Honda F20C engine swap

[manoa matt]

The build/swap thread: http://www.turbo124.com/forum/viewtopic ... nda+engine

[AndyS]

what sort of rebates and incentives do you think are available for a home-built EV?

There are none. no federal rebates or incentives, and even the State of California has nothing. that is what makes doing a quality EV conversion economically foolish at this point. I almost built a lithium powered Fiat 850 a while back, with a powerful brush less motor and batteries that would give it better performance by far than the stock engine The conversion would cost about $15,000 though, and with no incentives, it makes no sense. You'd have to put over 100,000 miles on the car to break even, and that would take me 40 -50 years in an 850 Spider!

[MrWampus]

I think if you want a small convertible 2-seat sports car with a Honda S2000 engine in it you should just buy a Honda S2000. I love the idea of a "sleeper spider" but I think there's too much at stake not engineering the rest of the car around the engine.

[ga.spyder]

I think that it is great that the Fiat community is open to any of these ideas.Having owned Brit cars,it would be sacreligious to even suggest replacing on of those 'Iron slugs' with anything else.At last years Mitty,there was a guy with a MGB that had a 6 cylinder Toyota turbo motor in it.The car was gorgeous and had been meticulously done.It looked like a stock motor.I thought it was great...the British car corral,as a whole,hated it!! The X1/9 guys have swapped in a lot of different powerplants.If you like it..do it!

[AndyS]

I am involved with the first series Toyota MR2's, and many swaps have been done successively in those cars as well. It always end up being way more work than expected by the time the entire process is completed though. Has to be a labor of love, because you will never get any of the time and money out of the car if you decide to sell it.

[bobplyler]

At last years Mitty,there was a guy with a MGB that had a 6 cylinder Toyota turbo motor in it.

They probably wouldn't have liked the car that a guy in high school had. He called it the sh^tfire. It was a spitfire with a small block Chevy. The car broke about two years later. As in "broke in half".

[geert]

At last years Mitty,there was a guy with a MGB that had a 6 cylinder Toyota turbo motor in it.

They probably wouldn't have liked the car that a guy in high school had. He called it the sh^tfire. It was a spitfire with a small block Chevy. The car broke about two years later. As in "broke in half".

nice,
Some kind of inversed 'tea party' : the English part refused to go any further with the American front.

I had a Triumph Herald, same chassis as a spitfire, chassis was very flexible : doors went open when you wanted to change a tire. Never broke though ( maybe because a PO had put concrete ( really!) in the chassis rails )

groeten, geert.

[katsi]

Wow, this is a really interesting thread. Hats off to anyone who has the ability to do that type of thing. Wish I did. I hope you post pictures because I would love to see them.

But, I gotta say this - is the attraction of a Fiat Spider really speed? I have always loved the car but I have to admit, I never really want to or have wanted to go real fast in it. I have always thought the purpose of this car was simply to curze in style and fun. Yet people are always trying to race at stop lights - kids mostly - I'm sure you all get the same thing. I always drive normally and ignore them. And when people ask me about the car, they always say the same thing. "Is it FAST" . I always answer "No, it's got a little motor and it's just fun to drive". Anyway, I'm not saying it's a bad idea to swap motors nor am I imparting my opinion (I hope) - So, go for it and have fun. Oh, and share the pictures.

[DocGraphics]

When they ask me if it's fast, I reply it's "quick" which to me is the appropriate assessment of my car in it's current state.
A quick ride in the car with it pulling all the way to 6000rpm thru the first 3 gears to highway speeds & they quite agree!

[htchevyii]

I must admit that I too contemplated this swap for my '72. My first car was a 62 ChevyII with a 350 and I love horsepower. In the end though, I decided that it was too much work and decided to leave it as Fiat as designed and when I want to go fast, I'll just drive my '64 ChevyII, with the same ol' 350 in it from my 1st car. I do feel that the Fiat styling with a modern performance drivetrain would be bad ass, but wouldn't be a project for the faint at heart, the car would really need to be totally rebuilt. I considered a custom frame from the firewall up with upgraded suspension and brakes and maybe a rx-7 rear? Maybe if I find a car that's taco'd in the front end?

[Colonialgirl]

I always thought it would be more fun to swap an Alfa Romeo 1750 cc engine into the Fiat Spider, preferably one with the mechanical fuel injection system. you could probably also swap in the tranny and rear end along with the engine. I think I'd also take a look at the Alfa disc brake system for all 4 wheels; I know it did a great job with my "69 Alfa SPider, stopped it so quick I was always worried about the idiot behind me in the big Detroit sled.
You'd get more horsepower and torque out of the Alfa 1750 cc, plus the older ones had timing CHAINS and not the cheap rubber toothed belt. I KNOW they would wind up to 9000 rpm without missing a beat and in 5th gear the speed was 2x the tach reading ( 3000 rpm = 60 mph, etc.)

Wish I had my old '69 Alfa Spider now. <Sigh>

[digitech]

I, too, love the Fiat Spider's styling and figure with the bulletproof miata engine and slick-shifting tranny, it would be a match made in heaven. Plus, the miata's engine even looks like an alfa from the top. If I had Bradys skill set, I'd have a Fiata.

[ga.spyder]

I drove a Miata on the auto-x course at Road Atlanta last year.I have always scoffed at Miatas as girls cars.Not any more.The car was fast,great brakes,and the slickest shifting tranny I have driven!They just dont have any styling.Makes you wonder what the Fiat Spider could have been,had they continued to develop it with more modern technology.
I dont know if the Alfa swap would be a signifigant upgrade to building a Fiat motor up.I have yet to drive a Alfa Spider,that the tranny wasnt missing at least one,if not more,of the synchros Now that motor out of the Alfa 164......

[TX82FIAT]

Craig, I agree completely. Build up the FIAT engine or consider re-engineering the whole car. I would not go the Alfa engine route. Just does not seem the best use of resources and any gains would be marginal if at all. For what these cars are, a lot of folks have done a lot of improvment to an already well designed engine.

[Razooli]

Now that motor out of the Alfa 164......

Individual photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/12662916@N ... 081171544/

Not a Fiat Spider ... 1992 Alfa Spider with a V6 transplant. Original owner had it done over a 3 year period. He wouldn't say how much it cost him, but his wife rolled her eyes and shook her head. He was really happy with it except for the ugly hood bulge.