Best engine/gearbox combo for a RWD kit car ?

[Indie]

I am now the proud owner of a very early Marlin kit car (no doors and Triumph Herald Vitesse running gear) - it's not running at the moment and it's parked up awaiting the next day off so I can have a good look at just what I've let myself in for.

If I take a pessimistic view of the engine (it's from a Triumph straight six saloon on silly large SU's) and assume I've got to replace it (with something more modern and a hell of a lot lighter…..) then can I ask for suggestions from the RR assembled wisdom as to what would be the most straightforward petrol engine/gearbox to go for ?

I realise I'll be giving up a certain amount of 'character' and presumably quite a nice exhaust sound but it's a very heavy lump for only 102bhp !!

Obviously I'll take and post pictures once it's under way but I can't while I'm at work - sorry.

[welshpug]

mazda

bmw

ford

GM.

saab/gm combo.

toyota.

nissan.

[skylinedave]

Mazda is probably the cheapest and readily avaliable as a complete unit . I can imagine ford having to source a type 9 gearbox etc etc

[retroandproud]

BMW E36 all the way, pick up a rough and ready six pot for under £500, you'll have everything you need....

[swampy76]

Ford mated to an rx8 box

Very popular with the mk2 escort boys

[usedabused]

I think registering with a salvage firm like co part and having the odd cheeky punt would do you plenty favours what ever you do buying a full car will be far cheaper in the long run...

[nas80]

mazda rotary power

[Indie]

Thank you for your replies so far - lets say I opt for an all BMW combination ....loads about, lots of engine choice, plenty of internet wisdom regarding what works with what.

What do people reckon would be the optimum trade off point between being an early enough car so that it was 'simple' to get running properly and late enough not to be replacing one knackered engine with another ...?

In my head it looks like a four door E36 that I can run around in for a bit first so last question ;

Are the four cylinder engines much less 'characterful' than the six's ?

cheers

[dontliftoff]

Keep the old cast iron six or swap to a four pot triumph lump it'll never be a race car anyway the rear end would need a complete re engineer to make it handle if you want any marlin info feel free to pm me

[1980escort]

How about a 1600 zetec se with a 6 speed mx box mounted via an adaptor plate

Sent from my GT-I9505 using proboards

[berendd]

what do you want it to do?

how much weight are you willing to put in the front?

the cutoff for stuff like coded ECU's, immobilisers etc lies around 2000-2004 also CAN bus was introduced in that period, if you want to put an engine in that is newer than that, keep some money aside for a megasquirt conversion. Then anything (exept for direct injection) is possible.

BMW E36 straight six sounds like a good plan, won't be too much hassle to fit, plenty of support as you say and cheap.

don't forget to beef up the rear end though as dontliftoff suggests

lighter option would be a mazda v6 like they use for the MX-5 conversions, or a honda goldwing flat 6

[dontliftoff]

The biggest problem is space in the mark one the engine bay is so narrow and not very tall I have seen one with a rover 8 in it though
I think if you are dead set on a more modern unit the four pot BMW lump might work