Outer Limits 4x4 Board

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.

Smart car?

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

dihatsu chirade? 3 cyl 1 litre (i think) cheap as chips.

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.

mini 998 with auto gearbox?

Honda City......

You building a kids buggy?

REDNUT wrote:mini 998 with auto gearbox?

And similar in weight to a Commodore V6 and Turbo 700.

Rhett are you after something with Power or not?

suzuki made plenty of small engines for the mightyboy.

I know where you can get a whole charade with auto for $550. It drives but has no rego

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.

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.

earlyish barinas came out with a 3cyl 1l engine

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.

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.

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

gsxr750, 4cyl, super light, sequential box. missing reverse gear though. and not auto...

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.

Mid 80's Charades also make a 2cylinder engine, used to have one that run a geny.

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

Not the smallest, but short, and definitely light (no engine hoist, simply 2 average sized guys)

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.

I'd say either Daihatsu Charade or Suzuki Swift motors are pretty small fwd's.

subaru sherpa or i have a pulsar motor and auto here if your interested (cheap)

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.

Suzuki capuccino turbo 3cyl.

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..