Lets talk about cars/motorsports

I don't know much about the non-turbo RS. The Subaru Impreza WRX is a fine car. In terms of its target market, it's superbly engineered. Having said that, I also think it's one of the most overrated cars among Japanese import enthusiasts. The WRX isn't the best looking car, but it's body grows on you after a while. I prefer the hawkeye face out of all of the sedan body styles. I don't like the look of any of the hatches.

I also like the Scoobies. Capable cars, nice and safe, and they have decent power, as well. They also respond well to modifications, and for a time, if you bought a WRX, Subaru gave you a free year's membership to the SCCA, pretty much giving you permission to go to sanctioned autocross events and race it - that's how much they back their product. I don't know if they still do this, though.

Mitsubishi? They'd void your warranty, if they find out you've been racing, even in controlled venues. One reason why I'll never look deeper into an EVO.

Funny, I'm more of a hatchback guy myself, though I only say that because I'm rather familiar with those Ford Focus WRC cars.

For me, it depends on what kind of hatchback it is. My Tiburon is a hatchback, and considering cars such as the 350Z and the Celica, I actually think hatches can be gorgeous when done right. The Focus RS actually looks better as a hatch than the WRX, if you ask me.

Here's a link of some expected and unexpected vehicles in WRC. Notice some RWD and FWD cars in the race. The 350Z and the E45 in the race are a welcomed surprise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=echtxVMNMaE&list=PLEC8A6C7C4E3AE0F8&index=24&feature=plpp_video

Mitsubishi has really been shooting themselves in the foot with their counterproductive marketing.

edited 13th Feb '12 9:09:53 PM by Aprilla

Oh, that is nice.

EDIT: Sorry about the plug, but I think you all would like to see these webshows.

edited 13th Feb '12 9:47:54 PM by RocketDude

How are your feelings on inter-manufacturer engine swaps, guys?

I was just looking through my old photobucket account and I came across these pictures of when I went to a Volkswagen Dyno day when I still had my MKIII Jetta VR 6 (lol VW) and came across this set of pictures of a go-kart with a turbocharged CBR 1000 engine on the back. It was absolutely nuts. The whole kart needed to be lengthened to be able to actually support the engine.

I think the only case of that I know of are some tuned Audi R8s where the tuner swaps out the Lambo engine for the Audi V-10 that's more blower-friendly, but both V-10s are based off of the same architecture, so...

Well, there's also the Mechatronik (did I get that right?) rebuild of the Benz SL Pagoda that replaced the older engine with a new bespoke aluminum one.

Granted, today, I was thinking of a hypothetical old VW Bug converted to off-road rallying with the old air-cooled engine being replaced with that Fiat TwinAir turbo-2.

edited 15th Feb '12 7:59:36 PM by RocketDude

That sounds like an interesting show.

As long as the swap isn't too complicated, it's okay with me. I get a little annoyed with people who try to play Frankenstein with their cars and then wonder why they end up destroying the motor or the transmission.

It's really a matter of paying close attention to configurations that actually work conveniently. I've never built a motor before, but I've researched some of the more common motors that work well with certain cars. Corvette motors work well with the RX-7 FD, many of the 5.7 350 V8's can be plugged into a Miata, and the 240SX works wonderfully with an RB 26 motor, provided you have the front clip for the JDM swap. Of course, this is also the case with the SR 20 motors. Note that the 240SX has been known to be compatible with Mustang motors.

The "monster" Miata project roadsters are pretty cool. There is also a 427 Shelby Cobra replica kit for the Miata that seems to be fairly popular. Motor swaps among different manufacturers don't bother me at all, but I do get miffed by people who push the motor dynamics of a particular car beyond its limits. My MR 2 only pushes out about 130 HP, but there are ways - some of which are dangerous for the engine - to generate as much as 500 HP. I'm also very wary of people who turbocharge the RX-8 motors. Those rotary engines are already running an extremely high compression, and the forced induction from the turbine places even more stress on the internals. This is a 1.3 engine that is designed to generate anywhere between 218-240 HP. Some people can make it work, but if I owned an RX-8, I wouldn't risk it. And I love those cars.

edited 15th Feb '12 8:15:17 PM by Aprilla

Huh...I would think they would like to keep the Lambo V10, apparently those V10s respond pretty well to turbos. I know Underground Racing specializes in Twin Turbo kits for Gallardos and has built quite a few 1000+ hp Gallardos. That kind of power boggles my mind.

I know the L Sx has a huge fanbase for being swapped into non-GM cars. There's probably more car models that have had an LS 1 swapped in at some point than there are models that haven't. Hell, there's a company out there that specializes in LS 1 swaps for the S14 Silvia/240sx.

that Mechatronic SL is awesome, btw. I love old cars with new tech in them.

lol Aprilla, we were practically posting about the same exact thing at the same time.

edited 15th Feb '12 8:15:56 PM by LurkerMcNasty

Heh, yeah. People down here in Arkansas are crazy about LS 1 swaps in the 240.

I remember this thread on The Car Lounge dedicated to L Sx swaps into other cars. Trying to think of all the different cars I've seen with L Sx's in them. The silliest one was an LS 1 in an EK Civic Si. It was actually kind of cool, LS 1 with a RWD swap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmP3au8UoXc

^^^According to European Car magazine, what's actually the case is that, Lamborghini preferring their engines to be naturally aspirated, the Gallardo V-10 in the R8 is tricky to turbocharge and doesn't hold up as long when turbocharged, whereas the Audi V-10 was made to be turned into a TFSI engine and was built to be pushed to the limit on the Autobahn.

Granted, the only case where I know the engine was swapped was the MTM R8 Twin-Turbo, though Stasis and PPI might have done the same thing with their supercharged R8s. I think Abt Sportsline may have also put forced induction on an R8. There is the Insane Speed Gallardo that is twin-turbo without the engine swap, though, I believe.

edited 15th Feb '12 8:45:12 PM by RocketDude

Saw a clip of a Supra 2JZ swap into a Datsun 240Z. It was insane-fast.

It's not just engines that get spread around, transmissions and other parts will occasionally swap out as well. I forget the exact details, but rather than spend hundreds for an aftermarket head for you Ford four-banger that you slapped a turbo onto, go find a Volvo head and watch it bolt up without a problem. Stronger, flows better, and can be found in u-pull-it yards for like, fifty bucks.

A popular mod for the turbobuick guys is to install a Ford 9-inch rear end. Very durable.

Makes sense, Volvo used to be part of Ford for a while.

A-ha. That makes a bunch of sense, now.

Also, Turbo Buicks? You mean to-wait, I forgot about the Buick GNX. That had the same engine as the GMC Syclone, right?

edited 16th Feb '12 5:23:07 PM by RocketDude

Hey, I'm going to be driving in about a year, and wanted to know what my best option is.

On the one hand, a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup, and on the other, a 2011 Chevy Equinox SUV.

Which would get the most bang for my buck, gas mileage wise?

Depends. The Equinox has faced controversy about it's EPA ratings, apparently, and the 2004 Ram was offered with the usual battery of V-6, V-8 and turbodiesel I-6 engines. If you can get a diesel Ram, go for it, it might be worth it.

edited 16th Feb '12 9:07:37 PM by RocketDude

The GNX had the 3.8-liter LC2, which also powered the '86 and '87 Grand Nationals and the less-fancy Turbo Regals. Buick had been using turbocharged engines in their G-body cars since 1978, but until '86, these were known as "hot air" cars, as they had no intercooler, blowing charged air directly into the path of the throttle body. In a quest for more boost and increased reliability, they added a small intercooler. The GNX got a larger one, as well as a different ceramic-impeller turbocharger. It also got some suspension goodies to help it hook up for hard launches. The cars from '78 to '83 were carbureted, the turbo blew charged air through it. The '84 and '85 cars used Sequential fuel injection, and saw a significant power increase due to it. The Corvette folks sneered at these fast cars, saying "put a turn at the end of that quarter-mile and see how it does." G-bodies, having all of the aerodynamics of a church pew, were computer-limited to 110-something miles per hour.

The TTA, having a slippery profile and an almost innate ability to stay glued to the road, was not speed-limited in any way, save hitting redline in top gear (about 145 or so in stock form).

Pontiac grabbed spare LC2 engines when they made the 1989 Turbo Trans Am, but due to the narrower engine bay (stupid Mc Pherson Strut Tower design), they had to use cylinder heads from the Buick 3.3 V6 transverse engines. Oddly enough, these heads flowed better than the originals. Some other tweaks and stuff enabled the TTA engines to produce 300 horsepower at the flywheel, although they were officially rated at only 245 to keep the Corvette crowd happy, or to ensure that the transmissions were covered under warranty; no one is quite clear on this even to this day.

The Syclone/Typhoon twins were NOT powered by 3.8's, they had turbocharge LB4 4.3 V6 engines. Very capable, I have to wonder why GM turned away from turbocharging vehicles after the early nineties. Possible reasons include improved fuel economy that made larger engines more viable - the turbo Buick engine was borne out of a desire to give owners good fuel economy while sedate driving, but also to provide V8 power when needed. If fuel economy improved across the board, there would be no need to do that. Buick continued to offer a supercharged V6 engine until they stopped making them altogether, so there's a huge amount of engines out there that are already built up for forced induction, and the Buick engines are very durable overall.

Here's an example of how durable a Buick engine is, if anyone is wondering.

How about another Buick engine, the 215 "small block" (the basis for the Rover V8)?

That engine was so popular over here that Top Gear did a big massive segment on the show when it was announced that it had ceased production. The line-up of cars using the thing that they showed on screen was awesome. Everything from two-seater sports cars to Range Rover SU Vs. Edited after actually reading the link. Another casualty of /spit Rover.

edited 17th Feb '12 2:39:51 AM by TamH70

It is still being made, you know.

Not the classic Rover-named V8. That died with the Rover name. There is an engine very much like it, you are right as far as that goes. But the current owners can't call it the Rover V8 because they no longer have the copyright. And that kind of thing matters to a lot of British petrolheads who hated the Rover company but loved the Rover V8 engine.

I drive a Rover...

Oh.