Asimo Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Best colour Ro80 you have there! what about a Subaru engine? If it would fit between the chassis rails! Light, short, plentiful. The Essex v6 is so heavy, and I seem to remember the v6 conversions had a horrid bulge on the bonnet, forget it. I have heard of an Audi engine swap, but I don't know which one.Have you driven one with a rotor motor? Pistons dont belong in there. Mazda 13B conversions have been done, it would fly with an RX8 Renesis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
406V6 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 With the space available it's going to be a struggle and I would have thought that a transverse engine wouldn't stand a chance of fitting. My immediate thought was something from a Scooby - as Des has also said above. Or an old Alfa flat four. There must be a few crusty Suds or 33s about that could donate their engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Yes, but they wouldn't be right at all and you'd never hear the buzzer which is surely the point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caver1 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 I can't add much, but one of the youtuber's I follow, had a lot of fun and games fixing up a Ro80. Play list here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXN7DFQV5Zc&list=PLEB6DE3A8077ECDC5 be warned quite a lot to watch, but oh boy what a wonderful noise when he gets it sorted at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oman5 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 I think an audi inline 5 would fit a treat. look at the engine bay on a late '80s/early 90's audi 90/100/coupe and its a very similar set up with the front of the engine right up against the grill with the rad offset to one side, they have a similar level of overhang to the Ro80 with the box/diff also in a similar location. they like to rev,sound good, have buckets of torque and are plenty powerful enough. In Profile the body shape of the 80s audi 100 is uncannily similar to the nsu. worth a look I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 If you can get an inline 5 into the space where a V4 was previously fitted you're doing well... I'm sure the V4 was popular for this job because it is so short - not because its a great engine, as it clearly isn't. barefoot and tooSavvy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 As said, the V4 was popular because it was short. A Subaru could be a good choice, I think all the tuning boys go for 2 or 2.5 litre so perhaps a 1.8 would be cheap? Otherwise I can't think of anything else compact enough that would have enough power. Unless you go for electric power, probably the spiritual successor to Wankel engines; very smooth, nobody really does it and rejected by mainstream buyers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oman5 Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 doesn't look that unlikely to me. back when the nsu was current the v4 was common and the i5 was not. it would need its own matching gearbox rather than the ro80 one which would free up space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 But surely half the fun of an RO80 is in it's bizarre 3 speed semi auto box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredTransit Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 if you can get a pinto under the bonnet of a transit Mk1 instead of a V4, should be possible with your (lovely car BTW) Is there a firewall you could give a bash with a big hammer? Oh and if you are chucking the V4 away I'll have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel bickle Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 My'N' plate RO80 has an inline 4 Audi 1800cc engine fitted to the semi auto-box. Loads of space around it - but frankly its a terrible mismatched bodge that needs its knackers revving off to get any sort of forward progress. Bought like that I found it so disappointing I laid it up. Still no idea what I'll do with it - but I've got to say that it feels grossly underpowered, and definitely NOT the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayne Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Will a v6 go in? The Mazda v6 starts with a 135bhp 1.8 in the mx3 (bigger versions in the Xedos) and they're all alloy. Likewise the modern ford v6 is all alloy and can be found cheap Mondeos for example... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Badger Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-S2000-COMPLETE-ENGINE-AND-GEARBOX-CONVERSION-KIT-WITH-ALL-ANCILLARIES-57K-/200977694480 Bit pricey, will however, go like fuck and never break down. 236BHP is no sneezing matter, kinda sounds like a high revving wankel engine at top whack as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I reckon a VW V5 has to be the engine of choice here, its got the right DNA, a bit unusual and should not be too bulky, I would properly spend my wad if I saw such a conversion done at a show or whatever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayne Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Are they short enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 If you don't keep the original gearbox you're entering a whole world of pain because these have inboard front brakes (2CV style).The disks are effectively between the stubs on the transaxle and the driveshafts. About the Subaru engines, I'd imagine 1.8's are thin on the ground these days. 2.0 turbos will command a premium, but there'll be plenty of n/a 2.0's about. There have been loads of Legacys, Foresters and Imprezas with that lump. Having owned cars with both, I can say the extra 200cc makes all the difference. I can only imagine how dull the 1.5 and 1.6 Imprezas are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 ...that needs its knackers revving off to get any sort of forward progress....Surely the Wankel needs revving to buggery, But that's why they fitted the buzzer to tell you when to calm down and move the lever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Are they short enough? Quite possibly not to be fair, that must be as long as an inline 5 mustn't it. OK I'm out of ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselnutjob Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 is there enough room in front of the radiator to put an electric cooling fan on the other side of it, inside the "nose cone" if you see what I mean? they are a beautiful looking car surely a small V6 would fitwhat about one of these (X type 2.0 v6) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I think it's worth getting the tape measure out, the V4 thing may not be the norm just because of size, think about what engine availability there was in the early seventies, ex Tranny lumps would have been plentiful thanks to bank robbers smashing vans up from ramming Morris Minor patrol cars or the IRA cutting the roofs out, only other engines going spare would be shagged out Austin 7 units or ex MOD Coventry Climax things with 30 layers of green hammerite and a lawnmover carb.Biggest pain with whatever engine might fit, if it's anything modern then the fuelling and ignition involve a load of extra complication. scruff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselnutjob Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Peugeot V6 with Megasquirt ECUhttp://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/peugeot-forum/106860-peugeot-406-v6-es9j4s-megasquirt.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
406V6 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Peugeot V6 with Megasquirt ECUhttp://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/peugeot-forum/106860-peugeot-406-v6-es9j4s-megasquirt.htmlBeautiful engine, very smooth but quite bulky and finding a compatible transmission or shoehorning the PSA transaxle in there could be very tricky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselnutjob Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 my point is that the electronics need not be a problem. I'm sure many other V6 can be controlled with megasquirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TagoraSX Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Thanks for all the suggestions so far. The original gearbox will be staying put, one less problem to worry about. We are looking into the Subaru option which sounds interesting. I'm also coming around to the idea of returning it to original NSU power, I would need a rough Ro80 for all the ancillaries which may take a while to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I missed this the first time round.It's such an elegant design considering its' age. They got a lot of timeless elements in there. How's about something like a turbocharged Rotax engine? Three pot screamer, about 130hp. Think jetskis and ski-doo (yeah, well, you may have to look a bit further afield than Telford for that) but they are short and designed to be stuffed into a tight space. --Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 A Rotax will be low on torque (not necessarily a problem, the semi auto was fitted to disguise the lack of torque of the Wankel) but I think the max power and torque will be at very different revs to the Wankel so it might not drive well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I take it the Mazda rotary is a no no? I'm thinking early mid 80s rx7. Okay they're still complex but parts and knowledge should be slightly more accessible . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Are Hurley Engineering still going? Their website looks like it hasn't been updated in a good while. They started out doing the V4 conversions, I remember their add in the Exchange & Mart in the '70s. If they are still going they may well have a shed full of rotary engine ancillaries. I have a Ro80 service manual and parts book, if you would like a scan of any pages to ID a part no. etc, just pm. http://www.hurleyrotary.com/aboutus.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 They are indeed still going. The market now by far prefers cars with the original engine. It's not going to get any cheaper to put it back to how it should be so I'd bite the bullet personally. (if I had the funds - I can see that this could be the tricky bit!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castros_bro Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Maybe this (NSU Wankel Ro80) would fit. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Boat-Boot-Engine-Motor-NSU-Wankel-Ro80-Very-rare-rotation-engine-parts-/281199016830?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4178c47b7e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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