There's a number of older cars that I've wanted to pull out the old pushrod lump on and put in a proper modern motor. The new motor must be:
-lightweight (all Aluminum is best)
-140+ HP
-Comes with 5-speed
-Easily swapable. Some sort of plug-and-play electrical harness would be nice.
-Inexpensive
Right now, Duratech leads my list. My main beef is that dog-ugly intake manifold would ruin the underhood looks of an older car. Miata is an obvious choice, but they aren't particularly light. Other suggestions????
How light? The GM Ecotec is available in 3 different RWD variants (2.2, 2.4 vvt, 2.0 DI turbo) and is reasonably light
SR20?
The 2.0l Miata is a duratec.
If you can get an intake from one of those, it should bolt onto a Ranger 2.3l.
I'd also swap the cams.
Ranger is the cheap choice, Miata is a nicer choice. A combo would probably make the most power.
(wish I could help with other options, but I just know about that engine. If modern wasn't on the list, I'll suggest Alfa)
Toyota 4AGE....
small, lightweight, compact, and just old enough to look nice in an older car. Power levels from the stock 115hp to well over 250hp. WONDERFUL tonal quality as well, with highly modified versions capable of RPM levels near F1
Bike engine car (BEC). These are nicely contained motor trans packages that weigh NOTHING and make killer power for cheap. You don't get reverse and they really need a low 3.0 or high 2s rear ratio to be highway driveable but man they are easy to setup.
In reply to oldeskewltoy:
Pricey to build big power and not as light as you think.
alfadriver wrote:
The 2.0l Miata is a duratec.
If you can get an intake from one of those, it should bolt onto a Ranger 2.3l.
Duratec Ranger 2.3 as opposed to the SOHC, iron, 2.3L Lima Ranger that's much more common. 
Some people are forgetting the CHEAP component. Skyactive? Cosworth? Please. A BEC would be fun in an absurdly tiny car like an old Fiat 850, Berkeley, Mini or what have you, but not something with a weight over 1600 lbs. or so. Anything else?
PHeller
SuperDork
8/10/12 11:06 a.m.
Duratech with a different intake...thats all...
In reply to kreb:
I think the Duratec is the answer here, it's a good motor and easily found in RWD setup (2WD Ranger). Do alfa's intake swap and you should have a winner.
Did the Nissan KA24 (ala 240SX, Hardbody Pickups, etc) ever come in all-aluminum?
In reply to kreb:
I don't know man. I think that 150hp+ and 75lb ft of torque out of the 1L+ bikes for under 1500 sounds pretty awesome in a 1600 lbs car.
Javelin wrote:
Did the Nissan KA24 (ala 240SX, Hardbody Pickups, etc) ever come in all-aluminum?
Nope and it weights over 400lbs... Booo!
Define cheap... the S2000 has a sweet motor and the cars themselves are at 10k. Junkyard engine/trans/diff combos have to be getting pretty reasonable.
singleslammer wrote:
In reply to kreb:
I don't know man. I think that 150hp+ and 75lb ft of torque out of the 1L+ bikes for under 1500 sounds pretty awesome in a 1600 lbs car.
But that 75lb/ft is at about 20 squillion RPM, no use for launch a car in normal traffic where you'll find yourself slipping the tiny clutch as you want to move a 1,600lb car with more like 30lb/ft at RPM that wont get you a ticket just becuase it sounds fast.
I follow a fair number of BEC racing blogs over i nthe UK and they seem to pop a lot of motors and clutches, yes they're racing, but the cars weight slightly less than an elephants fart and would make a 1,600lb car look like a Hummer pulling a trailer with a race car on it.
e_pie
HalfDork
8/10/12 11:16 a.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Define cheap... the S2000 has a sweet motor and the cars themselves are at 10k. Junkyard engine/trans/diff combos have to be getting pretty reasonable.
You can get an engine/trans/harness for around $3-4k last I looked.
Javelin wrote:
alfadriver wrote:
The 2.0l Miata is a duratec.
If you can get an intake from one of those, it should bolt onto a Ranger 2.3l.
Duratec Ranger 2.3 as opposed to the SOHC, iron, 2.3L Lima Ranger that's much more common.
can't be much left of those trucks. most of them are self recyling.
In reply to alfadriver:
They are more common than dirt in the JY's, which is where I am assuming the OP will be shopping.
13b? I've seen them advertised as 4 cylinders, heh.
