advice needed

[ianminki]

hi rob and all
just taken ownership of another stylus bodied fury chassed car and would like to know which of the modern engines and gearboxes are the simplest to use as I am thinking of having a car engine this time. A lot of work to be done as the chasses needs some repair but nothing serious. Originally bought it for the doors and other bits but am now thinking of total rebuild. Any advice on modern running engines would be appreciated.

regards ian

[stylussprinter]

If you can find one get a 1700cc Ford Puma . They're all alloy plus can be developed to over 200bhp quite easily and weigh now't , unlike my Zetec 2lt. Some like the small 4age Toyota (steel crank)but I've no knowledge of them apart from Tim/SSC blowing his twice on track from all new build HENCE going the 2lt Duratec route. XE's can have aero chocolate heads if you're unlucky but Vaux 1600cc are good. Not too many tuning mod's for MX5 engines so I'd give them a miss unless you only want to road it.

[josephmoore]

Another vote for the 1.7L Ford Sigma if you're not chasing huge power numbers - we have a Puma and it's a fabulous little engine. Remember they use a little oil by design, so avoid ones where it's obvious they have let them run dry. Pumas are so rusty and worthless now that it's a good time to pick up an MOT failed car cheaply and strip out the parts you need - chances are the sills will be see-through but the engine will be just fine.

[ianminki]

hi rob & josephmoore
thanks for reply . this is where im a numpty now but are they front wheel drive if so how do I go about the sorting out engine from front wheel drive to rear wheel drive or am I missing some thing . if that is the case I can get hold of a Honda accord as my brother has one going spare and needs it out of his way and what are the mods that need to be done . I have never played with car engines like this be for so at a loss as what I need ...

thanks regards ian

[josephmoore]

The Puma is indeed front wheel drive - the usual Ford gearbox for kit cars (the type 9) doesn't mate straight up to the 1.7 Sigma (also called the Zetec SE, but not an actual Zetec - confusing, eh!) as it's a Yamaha derived engine and doesn't use the standard Ford pattern. There are bellhousing adapter plates available. Have a google - it's been covered in depth on the Locost Builders forum etc, where people will be able to give you much more information than I am able to

[ianminki]

hi rob and joseph
well what a week it's been just found out after all this time there is a chap round the corner from me that has a kit car (the westy type) and he invited me to go have a look as its mx5 powered must say it looks very nice . as mine is going to be road use only think that's the route I am going to take as there are plenty to fined local to me (cheap as well)so all my bec parts are going up for sale . I have been looking at the more used engine's but all the advice I have been getting off the other kit car site's became very confusing to me . we took some measurements from his car and a spare engine and gear box is has for it then it was back to mine and measured up . so for now its all hands to the new kit and getting the chasse sorted for now

regards ian

[alfablack]

Hi Ian

i have just put an mx5 1.8 engine and box into a early fury using the paired down standard wiring loom ecu and modified the clocks to sit centrally in the dash.
cost £400
you will need prop shaft. gearbox. engine and ancillaries wiring and ecu unless you go for stand alone
and the water pipe runs have to be corrected but these are on relevant forums
140hp standard you can bolt on anything you want if its more power turbo and supercharger kits are about

[ianminki]

hi alfa
thanks for the reply do you have any photo's I could have look at . I just got hold of a fury chasses with a stylus body for parts for my car and was going do a total re build with it but I think there is going to be more work on the chasse than I can do . so using as intended parts for my car . have decided to go for a mx5 to replace the bike engine . could you tell me how you have routed the exhaust and if you have used the standard engine mountings . would be of great help thanks

regards ian

[alfablack]

Hi

can get some photo's for you at the weekend
made our own engine mounts
put the exhaust on not very tidy have got to chop it and redo but will get some photo's before that to give you an idea

where are you based

[ianminki]

hi
thanks I am in Scunthorpe and you

[alfablack]

Hi i am stafford

[alfablack]

Sorry just noticed the previous posts
while the puma engine is a little belter you cannot get the parts to put one together should it need a rebuild
as the local ford dealer keeps any he can get old of for spares to keep some of is customers on the road
he says engine parts are impossible to get ?

and the erly mx5 1.6 engine from a eunos was all steel internals steel rods and crank forged pistons
bolt a turbo and a little ecu change 200hp +

[CMA]

Up in Scunthorpe area you have RoadRunner who produce the SR2 kit car (7 style) they are based on MX5s and the owner has an MX5 based garage with rolling road and is very experienced in all things MX5.

A mate has an SR2 with the 1.8 MX5 engine. He has just had a Supercharger fitted to it and currently getting it all mapped up with a canems ecu. So far I think he has about 230bhp on the kamikaze map but the torque improvement is the biggest gain.

PS Bit of advice do NOT get the cam cover of the MX5 powder coated. As the powder coaters will shot blast the cover first. this will lead to engine failure within 100 miles. As the shot gets embedded in the ally and the heat of the oil/engine wash it out and knacker your oil pump. No matter how much you wash/clean it. It will cause failure

[ianminki]

hi rob
thanks for that info . was thinking more on elbow work and polish for cam cover . just sorting the new doors out at moment then on with removing the bike engine and cleaning the engine bay so ill be on the look out for the mx5 car after that .

regards ian