Craziest Midget Engine Options?

[owelly]

I recall driving a blobby Micra 1.3 16v and it was blummin spritely! Engines are very small, light and cheap. You could even mate it to the Midget gearbox to keep costs down. How hard can it be to knock-up an adaptor plate? There will be plenty of room under the bonnet for a bit of forced induction too.

[mitsuru]

I recall driving a blobby Micra 1.3 16v and it was blummin spritely! Engines are very small, light and cheap. You could even mate it to the Midget gearbox to keep costs down. How hard can it be to knock-up an adaptor plate? There will be plenty of room under the bonnet for a bit of forced induction too.

You might want the figaro as they are micra engines with factory fitted turbos IIRC

[mitsuru]

The figaro has Nissan's MA10ET, a turbocharged 1.0 L (987 cc)engine.
However if you got the turbo setup off the figaro and it was fitted
to the 1.3L engine stated previously by owelly you should have a enough
space for them in the midget?
The figaro's electrics could also be used as it was equipped with
leather seats, air conditioning, CD player and an open roof(electric).

[Renrut]

The idea of keeping the midget gearbox isn't a bad one, much less to faff around with, lighter than a type 9 by about 10kgs and most importantly I've already got one.



If it had enough grunt I'm not sure I'd miss the extra 5th gear either as long as the diff was adjust to suit.

Micra engine you say

Adaptor plate isn't too hard (I've got access to a pukka draughtsman and laser cutting company down the road). Guess I'd need to get and engine and see what it leaves me with to sort out.

Figaros aren't cheap though, they seem to attract silly girly car taxes. Micra's are plenty enough though. Wasn't the MA10ET an iron block? I'd rather an alloy one, there must be plenty of the later 1.2 and 1.4 16Vs in scrap yards by now. This sounds like a real alternative to the K series.

[Renrut]

Hmmm about 90bhp from the 1.2 and the 1.4 only 98. Apparently they have a reputation for stretching timing chains, although of the 2 we've had in the family neither has had a problem despite very hard driving and always giving over 40mpg. I wonder what one weighs.

[owelly]

I could be wrong but didn't the JDM Micras have a bit more poke than the UK ones? If so it may be possible to tweak a few more ponies out of the all alloy unit. Or you could get it fitted and running, then think about bike carbs or throttle bodies, and a fruity chimney.
They may not be the craziest engine option, but for the Midget, I think it would be a good little project. As well as using the gearbox you already have (therefore no making mounts), you'd also use the propshaft and axle. Do it Will....

[owelly]

And IFAIK, the MA engine were all alloy, but you'd want the CGA3DE. You'll have to google to check these as I can't as I'm at work and the work puter won't let me look at non-work related stuff.....

[mjslonergan]

So it would be a Nidget, reason enough to do it

[Renrut]

When has anyone on this forum needed a reason to do something?

I shall look into it more tonight when I'm free from work troubles as it sounds like a good sensible idea.

[mitsuru]

When has anyone on this forum needed a reason to do something?

I shall look into it more tonight when I'm free from work troubles as it sounds like a good sensible idea.

Oh good god what have we done!!!!
A sensible idea!!!!!!!

Quick someone get the NOX on it and remove the sensible part quick

[ACE]

Did someone ask for crazy?
Rolls Royce V8, with a DIY turbo conversion.
Merlin meteor V12.
Napier Deltic.
Junkers Jumo 223.
Volkswagen Touareg 5.0L V10.
Hartley Enterprises H1, 32 valve V8 (2.8 or 3.0) - based on two Hyabusa engines on a common crankcase.
Honda 750cc V4 from the NR (or NR750) - 4 cylinder, 32 valves.

[Renrut]

Did someone ask for crazy?
Rolls Royce V8, with a DIY turbo conversion.
Merlin meteor V12.
Napier Deltic.
Junkers Jumo 223.
Volkswagen Touareg 5.0L V10.
Hartley Enterprises H1, 32 valve V8 (2.8 or 3.0) - based on two Hyabusa engines on a common crankcase.
Honda 750cc V4 from the NR (or NR750) - 4 cylinder, 32 valves.

A honda V4 would fit nicely, I think I posted a link up earlier to someone putting a ST1300 V4 into some tiny american car and it would have been an easy fit into the midget. Downside is the cost of them, not cheap and no reverse and 'only' 130bhp.

I'm not sure a Deltic would work

Scale comparison of deltic vs midget similar to the dinosaur books I had as a kid:

But other than maybe a stronger diff it looks like a shoe in.

[ACE]

Perfectly true, but given the title of this thread, I thought it was time to turn up the crazy a little.

[mitsuru]

Chrysler/Dodge push rod v6 and there is turbos etc available from the usa.
Get one from a dodge truck or a voyager, I did.

[Relentless Rob]

Slightly more realistic is this...



...BMW 850 V12 bored out to 5.5 liters with two banks of six throttle bodies.

Stretch the front in a Topolino drag racer style and show it off under a polycarbonate bonnet.