms55,

No need to get frustrated. The option really is a simple one....

If you have your heart set on doing the conversion just wear the cost of the adaptor plate and you'll be well on your way. Modifying cars properly always involves certain costs. Just suck it up and take it like a man.

You have found someone willing to make it (the engineer), and $500-600 is not expensive for a professionally machined precision component of that nature.

Transmission adaptors are never just a simple chunk of flat scrap steel with several holes power-drilled into them. Like Rex said you will be paying for a specially built precision component that will do the job you are asking of it and maintain the reliability you are after. It is not a consumable part so Its a cost you will only have to wear once.

OR if you want to do it on the cheap, grab that chunk of flat scrap steel and ask you mate to 'have a go' at it while he's building that engine mount. You'll see then what you would've been paying for

PS: Mitsubishi EVO motors and Ferrari V8's are just two examples of other motors that have balance shafts. A balance shaft is not a wart or defect, its there because a team of highly paid, highly skilled engineers put it there to do a job ...

[CrUZida]

Just seems ridiculous that it would be that difficult to get an adapter made..

You've obviously never looked into this kind of thing before.

As Rex said its a precision piece of equipment.

Even buying a 'mass production' adaptor from CRS or Dellow will cost at least $300.

So $500 for a one off is really quite cheap.

[Ms55]

Yeah i'm actually considering paying that now..
Its just kind of annoying cause i know of a guy who has done the conversion and made his own adapter plate (he's an engineer) but i can't get in contact with him anymore!! (He's in W.A)

[Ms55]

Ms55,

No need to get frustrated. The option really is a simple one....

If you have your heart set on doing the conversion just wear the cost of the adaptor plate and you'll be well on your way. Modifying cars properly always involves certain costs. Just suck it up and take it like a man.

That could be difficult... lol.. I'll suck it up and take it like a woman though lol..

Ms55,
You have found someone willing to make it (the engineer), and $500-600 is not expensive for a professionally machined precision component of that nature.

Transmission adaptors are never just a simple chunk of flat scrap steel with several holes power-drilled into them. Like Rex said you will be paying for a specially built precision component that will do the job you are asking of it and maintain the reliability you are after. It is not a consumable part so Its a cost you will only have to wear once.

OR if you want to do it on the cheap, grab that chunk of flat scrap steel and ask you mate to 'have a go' at it while he's building that engine mount. You'll see then what you would've been paying for

PS: Mitsubishi EVO motors and Ferrari V8's are just two examples of other motors that have balance shafts. A balance shaft is not a wart or defect, its there because a team of highly paid, highly skilled engineers put it there to do a job ...

Yeah i guess.. i've pretty much just always heard balance shafts=bad. Which i guess i can understand to a degree because its an extra moving part with bearings that can wear out/break. Its surprising to hear that EVO motors use them though!! Makes me wonder if i should just rebuild this motor and put a turbo on the side of it!!

[CrUZida]

Did he leave any plans on the web or just pics?

[Ms55]

Not even pics of the adapter plate. Just some forum posts about the conversion he did and how he spent a night designing it and cut it out at work the next day.
A few messages were sent/received via facebook.. but i can't get a hold of him now
He said he would see if he still had the CAD file for it, but haven't heard from him in months despite several messages sent.

[Supra967]

is the suzuki 800 a better option?

[Ms55]

is the suzuki 800 a better option?

It would still require the adapter plate.. so if i'm gonna get one made i may aswell go a bigger more powerful engine..

[SilverRA23]

While you are there might as well do it for the 3 cyl turbo Daihatsu motor. Then your Sherpa will be a rocket! Might want to look at the brakes then. And the driveshafts, oh and the gearbox..