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Car guys

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  1. R_U_Nuts R_U_Nuts is offline

    South Bend, IN
    United States

    Posts: 7,865
    Joined: Jan 07

    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 3:55am)

    Just bought a 1980 Fiat Spider convertable to restore. I'll do most of the body and interior work myself but I want to have an american engine and transmision put in so when it comes time for repairs I'll be able to do most of it myself without having to buy a shit ton of new tools. Any idea what engine would be a good fit?
  2. Mad_Nervous Mad_Nervous is offline

    Delray Beach, FL
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:05am) in reply to R_U_Nuts

    Sign up in a car forum imo. Seems like a pretty serious decision. Might want more and better opinions?
  3. R_U_Nuts R_U_Nuts is offline

    South Bend, IN
    United States

    Posts: 7,865
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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:08am) in reply to Mad_Nervous

    Yea i did sign up to a fiat forum all im getting is crickets.
    Thread Starter
  4. Jokerluelz Jokerluelz is offline

    Posts: 2,958
    Joined: Apr 07

    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:12am) in reply to R_U_Nuts

    might be better suited to sign up to a Custom Car builder Forum or something like that .. don't just limit yourself to the type of car you're Building ?
  5. normlfella normlfella is offline

    Somerville, MA
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:16am) in reply to Jokerluelz

    FixItAgainTony
    Edited By: normlfella Jun 30th, 2011 at 04:17 AM
  6. El Burro El Burro is offline

    Dallas, TX
    United States

    Posts: 8,787
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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:27am) in reply to normlfella

    Are you wanting to shoehorn a V8 in there, or just an American motor and drivetrain that will fit?
  7. repo_man456 repo_man456 is offline

    Chicago, IL
    United States

    Posts: 1,630
    Joined: Jun 06

    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:43am) in reply to El Burro

    Is this a level OP? What kind of American engine/transmission would you want in there?




    a fat V8/trans would kill handling, rethink engine combo imo, fuck I'd put a 1000cc sportbike motor/trans before a big V8

    I think you're hearing crickets b/c of your question


    EDIT: another picture
    Edited By: repo_man456 Jun 30th, 2011 at 04:44 AM
     
  8. dams dams is offline

    MA
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:48am) in reply to repo_man456

    Id throw twin vespas under the hood.
  9. tek85 tek85 is offline

    Posts: 1,185
    Joined: Sep 05

    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:50am) in reply to dams

    I'm definitely not a Fiat guru, but from car mags and tv shows I've seen most non-stock engines swaps need either brackets to relocate the engine mounts or some fabrication to cut out and weld in brackets for the engine mounts. Also keep in mind that you'll need to make sure it will line up/fit your tranny.

    Google and research are going to be ur bffs here. You might want to check to see how hard it is to get parts for your current motor and also check the price as well as mods for it.
  10. railbot railbot is offline

    Miami, FL
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:58am) in reply to tek85

  11. R_U_Nuts R_U_Nuts is offline

    South Bend, IN
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:59am) in reply to railbot

    I was wanting to go from the 4cyl to a 6cyl, replacing the transmision as well is not a big deal. It's not about perfromance as much as its about repair costs on a american 6cyl vs an italian 4cyl.
    Thread Starter
  12. railbot railbot is offline

    Miami, FL
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 5:00am) in reply to tek85

  13. repo_man456 repo_man456 is offline

    Chicago, IL
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 5:43am) in reply to R_U_Nuts

     
    Originally Posted by R_U_Nuts View Post

    I was wanting to go from the 4cyl to a 6cyl, replacing the transmision as well is not a big deal. It's not about perfromance as much as its about repair costs on a american 6cyl vs an italian 4cyl.

    if you are concerned abt costs, why not an older Japanese 4cyl or small V6? I applaud what you're doing here, tried it once before myself.....
     
  14. jhubb jhubb is offline

    Madison, WI
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 6:01am) in reply to R_U_Nuts

    look into a pontiac Fiero motor... I have a friend whos dad put an 8 cyl motor into a fiero,... so what your trying to do is not impossible that car was insanely fast/quick
  15. Moonlight Graham Moonlight Graham is online now

    PA
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 6:24am) in reply to jhubb

    Go to a local repair shop, hopefully one specializing in euro cars. Ask what engine/trans would be the closest to lining up with all the brackets.

    I would think getting the trans rebuilt, and maybe beefing up the a stock motor would be best. Other suggestion would be a 291.
  16. C_Bomb C_Bomb is offline

    Croydon
    Australia

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 6:54am) in reply to Moonlight Graham

    1JZ-GTE Toyota 6cyl turbo
    1JZ-GE Toyota 6cyl NA
    RB25DET Nissan 6cyl Turbo
    RB25DE Nissan 6cyl NA
    SR20DET Nissan 4cyl turbo
    3SGTE Toyota 4cyl turbo

    Those 4cyl will fit, the 6cyls might fit. you could go a 2JZ for more capacity but they are a bit longer that the 1J.

    All are old enough to be cheap and are common enough in the the scene to have lots of after market parts and have commonly available spares.

    All are available in manual and auto. you should be able to get a half cut from the donor cars with engine, trans, computer and all other stuff required (except a fuel tank, you'll need to get a baffled tank made or run a surge get up because of the EFI) for a good price.

    You will need to get engine and transmission mounts made up but they won't be hard for a workshop with any half brain techs.
  17. SlayNL SlayNL is offline

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 6:58am) in reply to C_Bomb

     
    Originally Posted by C_Bomb View Post

    1JZ-GTE Toyota 6cyl turbo
    1JZ-GE Toyota 6cyl NA
    RB25DET Nissan 6cyl Turbo
    RB25DE Nissan 6cyl NA
    SR20DET Nissan 4cyl turbo
    3SGTE Toyota 4cyl turbo

    Those 4cyl will fit, the 6cyls might fit. you could go a 2JZ for more capacity but they are a bit longer that the 1J.

    All are old enough to be cheap and are common enough in the the scene to have lots of after market parts and have commonly available spares.

    All are available in manual and auto. you should be able to get a half cut from the donor cars with engine, trans, computer and all other stuff required (except a fuel tank, you'll need to get a baffled tank made or run a surge get up because of the EFI) for a good price.

    You will need to get engine and transmission mounts made up but they won't be hard for a workshop with any half brain techs.

    C_Bomb, u playin the Thurs $100 @ Crown tonight?
  18. C_Bomb C_Bomb is offline

    Croydon
    Australia

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 7:03am) in reply to SlayNL

    Can't make it.

    Motor Show press day is Friday and I really can't be late for that.

    Might be playing Friday night cash if I can't get a home game running. The regular group are all being bitches.
  19. SlayNL SlayNL is offline

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 7:04am) in reply to C_Bomb

    I'll be at the footy/drunk so no degennin 2/3 for me
  20. I Fold I Fold is offline

    Newport Beach, CA
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 4:45pm) in reply to SlayNL

    Save room for this::

  21. Indianachris Indianachris is offline

    New Albany, IN
    United States

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    Jun 30th, 2011 (6/30/2011 5:11pm) in reply to I Fold

    Just off of the top of my head I would think an engine/trans from a Miata might be an easy fit.
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