Alternative Engine & Trans

[sector]

A friend of mine is building a manx buggy using Smart Fortwo drivetrain. He is planning to weld entire rear subframe with engine/trans and cooling in place of vw rear horns/suspension. This will give him modern drivetrain and suspension in one compact package. He will also use entire wire harness and gauges. Interestingly enough this does look like a very doable and simple solution. He acquired entire damaged car (front collision) for $700 with only 9k miles. This also might be an option for our cars as modern alternative. Let me know what you think.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Let me know what you think.

OK I'll bite

For me I wouldn't even consider it.

New electrical and coolant plumbing and fuel system for what??

An engine that doesn't even make 100hp. Depending on the model, hp is rated between 45-61hp and the turbo model barely makes 100hp (hp may vary but the NA engine still wont pass the 100hp mark regardless of what year)

brakes are drum brakes and the rear suspension isn't IRS

Top speed is only 90mph

0-62mph in 10.7 seconds.

Of course if you find those numbers are worth the time and effort and money go for it

Brett

 

[letterman7]

How to make a Smart car faster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgwzHJo3IXM

Of course, it all comes down to torque versus horsepower... in our cars, you want torque before horsepower. In something as light as a Smart, hp is just fun...

 

[Brett Proctor]

Track width may be an issue.

Smart car = 1430mm

VW = 1346mm



About 4" difference

 

[sector]

He's just doing it for fun. He told me that engine model he is using is rated at 80hp. Nothing to sneeze about in my book but cool alternative nevertheless. Also this gives him auto transmission setup that he wanted. I guess another attractive factor is the cost. Nowdays you can't even build a decent engine for that amount.

 

[ratrog64]

Nice new, reliable, efficient motor and trans combo for $700. Can't buy a new VW motor case for that amount. Not what I'd put in a Sterling but could be interesting in other VW projects.

 

[Brett Proctor]

How to make a Smart car faster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgwzHJo3IXM

Of course, it all comes down to torque versus horsepower... in our cars, you want torque before horsepower. In something as light as a Smart, hp is just fun...

I think it was Yaughn that had a few posts about putting a motorcycle motor in a sterling.

That Suzuki Hayabusa engine that they put in that smart car has about twice the hp of the smart cars engine with only a 300cc increase in displacement.

It also holds the top speed record for a production motorcycle(around 200mph)

Torque is around 100 lb-ft (thats about what the turbo version of what the smart car gets)

0-60 2.6 seconds