Engine Swap

[kolynos]

What problems would you expect to encounter & no doubt you will, swopping a Beta 2.0 for a v6 apart from the obvious like engine mounts & wiring without having to start with a new kit all over again. :)

[guy mayers]

Financing it would be the obvious one......
Apart from the donor engine and box you'll need a conversion kit from Gerry plus a new exhaust. Roughly £1500 with Gerry plus donor bits. But it's worth it.
The mechanics of replacement are straight forward. The Beta engine is removed and the gearchange mount on the diagonal bar cut off. The engine steady bar under the rear window is removed. The right side diagonal bar is cut from the suspension top mount and the lower chassis rail.
From the kit of parts supplied by Gerry the two rightside engine mounts are welded into the bottom corners of the chassis. The new mounting bracket is bolted to the front of the engine which is then lowered into place. This locates the third,gearbox mounted, engine support which can be welded in the right place. Next the upper engine steady bar bracket is replaced and the gear linkage (part of the kit) fitted. This will relocate the position of the upper mount point from the diagonal bar to the bar under the window.
Next the offside diagonal bar can be welded back in place and the offside fuel tank cut down to suit. The spacer plates are then inserted between the CV joints and the Alfa flanges and the engine is physically in place.
Next it will need to be plumbed in as per the Alfa layout - there is plenty written about this on other threads!
The wiring is straightforward. There is a 8 connector multiblock that needs two ignition controlled live feeds plus a lead to the rev counter and another to the fuel pump. You'll need a separate sub harness for the gauge senders (water and oil) plus the starter circuit. There's also a permanent live and several earth leads plus hte Alfa harness will need to be opening, rerouted and rebound to move the ECU from the original layout to bring it into the cabin. Easier said than done but necessary!
Slap an exhaust on it and the jobs a good 'un!
Sounds easier than it is but all the effort is worth is! More power, reliability, better sound and probably better fuel consumption. Higher insurance premiums though!
Cheers
Guy

[rutthenut]

If you go for the 24-valve Alfa, the water pipework is on the gearbox side of the block. This seems to remove the need for changes to the offside (rhs) fuel tank and diagonal brace, which can simplify that part of the installation.

However - I don't know if this has been confirmed by anyone using the Hawk V6 engine mountings (Jerry Bailey's engine had a slightly different installation.

And the wiring may be more complicated - also need to get detailed information on that!

Whatever you do, try and avoid any Alfa engine that has the 'red key' immobiliser system built into the engine management - it will be a certain nightmare to set up...

[chris.richard]

If you go for the 24-valve Alfa, the water pipework is on the gearbox side of the block. This seems to remove the need for changes to the offside (rhs) fuel tank and diagonal brace, which can simplify that part of the installation.



Err, no. You have to move the brace to clear the waterpump.

[shaun]

Would it be useful to have this as a bolted in part - engine removal?

[chris.richard]

Yes that would help, if it was engineeringly sound.

[rutthenut]

Well, the 24-valve engine went into Jerry's car without needing that bar moved - but the positioning is different in that car compared to where the Hawk kit puts it.

So I was right to query that point then! Thanks for the confirmation.

I wouldn't see that much benefit in making the small diagonal a removable bar, for engine remove purposes, but it does get in the way a bit. Wouldn't know of any benefit until it was tried out, I guess. But that needs more bracketry at each end.

[lpriestland]

Why stop at 6 cylinders ? :eek:

[chris.richard]

Would a Lambo 12 pot fit?

[lpriestland]

Perhaps we shouldn't bother with pots, pistons afterall, someone should stick a whiz-bang rotory in there. You could hang your washing out to dry with all the room you'd free up.

[rutthenut]

Would a Lambo 12 pot fit?

Well, perhaps if it was mounted transverse?
That'd fill out the Group 4 (or Group 5) wheel arches ;)

Or a complete engine/transmission unit from one of the new Audi^Hxxxx Bentley models - isn't that a W-type engine of some sort?