Opel Kadett Engine Swap Ideas

Knurled said:

You probably don't want to know about the motorcycle head/automotive bottom end hybrids I have been seeing.  Like the Hayabusa head on a VW 1.8 destroked to 1.1l and making 387hp at 11000rpm...

Any links or details? Google is failing me. 

Pete Gossett said:

Knurled said:

You probably don't want to know about the motorcycle head/automotive bottom end hybrids I have been seeing.  Like the Hayabusa head on a VW 1.8 destroked to 1.1l and making 387hp at 11000rpm...

Any links or details? Google is failing me. 

http://clubgti.com/showthread.php?285669-Franz-Probst-VW-Rallye-1170cc-376bhp-11000rpm

Rules say must have manufacturer-specific production block, no more than 2 liters with 1.7 factor for forced induction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uOxuTQjH8E

Normally I pass off hillclimb cars as prissy delicate-flower zero suspension travel pieces of junk, but there's some interesting stuff going on here.

In reply to Knurled :

Wow, that's some nutty E36 M3 right there. 

In reply to Pete Gossett :

Indeed.  And that thread got me searching for Suzuki Swift GTI engines as a "why the hell not" engine swap for one of my RX-7s.  Which got me to accidentally find a source of series 2 RX-8 13Bs (the ones that don't suck) for not-ridiculous money.  And last month I bought a stainless header for an RX-8 for $140 because I figured I could flip it, but now, hmm...

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

The  V4 is a Ford industrial engine to be found in fork lifts, skid steers etc.

Speaking of V4s, I have been finding some cheap Honda ST1100, cheapest being $1000, a couple around $1500. Not sure what the market is like for luggage and fairings and stuff but could sell some off. 

Pros:

V4
1.1l just like the original opel engine
Shaft drive
100hp, 79 lb-ft 

Cons:

Only 100hp
?

Sample: https://toledo.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1992-honda-st1100-price/6319274256.html

There's a Lexus SC400 at the goodwill auction tomorrow. That engine's already been put into a Miata for the challenge. Time to go another step beyond...

eastsidemav said:

There's a Lexus SC400 at the goodwill auction tomorrow. That engine's already been put into a Miata for the challenge. Time to go another step beyond...

That's weird, there is a LS400 at the Goodwill auction here next Thursday. 

And a 300zx, 05 Impreza wagon and 09 Merc E350.

In reply to EvanB :

ooh, 300ZX

http://www.goodwillcolumbus.org/shop/buy-a-vehicle/view-inventory/

First generation Kia Sportage FE3. First couple of years were Mazda made. Robust 2.0l that does well with boost, comes configured for rwd and will run around $200.

In reply to FE3tMX5 :

I had been contemplating something like that for my 1973 Corolla Challenge car. I didn't realize that's what was under the hood of the car in Gainesville or I would have been picking your brain. What kind of power output does it get?

I put over 4k miles on it at 15psi making 302rwhp/286ftlbs on a dynojet. It was a bit choked with a 1.6 Miata intake plenum and throttle body. I have the actual Mazda unit -imported before the Kia version was "discovered" in the States. Price, availability and boost-ability make it perfect for a Challenge car. :D The center to exhaust ports align with Mazda B engines, the outer ports are close enough you can port a flange to fit. What you see in the pic is a B series turbo manifold which I modified in that manner. The intake manifold is a DSM 4G63 aftermarket piece that was welded to the OE FE3 intake runner "stubs". 

eastsidemav said:

There's a Lexus SC400 at the goodwill auction tomorrow. That engine's already been put into a Miata for the challenge. Time to go another step beyond...

Oh God, I can’t even begin to imagine the header fabrication involved for that engine in that chassis

Trackmouse said:

eastsidemav said:

There's a Lexus SC400 at the goodwill auction tomorrow. That engine's already been put into a Miata for the challenge. Time to go another step beyond...

Oh God, I can’t even begin to imagine the header fabrication involved for that engine in that chassis

Through the front fenders, and down to side pipes.  Boom, done!

Trackmouse said:

eastsidemav said:

There's a Lexus SC400 at the goodwill auction tomorrow. That engine's already been put into a Miata for the challenge. Time to go another step beyond...

Oh God, I can’t even begin to imagine the header fabrication involved for that engine in that chassis

Miata engine bay is significantly wider than, say, a Fairlane/Torino's, and people put 429s with headers in those.

Now, the headers absolutely suck because they are three-piece, with two slip-fit tubes...

Short on engine bay space, small light car.

And nobody has mentioned a rotary yet.

I'm honestly disappointed.

Edit: Maybe they did- I didn't realize this was already page 4.

In reply to TheRX7Project :

Rotaries are very large engines width-wise and give up little height-wise relative to a four cylinder, and a good number of fours are shorter, and most are lighter.

In a Kadett the transverse leaf spring front suspension kinda rules out rotaries without major surgery too.

In reply to Knurled :

You're no fun.

In reply to oldopelguy :

Is that what is going on in there?  From the looks of it I had thought it was just a much narrower version of the later Kadett/Chevette.

And V6 headers for Chevettes ran the tubes forward of the front suspension before they turned down and went under the car, no room for them next to/behind the engine.

I was thinking about the front suspension. Does the leaf spring do any locating? Could I run one leaf and use motorcycle coilovers in place of the front shocks?

The leaf doesn't locate anything, and the suspension would be fine with coilovers, but the ends of the cross member are only spot welded to the center part. They really aren't strong enough for the weight of the car.

Eastsidemav was over today and we were discussing options for the Opel. My donor car searches now look a bit like this:

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/95-impreza/6342788755.html

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/d/98-impreza-25rs/6365806647.html

EvanB said:

Eastsidemav was over today and we were discussing options for the Opel. My donor car searches now look a bit like this:

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/d/98-impreza-25rs/6365806647.html

Really didn't need to see that.  Got off the phone an hour ago with the current owner of the potential replacement for teh Volvo but I still haven't made any definite plans yet.

I also still have that wrapunder 13B header that I'll probably never cut up and turn into a turbo manifold...  Just sayin', if you want to keep your options open.