Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

light small motor

General Tech Talk

Moderators: toaddog, TWISTY, V8Patrol, Moderators

Posts: 2066
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 8:17 pm
Location: Gympie

light small motor

Post by Rhett »

Ive just spent the afternoon wandering through the wreckers looking for a motor but can't find one that suits my needs. Im looking for a front wheel drive motor and auto in the smallest, lightest package possible. sub 1l would be good and four or less cylinders. It dosent matter whether its injected or not, probly easyer if it wasn't. Full alloy block would be good too.
Has any one got any thoughts?
It is for a project that will be cool. :cool:
Its a wheelbase thing
Posts: 2526
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:21 am
Location: Outcast Offroad

Post by Micka »

Smart car?
Posts: 1256
Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:05 pm
Location: newzealand

Post by tweak'e »

there is a whole range of small car motors, usually 550cc 3cyl, restricted in power, so you can easly get far more out of them.

example http://autospeed.com/cms/A_2346/printArticle.html
Posts: 579
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 4:36 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by bigcam »

dihatsu chirade? 3 cyl 1 litre (i think) cheap as chips.
[quote="75 cruser"]we want more donkey[/quote]
Posts: 1321
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2004 7:56 pm
Location: Jamisiontown NSW

Post by MARKx4 »

May not be alloy block, but the old dihatsu cherade has a 3 cyl and they also offered it in a turbo version if you wanted a little more power.

Here it is in non turbo and turbo http://autospeed.com/cms/title_The-Daih ... ticle.html

I know you want a auto, i havent read the full link i posted but i noticed it mentions a 5 speed manual but there is a 2 speed auto, i know that cause i used to own one many of years ago.

Mark.
Last edited by MARKx4 on Wed May 12, 2010 7:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Its not cool, unless it's got boost :)
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:17 pm
Location: ALEXANDRA HILLS

Post by REDNUT »

mini 998 with auto gearbox?
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/sutra1891126.php#1891126
Posts: 3940
Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:09 pm
Location: Sunshine Coast Qld

Post by want33s »

Honda City......

You building a kids buggy?
Posts: 16934
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 6:57 pm

Post by RUFF »

REDNUT wrote:mini 998 with auto gearbox?
And similar in weight to a Commodore V6 and Turbo 700.
Posts: 16934
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 6:57 pm

Post by RUFF »

Rhett are you after something with Power or not?
Posts: 3513
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:52 am
Location: Perth, WA

Post by alien »

suzuki made plenty of small engines for the mightyboy.
The worst thing about censorship is ███████.
Posts: 3739
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:10 pm

Post by mickyd555 »

I know where you can get a whole charade with auto for $550. It drives but has no rego
Posts: 765
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 7:28 pm
Location: Fixing something else the kids have broken

Post by BadMav »

Just thinkin outside the box a bit, how about a motor bike engine? I know no auto but compact, light and good power to weight.
Don't take life too seriously...it isn't permanent.
Posts: 2066
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 8:17 pm
Location: Gympie

Post by Rhett »

It doesent need heeps of power, as it will have loads of gearing and only 33'-35" tires. but cheap and easy to find would be good. I thought of the charade but couldn't find one at the wreckers. Bike motor would be good if I could get a quad one with shaft drive and reverse but I think that would be$$$.
550 for the charade has me intrested.
Its a wheelbase thing
Posts: 1516
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:36 pm
Location: melbourne australia

Post by pcman »

earlyish barinas came out with a 3cyl 1l engine
Posts: 3099
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2002 10:55 am
Location: Central Queensland

Post by BundyRumandCoke »

The 3 cyl Charade motors are not all alloy, they have a cast iron block. They are also prone to overheating, and can blow between cylinders across the head gasket, if they havent been looked after. Thats what happened to my daughters Charade.

Having said that, the motors are light, 2 of us lifted hers into place when it was replaced.
Mud makes excellent toothpaste.
Posts: 2066
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 8:17 pm
Location: Gympie

Post by Rhett »

Two people to lift :!: :!: I hope the box was on it too. I throw my serria motors on my shoulder and im not a real big bloke.
Its a wheelbase thing
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:17 pm
Location: ALEXANDRA HILLS

Post by REDNUT »

RUFF wrote:
REDNUT wrote:mini 998 with auto gearbox?
And similar in weight to a Commodore V6 and Turbo 700.
and probably rather colectable and worth quite a bit these days
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/sutra1891126.php#1891126
Posts: 275
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:21 pm
Location: sunny melbourne

Post by 85lux »

gsxr750, 4cyl, super light, sequential box. missing reverse gear though. and not auto...
Posts: 16934
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 6:57 pm

Post by RUFF »

85lux wrote:gsxr750, 4cyl, super light, sequential box. missing reverse gear though. and not auto...
Thats actually what i was thinking. Wouldnt be hard to mate it to a FWD Auto either i doubt. They mate them to zook gearboxes.
Posts: 116
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:52 pm
Location: SE QLD

Post by OIIIIIIIO »

Mid 80's Charades also make a 2cylinder engine, used to have one that run a geny.
Posts: 4825
Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 6:33 pm
Location: Berwick vic

Post by droopypete »

Cable bracing is the way of the future!

v840 said "That sounds like a booty fab, hack job piece of shit no offence."
God of Athiests
Posts: 8336
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2003 2:14 am
Location: Brownsville

Post by DamTriton »

Left field....Subaru 1600cc/1800cc with automatic.

Not the smallest, but short, and definitely light (no engine hoist, simply 2 average sized guys)
George Carlin, an American Comedian said; "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realise that half of them are stupider than that".
Posts: 16934
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 6:57 pm

Post by RUFF »

DAMKIA wrote:Left field....Subaru 1600cc/1800cc with automatic.

Not the smallest, but short, and definitely light (no engine hoist, simply 2 average sized guys)
Thats defianatly not short. He is after an E-W motor not a N-S.
Posts: 470
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:21 pm
Location: Australia

Post by 351ciofgrunt »

I'd say either Daihatsu Charade or Suzuki Swift motors are pretty small fwd's.
GQ Patrol Wagon, 6 point roll cage
351 cleveland, CHI heads, solid cam, Funnelweb single plane, 750 HP DP
Posts: 1183
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 5:05 pm
Location: Tewantin

Post by flyinwall »

subaru sherpa or i have a pulsar motor and auto here if your interested (cheap)
R.I.P. Darryl "DAZZA" Mutch 02/08/1978 - 26/08/2012 aged 34 years ... You will be missed my little brother.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=39190&start=150
Posts: 19062
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:39 pm
Location: In a horse near you

Post by chimpboy »

This is not legal advice.
Posts: 662
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:02 pm
Location: Picton

Post by Tazz »

What about some sought of old agg quad - can be bought quite cheap come with auto and reverse.
Size wise prob 300 to 900cc and shold be pretty light.
Offroad Performance Warehouse
1300 679 494
www.opw.com.au - tazz@opw.com.au
www.jd2.com.au - tazz@jd2.com.au
Posts: 1676
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:26 am
Location: brisbane

Post by 1MadEngineer »

WWW.TEAMDGR.COM
WWW.SUPERIORENGINEERING.COM.AU
WWW.LOCKTUP4X4.COM.AU
Posts: 3278
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:03 pm
Location: St Helena, Melbourne.

Post by Loanrangie »

Suzuki capuccino turbo 3cyl.
Saddle up tonto, its the not so loanrangie! . 98 TDI DISCO lightly modded with more to come.
Posts: 1791
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:02 pm
Location: Kurrajong Heights, NSW

Post by BlueSuzy »

Loanrangie wrote:Suzuki capuccino turbo 3cyl.
Thats a rwd setup.

And probably $$


Single cam, Honda D16y- various numbers. Civic coupes are D16y8 vtec also.

Plenty around for cheapish. Good, smooth, powerfull motors for size..

All alloy.

Honda motors are meant to run backwards, but if its for a buggy, turn the motor/gbox around..
I am Tim
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests