Non Porsche Engine Swap
 

Yeah I know - not the right forum but it wouldn't be the first time here. Just bought a 1959 Austin Healy Sprite and am searching for ideas on an engine conversion. It actually has a slightly newer Datsun "A" motor and trans but I was looking for something more recent with good upgrade options. Any ideas on engines or web resources,

Thanks

KW

LS1 :eek:

a 289 Ford, IMHO, would be perfect. If that's too hard to find, probably a 302 or a 305 GM.

There's a lot of great V6's out there, but a small 8 is a great application for old British Steel.

This may be the option your looking for.The Hayabusa V8. Hayabusa V8 Grows Up – 2.8 liter 455bhp

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254841994.jpg

Buick 215 - now an English engine, would make it a nice option.

Yeah I thought about one of thease for the little Lotus Europa that followed me home years ago. Pricey little piece though... (the motor, not the Europa)

How about a 400+hp Mazda 3-rotor?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254844147.jpg

Well, years ago I dropped an RX7 engine into mine which turned it into a real zipper but if I were you now I would stick with the Datsun which is essentially a much improved copy of the BMC motor. It's in the spirit of the original and plenty of speed equipment is available.
Just my two cents,
Phil

The obvious suggestion is a chevy small block. Dirt cheap and with so many speed parts available as to make one's head spin. Tight squeeze into a sprite, tho. (As you proboably know, there were more than a few 3000's converted to v8's). I'd also be concerned about weight & cooling.

The old 215 v8 is an interesting option, the Brit car folks know that as the motor from the TR8, Rover SD1, Land Rover Discovery, etc., and at least one person has done it ( Spridgets ). Expensive, though, and not easy to come by all the parts you might need.

IMHO, the best options are either a Japanese motor (e.g. Toyota Egine Swap ) or a rotary. I'd prefer a newer Japanese 4 cyl motor, but that's not all that easy because many are fwd. The rotary has been done in a midget: MG12a, Rotory powered Midget

Actually, what I would probably do is restore the Sprite to the best condition possible, sell it and buy something else. Even with the better engine, you're stuck with suspension and other features that would make me really question whether it was worth the effort & $$$.

I have always liked the idea of an original Yamaha V6 from the first Ford SHO's and stuffing it into something small but not sure what tranny it could be married with. I had one of the early SHO's and it was a really smooth revving engine, liked the higher rpm range. It was only rated at 220HP but it did a fine job staying up w/ any other sedan of it's era.

I have done many odd-ball engine swaps and can give a little advice. If a V-8 swap is really what you want, go get a 4.0 Range rover and use a early intake/ carb / dist. It dimensionally the same as the 215 . Should be plenty of these out there since the engine was one of the things that was decent from RR.

A small block ford is narrower (sp?) than a Chevy and the stock exhaust manifolds sit closer to the block making an easier time swapping.

-OR- Swap in a early Datsun OHC 6 if you have enough room length wise. These are a dime a dozen, light weight and respond well to hot-rod parts.

Having put the 3-rotor in, I think you'd be hard pressed to go with anything but a 4 cylinder or rotary.

I always wanted to put a ford 2.3 turbo in a Bugeye. You could use the whole setup (engine & trans) from a Mustang or a Turbo T-bird. There's a lot of good aftermarket performance parts for that engine.

A 2.2 Chrysler turbo 4 could work too. A Mitsu 4 banger turbo would be even better.

Is there room for an I-6 from a Z-car?

I saw pictures of a bugeye with a Jag 4.2.

Really though, once the novelty wears off I think a big brute of an engine in a bugeye wouldn't be all that much fun. Something smaller & high-revving would appeal more to me. Wans't there a company putting Suzuki 1.3 twin cam 16v engines in sprites, with a 5speed? Something like that would be a hoot.

A common block T-II turbo dodge would be the cats meow....300hp out of a 2.2 liter dodge is cake, and would cost a third of anything else....

3.8 litre Jag 6 cyl.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2521625

or a turbo'ed Miata (Ford) motor with the great tranny. The Flying Miata setup really works well.

Hayabusa engine.