Any recommendations for a four banger?

[Toad]

Considering building a lightweight car using an modern American four banger (not from a T or anything like that). Anyone?

Toad

 

[Country Misfit]

Iron Duke 4 cyl Chevy maybe?

 

[ArmchairRacer]

Fuel injected or carbed? If fuel injected then an Ecotec, in all sorts of GM cars from the last 10 years.

 

[RoddingRon]

I agree with the Iron Duke idea but they can be a little tough to find...even the later 80's versions are getting scarce. The quad fours kind of look like an old Offy motor, but a bit pricey for the adapters and ignition set up to go to a rear wheel drive, but just in case you are interested here's a link

http://quad4rods.com/

 

[05snopro440]

The Ecotec are good engines, but very expensive to convert to RWD unless you can get one out of a Solstice or Sky. Specifically the adapter plate to put a RWD transmission on are about $800 or $900.

The Ford engines from the 70's-80's are very popular for this kind of thing. Think Pinto, Mustang, etc. They're good little engines and can be dressed up to fool most people.

 

[soltz]

IMO, ford 2300 cc. cheap to start with and plenty of A/M stuff to build some crazy horse power.

 

[05snopro440]

The Ecotec are good engines, but very expensive to convert to RWD unless you can get one out of a Solstice or Sky. Specifically the adapter plate to put a RWD transmission on are about $800 or $900.

The Ford engines from the 70's-80's are very popular for this kind of thing. Think Pinto, Mustang, etc. They're good little engines and can be dressed up to fool most people.

Oh yeah, the ford engines I mentioned were originally RWD too. Same thing soltz is referring to, I believe.

You could use any 4-banger out of an S-10 as well, they had different displacements depending on year.

 

[Willowbilly3]

For cheap the Ford 2.3. For cool factor I'd find an old Toyota Hemi. I think they were a 3AC. Or a Saturn twin cam, also looks like an offy.

 

[26Troadster]

ford 2000/2300, pontiac iron duke, also the s10, camero/firebird, jeep/eagle/dodge dakota used that duke motor. old toyota motors like the 22r or the older hemi 4 cylinders. all had rear wheel drive

 

[21willys]

How about a diesel? 4cyl Perkins or cummins.

 

[Nailhead]

Chevy 153 4 bangers are tuff little motors. I built a 37 chevy PU rat rod with one. Put a t-5 behind it with a Camaro rear axle. They have the same bellhousing pattern as a v-8 chevy so any chevy V-8 tranny will fit.

 

[2.3Turbo_T]

Ford turbocharged 2.3 liter 4 cyl. They're common, bulletproof and you can easily hit 300 hp with junkyard parts. Joe Morgan pushed 1200 hp outta one (but he wasn't using junkyard parts)! I have one in my Mustang, I have one in my daily driver '86 Thunderbird and I'm dropping one in my '27 Model T roadster. Here's a link......................................
http://ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30757

They came in '83-'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupes, '85-'89 Merkur XR4ti's, '83-'86 Mustang SVO's, some mid-80's Mercury Capris and some mid-80's Mercury Cougars. Check these sites.................
www.turboford.org
www.turbotbird.com

 

[UncleDonnie]

2.5 Jeep

I'm real fond of the 2.5 in my 2001 Wrangler. It is an AMC derivative of the Iron Duke with a regular distributor and could be carbureted. It's a push rod motor and looks real conventional except for the plastic valve cover.

 

[Toad]

Thanks guys for all the feedback, now that the weather's getting warmer I plan on hitting the junk yards asap!

Chevy 153 4 bangers are tuff little motors. I built a 37 chevy PU rat rod with one. Put a t-5 behind it with a Camaro rear axle. They have the same bellhousing pattern as a v-8 chevy so any chevy V-8 tranny will fit.

Nail, what kind of cars did these motors come in? I have a bunch of Chev auto trannys & that would make it easy!

Toad

 

[05snopro440]

Thanks guys for all the feedback, now that the weather's getting warmer I plan on hitting the junk yards asap!



Nail, what kind of cars did these motors come in? I have a bunch of Chev auto trannys & that would make it easy!

Toad

This link should answer your question:153 Chevy

Also, are you dead set on a four-cylinder? If not, you could go with a 194 or 230 6 cylinder? They are fairly plentiful, around here at least.