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prompted by the bike engined car thread i just thought i'd ask the question, what is the best value engine around at the mo?
as we all move in slightly different scenes sometimes we may know of a particular engine that makes good power and is well cheap but it isnt that well known to "outsiders"
I know we can all find bargains, but i'm talking about engines that are cheap all the time, not a lucky find.
I'll submit the Granny Cossie 2.9 24v V6, it makes 200bhp and 200lb/ft. Ive seen em on ebay for £150 but on average they make £250 out of the car and maybe £400 in a car and running, but the car will also supply a LSD IRS that will sell on ebay for £100 - £150 to the kit car boys and maybe £50 - £100 back on scrap for the rest of the car. Heavy old engine though is about its only downside as they are even pretty good on mpg if not thrashed.
Anyone got any thing else thats better or close?
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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bang for buck the small block Chevy is hard to beat. The bad: Its heavy, its large, theres plenty of people selling 307s or 305s and pretending they are 350s, but its an almost indestructable motor with an unparallelled aftermarket support and you can build what ever poower level suits your application, torque delivery requirements and budget. 300, 400, 450, 500, 550 BHP... How much do you need? Basic complete engine can be had for £300 &up, most are autos, but you can do manual fairly easy. Not "a few coppers" to put together but for a few hundred you have a damn strong motor For a couple of grand you have significant power.
Another overlooked one is the Cadillac V8. Seems almost nobody wants them, but you have a choice of 472, 500 and 425 in cronological order. Even stock its a torque monster (think of the cars trhey are designed to lug round!) I saw one in a Mk2 Cortina once. "Awesome dude". Not quite as bulky and heavy as you might think. 400 BHP without doing much more than yanking it out of the donor car. I saw a place clearing Caddy motors in Sheffield a year or three back and they wanted £395 for the engine and box complete and running. He'd have delivered in a reasonable radius for that and maybe done it for £350... How good is your haggling?
Car Craft magazine recently described the Ford 460 as "the cheapest 500 BHP in the junk yard". Certainly they are a hard sell over here so bargains to be had. I wept at missing one for £250 recently (with trans? I forget) . Although I had no use for it, well, shame not to really. Depending on spec make 270 - 370 BHP stock and simple bolt ons break the 500 BHP barrier. Not sure if that included heads, as thats where it gets expensive unless you port your own.
Mopar 318. People are about giving them away. £100+ gets you a yankee V8 with pedigree and a non-smog stocker 2 barrel makes about 210 BHP and 290 lbs torque in fat flat curves. Tuning? the world is your lobster, although if you want big numbers start with something like the Chevy or a big block as its cheaper in the long run... low compression as stock means probably good for some nitrous action...
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Last Edit: Jun 1, 2007 10:15:43 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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ratty
Part of things
Posts: 257
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Rover T or O Series Turbo Vauxhall twin cam N/A and Turbo K Series VVC Just about any V8
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Last Edit: Jun 1, 2007 10:16:14 GMT by ratty
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I need an SBF some time ;D
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I'm often surprised we don't see more BMWs as donor cars, there's plenty of six cylinder cars about in different engine sizes and states of tune for very little money. The same could be said of Supras, or indeed Turbo Volvos.
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SBF - does everything a SBC does, but in a smaller lighter package. Less displacement means less power for the same mods and less torque for the same power. Costs more to buy over here due to demand, and parts are more expensive. Block cracks open at 600 BHP unless you re-inforce or use an aftermarket block.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I'm often surprised we don't see more BMWs as donor cars, there's plenty of six cylinder cars about in different engine sizes and states of tune for very little money. The same could be said of Supras, or indeed Turbo Volvos. IMO... by the time I've fecked about fitting a 200 BHP BMW straight 6, got all the wiring, domne all the plumbing, etc. I could have got a carb fed Chevy in there for the same effort and money, more power, more torque, more tuning potential... they seem like inbetweenie engines to me. Not small and light like an all alloy DOHC 4 and not as big and brawny as a V8. Parts prices and being out of my comfort zone scare me - and I bet scare others too.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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ratty
Part of things
Posts: 257
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I'm often surprised we don't see more BMWs as donor cars, there's plenty of six cylinder cars about in different engine sizes and states of tune for very little money. The same could be said of Supras, or indeed Turbo Volvos. IMO... by the time I've fecked about fitting a 200 BHP BMW straight 6, got all the wiring, domne all the plumbing, etc. I could have got a carb fed Chevy in there for the same effort and money, more power, more torque, more tuning potential... they seem like inbetweenie engines to me. Not small and light like an all alloy DOHC 4 and not as big and brawny as a V8. Parts prices and being out of my comfort zone scare me - and I bet scare others too. The same could be said about the ford V6
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I think the Swedes have proven that Volvo engines can produce ridiculous power... how cost effective that power is I don't know....
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IMO... by the time I've fecked about fitting a 200 BHP BMW straight 6, got all the wiring, domne all the plumbing, etc. I could have got a carb fed Chevy in there for the same effort and money, more power, more torque, more tuning potential... they seem like inbetweenie engines to me. Not small and light like an all alloy DOHC 4 and not as big and brawny as a V8. Parts prices and being out of my comfort zone scare me - and I bet scare others too. The same could be said about the ford V6 Aye, it could, except a lot of peope are happy with Ford V6s because the essex started it off then we progressed to the cologne and they added the complex bits over the years. With Fords everythign is kinda bolt together because you can mix and match parts from various cars, near enough... I don't think the Mazda derived V6 is anywhere near as popular with the modding community. its just a little to alien for a lot of people who grew up with crossflow, pinto, essex, cologne... People stick with whats tried and tested. Or "monkey see, monkey do" which ever way you want to look at it. With the jolly old interweb we can see what other nations are up to and to a degree this had broadened what we do. Not that mcuh in the mainstream of retro-modding I reckon, but maybe give it time...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,416
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Cheapest bhp per £?qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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The Modern Ford V6 is a decent motor but doesn't have much after market parts backup. Exhaust filter and chip is about as much as you can do. Could Use parts off the St200 on the 167bhp V6 but i don't think its cost effective.
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Surely a J 4 cyl turbo would be your cheapest BHP?
I have a spare 4G63 lined up for my starion for £50.
180 bhp as standard and nowhere near as heavy as a big cossie V6.
Stick a second hand turbo on it and a few bits here and there and for less than your Cossie V6 price you could see over 200bhp
But then why get a starion engine when you could get it in twin cam format out of a galant turbo and get even more.
or you could go for a 3sgte out of a mk2 mr2 turbo. Pricier though, but you start with less weight and much more bhp than your cossie V6 again.
and its easy peasy to get bhp out of J turbo engines.
Or keep it N/A and get a Toyota Quad Cam 32 valve V8 out of a soarer. All alloy, weighs less than most 4 cyl engines, economical for a V8, and tuneable. what are they, like nearly 250bhp standard?
Then the good old Rv8 can be a nice engine and its light too. Pricey to make it good though I guess.
the way I figure all the above engines could be cheap if you look hunt for them. But they don't have the heritage or the burble. You cant say "yeah my Mk1 Capri has a 2.0 toyota engine" - it doesnt sound as good as "yeah I have a 302 V8" even though chances are it will make more power and be lighter.
The only thing big yank V8s are good for is massive power but they are usually heavy and to get that massive power it can be pricey. don't get me wrong, I love them and they have their place but if your question is cheap BHP then I can't see the answer not being a J turbo. If you look in the right place.
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Cheapest bhp per £?Robinxr4i
@robinxr4i
Club Retro Rides Member 143
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Saab 2.0/2.3 16v turbo engine - 175 to 225 bhp depending what model you get! Saab 9000 are dirt cheap, and almost free if the cars got damage. The engine is very tunable.
2.9 24v Cosworth engine is an easy n/a 200 bhp, as already mentioned. However it is an expensive engine to rebuild and tune.
Ford 302 - 200+ bhp is cheap as well and probably the cheapest to rebuild! The american have deffo got the cheapest part if you want BIG power!
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Sierra - here we go again! He has an illness, it's not his fault.
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i don't personally like turbo engines, thats just me though, 24v cossies lump is restricted on tuning parts, although 100 quid will get you a set of cams and a chip, add a better filter and exhaust and you can make 240bhp. Any more than that though and the plenum needs changing whatever anyone claims. Fords do have the advantage of being very "mix and match" as has been already said.
I was thinking more of just a standard engine rather than tuning potential to be honest, should have made that clearer, although its good to hear about all this stuff, i know nothin about J engines and what box can be fitted to what engine etc etc.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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If you're not looking for serious power, then £ per bhp the good old 2 litre 8v Vauxhall engines (Cavalier CD, Astra GTE) are bloody good. Always overlooked in favour of the 16v or Turbo motors, there's plenty of people on Migweb can't give them away. Often come out of a GTE that's having a 16v plonked in, or the Mk3 Astra had them in various non-sports models which turn up stolen/recovered for £100.
120bhp often for collection cost only, worst case it'll cost you a night out's cash.
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Never trust a man Who names himself Trevor. Or one day you might find He's not a real drug dealer.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,416
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Cheapest bhp per £?qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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If you're not looking for serious power, then £ per bhp the good old 2 litre 8v Vauxhall engines (Cavalier CD, Astra GTE) are bloody good. Always overlooked in favour of the 16v or Turbo motors, there's plenty of people on Migweb can't give them away. Often come out of a GTE that's having a 16v plonked in, or the Mk3 Astra had them in various non-sports models which turn up stolen/recovered for £100. 120bhp often for collection cost only, worst case it'll cost you a night out's cash. I agree with this. I've heard really good things about the 8v engine!! Easier to put in a nova as well IIRC ;D
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Have to agree on the Volvo turbo lumps. B230T lump is common cheap and very capable engine with good box but expensive to modify and the engine only bolts into Volvos. Lots of tuning knowledge out there too.
Agree on all the comments about the Cossie V6 cheap to buy but not a lot you can do with them. However they do bolt into a lot of Fords. There is that manual gearbox issue though.
Agree on the old Vauxhall SEH 2.8 8v SRi130 lumps. ~130bhp for near nothing and drops into most Vauxhalls. I think you can get twin webber inlets that will fit and lots of box options like the short range F16.
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The vauxhall ecotec is pretty good, basically the XE but a bit more refined and has better low and mid range torque, only 134BHP as opposed the the XE's 150 (?ish?) though. But you u can get for as little as £50 sometimes and the scrapyards are full of them!
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Last Edit: Jun 1, 2007 12:22:55 GMT by Butterz
Faster. Faster. Until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
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s'pose it also depends what you plan fitting it into and what your intended use is.
If you have a big heavy un-aero bodyshell (Morris Six or a Westminster or something) then a wizzy little 4 pot will be a chore in it. If you are looking at a Mk1 Polo or a Starlet or something then you won;t want to be doubling the weight of the car with a cast iron V8 big block...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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An XJS V12, 300BHP and then dump 300BHPs worth of nitrous on it. Excellent ;D Bit big though, I guess
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