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AHBugeyeWRX

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I posted in the austin healey forum, but i found out that this is the place i shoulda been. Just wanted to say hi. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif I inherited a 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye that needs some work all the way around. I currently own a 2002 WRX bugeye. I am 25 years old and married. I am thinkin of ditchin the stock motor in favor of something a little newer. Maybe an SR20DET. Anyway is it morally wrong to put a jdm engine into a british car. What is the biggest engine to fit in the engine bay without modifing the hood, i dont want a pro street car so obviously no LS1 swaps here. but a nice roadster. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Welcome,
I wouldn’t say it is sacrilegious, but maybe a little unpractical. Putting a 250HP engine out of a 2800# (Silvia correct?) car made in the 90’s into a 1500# car made in the early 60’s would be the same as making a rolling pretzel machine. You would need to modify / reinforce the body so much that the project would be unyielding. Remember, these are roadsters; there is a lot of flex without a roof. Miata’s have their Power Plant Frame that links the transmission to the rear differential (with an IRS) to handle torque, and that is a 110HP car. This would be impossible in a solid axle car. Then there is the front suspension…. If you want to upgrade the performance go with a 1275 engine, ribcase or 5 speed transmission conversion, tube shocks, negative camber bushings, etc. Enjoy the car for what it is. There are a lot of folks around here that would love a project Bugeye; at some point they stop being a classic British car and are just a British body shell. In my opinion you want to avoid that point. Whatever you decide, the folks here will be a great resource and we will love to here your progress.
 
There are more engines that are in character for the car, Such a a suzuki swift 1.6L, or evan a Toyota 4AGE. The SR20DET is a little big for the car. I contemplated engine swaps for several years, but ultimately decided it would be more fun to try and build up an A-series engine. It's your car, but make sure you are truely committed to the project. Many of these cars get butchered and then thrown aside when the "grand plan" falls apart. Have you driven a well sorted stock spridget? It is a different type of fun. You might want to try that first before you do any cutting (it changed my mind).
 
I am really just looking for more power out of the car. I was thinkin that 200 whp would be a nice round number to shoot for. I dont want to butcher the car or really start chopping away at parts. Now time for some questions. How much HP does the 1275 produce? What is a ribcase?
 
A stock 1275 is around 65HP, a ribcase transmission is the later tranny that was fitted to the 1275 engine. It is stronger than the smoothcase tranny that came in the early cars. The name comes from the exterior look of the cases. Parts are hard to find for the smooth case tranny as well.
Chris
 
A 30% increase in power does wonderes things and it fits. Oh yea don't forget the stoping.
 
I know you're close to me, and I'd love a bugeye ... (but shouldn't get one).
 
https://www.ado13.com/dohczuke/dohc.htm
https://www.home.earthlink.net/%7Eroethler/engine.html
https://www.the-mite.com/
and there are many more.

I, personally, am planning a supercharged 1275. I hope to eventually get 100 HP at the wheels. I'm currently at 75 HP at the wheels with a basically stock 1275 and SC.

You can build a hot 1275 with 100HP without forced induction, but you loose alot of low end power, and is therefore not too streetable. My goal is a quick car based on the original engine that is very driveable around town.
 
The Bugeye is a small, light car. It is considerably lighter than a Miata, and no-one has ever said that the Miata is underpowered at 110 hp. Even a stock 1275cc A-series engine in good tune producing 65hp will be plenty in that little thing. Even then you will need to upgrade the brakes. The update that Trevor is planning is going to put the car on the ragged edge as it is, even with uprated suspension and stoppers.
 
I meant to mention brakes; thanks for the catch.
Chris
 
Welcome!

It's your car. If you want to do a swap, you have every right to.
But as others have said above, drive it with the regular setup first. Spridgets are not about wicked 1/4 mile times or 150 mph top speeds. They are a *balanced* car. In my view, a nice "cooking" 1275 is the *perfect* engine for these cars.
My 1500 racer has about 75 hp and it's a hoot.
I also share another "tweaked" 1275 Spridget racer with a pal. It has maybe 100 hp. I've had that car to 6700 RPM in fourth (about 109 mph). That's plenty!
My 2 cents: Renew all worn parts in the brakes and suspension...that's the best way to make a Spridget better.
 
Thanks for the info people. I am still in the very preliminary stages of planning this out. Can a turbo be hooked up to a 1275. I have never drivin a bugeye or a miata, so i dont really know what to think. would a 1.8 liter engine be a better fit instead of 2.0. i dont know the size of the engine bay or the size of the engines that i am considering. Maybe a sr20det would be to big anyway and then i would have to change my thinking. maybe i am just stuck on higher HP output instead of a nice number for the car itself.
 
There were turbo versions of the 1275 in the UK, but they are rare there, and virtually unseen here. But with enough clever engineering and research you could probably make up something. I'm starting with the Moss SC kit (thanks to Santa). However, there is another kit from Australia https://www.hi-flow.com . I'm guessing the sr20det could be stuffed in the sprite, but it would require extensive alteration. But the Miata motor and trans would be a tight fit as well.
 
Take a look at https://the-mite.com/mite5.htm for a Miata swap. There was a MG Metro turbo that used the 1275, but it is tough to get those engines on this side of the pond. You see the manifolds every once in a while on Ebay. For serious A series modifications look at some of the Mini forums. I've seen a lot of creative ideas from them. FYI, the original Mini's used the A series engine mounted transversely, with the transmission in place of the oil pan. One thing to keep in mind is that the transmission tunnel is very tight and what ever engine you decide to go with you will need to get the tranny fitted as well. Most take surgery, which isn't too bad, but locating the shifter can be tricky.
I didn't mean to sound negative in my first post, we've all thought about doing a swap (I've got a 280ZX engine and tranny that I'd love to drop in the parts Bugeye, but I'm saving that for an MGA /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif)
Chris
 
welcome aboard!
if your going to put 200bhp into a MG your not going to have much MG left that isnt busted or bleeding beside the road.
but it all in fun.... good luck /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Half that much would make for a really fun car, and its still mostly MG


mark
 
Welcome aboard.
I'll pretty much echo Nial on this one. It's your car, do what you want.
But, as stated, these cars are more about balance and momentum than raw horsepower.
A tweaked 1275 may open your eyes wider than you expect.
You can build a reliable 100 hp 1380 out of a 1275 without much fuss.
Jeff
 
Even my twitchy, only moderately reliable 1500, I have a blast. Also, keep in mind that any engine upgrade to the bugeye makes an even larger difference than it would in a later car, because it's significantly lighter.
 
After thinking about this swap. I may be leaning slightly more towards the 1275 with the fixins. And if that is not enough for me, go with the supercharger for that little extra punch. Where can i get a 1275? I didn't search yet so dont flame me.
 
I guess I should clarify. Oldgreynorm is a guy in slippery rock that sells midget stuff. Right now he has a 1500 block on ebay, but you might contact him to let him know that you are looking for a 1275. But I guess you are 5 hrs away?
 
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