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Diesel engine swap into a mid engine sports car ?

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by WILLIAM H, Jun 29, 2009.

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  1. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #1 WILLIAM H, Jun 29, 2009
    So I was thinking since 1 friend has an old Toyota MR2 and another friend has a Lotus Elise

    Both of them want to sell them

    How difficult would it be to pull the Toytoa engine out and install some sort of small turbo diesel ?

    I'm interested in diesel bcus if need be we can make our own biodiesel fuel and of course as Audi and Peugeot showed at LeMans diesel has a great future in performance cars

    Thanks
     
  2. solofast

    solofast Formula 3

    Oct 8, 2007
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    #2 solofast, Jun 29, 2009
    You probably can, but just because you can doesn't mean you should....

    Diesels have big bunches of torque, but typically weigh a lot more and have heavier rotating parts than a comparable gasoline engine. You don't need big torque in a sports car, you want light weight and a responsive engine. You get none of that in a smudge pot...

    Don't confuse a quirk in the rules that favor diesels in endurance racing and assume that they are superior to conventional engines. If you want a diesel, go buy one in a conventional car and have a nice day. I doubt that it is worth the effort to convert an MR2 into a diesel....

    BTW the MR2 is a really underrated car. It weighs in at 2150 lbs and an Elise weighs in at 1980 lbs, so it is really easy to make a budget Elise by lightening up an MR2 and retuning the suspension. I know a couple of people who have put the engines from a Celica GTS with about 200hp into an MR2 and it is a really sweet ride. If you want to do an engine swap, that's a lot less expensive and just as fast as an Elise...
     
  3. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 texasmr2, Jun 30, 2009
    As a past owner of 4 MR2's, three n/a's and a highly modified '92 turbo, and I drove nothing but MR2's from '85-2005, it would be blasphemy to install a diesel into a MR2. Beside's that there are just to many expensive issue's regarding the swap, in other word's dont do it would be my answer.
     
  4. TrentS

    TrentS Formula Junior

    Nov 22, 2005
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    #4 TrentS, Jun 30, 2009
    Instead of doing that, demand Audi build the R8 V12 TDI!
     
  5. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #5 WILLIAM H, Jun 30, 2009
    How about a 914 ? I have a friend who wants to sell one too

    I'm thinking in case we get some goofy made up gas shortage in the USA. Plus here in Miami you can buy biodiesel at $0.50 per gallon :)

    The savings over gas could make up for a good portion of the swap

    Dropping in a VW or Audi Diesel would keep it in the family

    and 914s can be sick track shredders
     
  6. Fred2

    Fred2 F1 World Champ
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    #6 Fred2, Jun 30, 2009
    I think it could be a cool idea.
    A trick out diesel makes TONS of torque.

    I would look at as big of one as I could get.
    (example: BMW 335d)
    Pick one that has decent upgrades available, it could be pretty quick.

    Stuffing one in the car would be the biggest challenge.
     
  7. solofast

    solofast Formula 3

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    #7 solofast, Jul 1, 2009
    You need a short 4 cyl diesel to fit into a 914. At some point somebody was putting in small block Chey's, but they were right up against the firewall and if you got hit in the back you would be wearing the engine. Maybe a short 4cyl like an Audi that has the engine in a North/South arrangement would fit, but it's gonna be tight. No way a bimmer 6 would ever fit in a 914...
     
  8. big.bryant

    big.bryant Formula Junior

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    #8 big.bryant, Jul 2, 2009
    Anything's possible but that doesn't mean it should be done. If you want to go the diesel route and have a good time, I would say take an old Volkswagen GTI and swap in a Rabbit's diesel engine into it. That or take an old diesel Rabbit and put in the GTI's suspension and exterior enhancements.

    It would be much easier and wouldn't compromise the MR2 and Elise's lightweight nature quite as badly.

    Just my .02
     

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