Mounting An Xu9j4 Longitudinally?

[Kitch 4]

My new job has me working around kit-cars all day, like Tiger Supercats, Dax Rushes, Westfields etc. I can't help but think the Mi16 lump would make a fantastic powerplant for one of these, and I do have a spare kicking around. I've no real interest in going the normal Ford/K-series routes.....if it's not the Mi16 lump I'm not sure I've really got the drive to actually go through and build one.

Question is, will the engine run happily mounted in-line? A baffled sump is a must I assume, but even if the engine is mounted at the correct angle, will the oil flow properly under these conditions? More to the point, does anyone know anybody who's tried it?!

 

And then theres the issue of transmission....Renault transaxle? Type 9 with Rover bellhousing?

 

Any thoughts?

 

Cheers

[Anthony 1,003]

There's atleast one RWD kit car out there with an longitudinally mounted Mi16 in it and there was a thread about it on here a while (years) back.

 

From memory, you can use something like an LDV Sherpa gearbox, as they used XUD engines which use the same bellhousing fitment as a XU - never personally tried it though, purely going from memory of what was in the thread on here.

[Anthony 1,003]

A bit of searching revealed this topic that might be of help - clicky

[dale205mills 39 7 Cars]

I have seen some where that it was the hight of the peugeot engines that ment they didnt find there way into rwd cars but I do remember people saying they would be a great engine in them. I have got a ldv 400 tipper with a 2.5 peugeot engine, not the fastest thing in the world but it do plod along very well.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

There was a single seater with an Mi engine and aforementioned bellhousing.

[Kitch 4]

LDV!!!!! Why didn't I think of that!!? That's bound to be the easiest answer so far, they used XUD9 diesel engines didn't they? Now if the rest of the gearbox was Ford, with a custom bellhousing.....bang!

That thread makes some interesting ready too. If bolt for bolt adapters are available for the Type 9, that'd be excellent. Although I expect Jonnie knows his salt, I've not found any such adapters after some searching, so if they don't exist, the LDV route might be a good way to make some sort of custom gearbox up.

[wracing 19]

An ldv pilot has the correct gear box and bell housing. the gearbox is a R380 which has loads of after market parts.

 

Thanks

 

James

[welshpug 1,661]

I'm sure Tiger kitcars used an XU in something with a ford box, but don't know any details or if my recollection of Tiger is correct!

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Shenpar did one years ago, I think they gave up due to the surge issue's, The brief details about it are on there site and I remember seeing it once

[Batfink 201]

I've heard of a few with surge issues when braking and accelerating.

[damien 22 1 Cars]

have you had a look on the locost forum? there was some pics on there years ago of a 1.6 8v lump in a locost, there was talk of it using the ldv box

[Kitch 4]

Thanks guys. Been away busily scurrying around trying to find parts to make it work. So far I have an LDV Pilot R380 gearbox, and an LT77 Rover V8 SD1 gearbox, which will bolt to the LDV's bell housing and give me petrol car gear ratios, rather than diesel van ones!

 

I'm building the chassis from scratch to accomodate the engine/box setup so there shouldn't be any issues there. It's going into a Supercat, which used to be a Tiger but the company I work for now own the rights to manufactuer it. Tiger's up to this point only ever use Ford engine/gearbox combos (except the twin bike engined ones!) Basically looks like a Caterham/Lotus 7 design.

 

The biggest hurdle now is the age old oil surge/starvation problems. I have no sump at the moment, so I'm starting from scratch. I'm guessing it will need to be dry sump or similar, any thoughts?

 

Cheers

[Batfink 201]

Change the head to the gti-6. Brings its own problems with valves etc but helps oil surge.

[M_R_205 5 1 Cars]

Im building a similar thing, Good info on the gear box! already got an LDV box atm and was going to try and change the final drive or something similar, but if a rover one will fit, Ideal!!

 

Im basing mine on the Chris Gibbs Haynes roadster, Will be good to follow your build!

 

Paul.

[welshpug 1,661]

oil surge occurs in the sump, so nothing you do with the head will affect this...

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Well its not surge for a start, its starvation if your going to be mister pedantic.

Edited March 14, 2011 by EdCherry

[PVFCpug 6]

guy in Stone, Staffordshire has a Reynard Single Seater uphill racer with an Mi16 in this config with a dry sump set up (designed himself) and pushing 270 brake! See if I can find his details n old emails.

[Kitch 4]

Im building a similar thing, Good info on the gear box! already got an LDV box atm and was going to try and change the final drive or something similar, but if a rover one will fit, Ideal!!

 

Im basing mine on the Chris Gibbs Haynes roadster, Will be good to follow your build!

 

Paul.

 

Ah good to hear someone else is having a pop! Keep me posted on how you get on! So far I'm literally at the drivetrain sourcing point. Next biggest hurdle is building the chassis to accomodate the bigger gearbox (chassis is setup for Ford Zetec/Pinto & Type 9.)

 

guy in Stone, Staffordshire has a Reynard Single Seater uphill racer with an Mi16 in this config with a dry sump set up (designed himself) and pushing 270 brake! See if I can find his details n old emails.

 

Would be very intersted to see anything you can find mate. Cheers

[Baz 421]

This was 16v XU powered for a few years;

 

[Kitch 4]

Interesting to know, I wonder why it doesn't anymore?

[welshpug 1,661]

I think it is a 2.5 Litre lump now, so maybe a big XE or a Millington? I haven't had the chance to get out on the stages for a while, but I did see it at Debden early last year IIRC and it was shifting along bloody well.