Engine & Gearbox recommendations

[Sptwoman]

I've spent the last month reading the forums and planning my project prior to ordering from Gerry. The info has been really useful, thanks. I've decided to go for a Hawk, my personal decision.
The only decision left is the engine / gearbox. Gerry tells me he's done plenty of 164 V6's and is into the latest 3.2's. I'm looking for a modern alternative and he's built one with a 156 v6. I believe it has to be an Alfa V6 as modern / new as possible to take advantage of technical and longevity advances with maybe a 6 sp box. Comments please, especially as it seems alfa has dropped it's V6 option on the latest range of saloons.
Door bars also appear to be an issue with access. It seems they're only required for competition but are a useful safety addition. Gerry states they could be removeable ones!! Any ideas?
Anyway any comments would be appreciated. I was hoping to get down to Donnington but I'm booked into a 10K road race at Richmond (NEast) on the 16th so I'll not get a chance to nose at your cars, unfortunately. You'll have to advise on ther next meet.
I plan to order this month for an early Jan delivery (12 weeks delivery). New year and more time to start with is the plan.
Wish me luck,
Allen.

[guy mayers]

Hi Allen, glad to hear you've made the decision to build, I'm sure Gerry will be happy! The engine choice is wide with anything from 1300 Betas, Thema Turbos, Ferrari V6/V8 but by far the most common installation is the 164 3.0V6 as it's cheap, reliable and powerful. Gerry's next demo will be a 147 GTA engined car so the mounts for that will be on his options list soon. If you plan on using anything other than a previously tried and tested engine can I suggest you get it before the chassis is made so that appropriate mountings can be fitted before powdercoating? The most likely alternative donors are the 156 in 2.5 or 3.2 or the 166 in 3.0 V6 but I'd stick with the tried and tested 164 engines. They are cheap enough to discard if anything goes wrong and there is freely available advice on this forum. If you go for anything else it's new territory and you become the "expert"! Please feel free to PM me if you want a chat or to drop in - I'm in Liverpool!
Guy

[chris.richard]

If fitting doorbars, don't weld them in until you've done all the interior/dashboard/pedal stuff. Your ribs and stomach will thank you! (guess how I found out?) Wouldn't be a problem with removeable ones, but once built, why would you want to take them out?

[Swamprat33]

I have my doorbars installed only when i am on track (when i remember).
They unbolt in 5 mins.
They are of the type that slopes down from rear to front.
maybe 3 inches off the sill at the front and about 12 inches at the rear.
It would be a bl**dy pain getting in and out with them fitted all the time.
Tim

[Sptwoman]

Guy,
Thanks for the response and advice. I explained to Gerry I want to drive not fix at weekends and felt a balanced budget should include modern technology where appropriate, which would give me that luxury. I understand the availability of the older V6, cheap options to discard but that time consuming. If there's an option to pick up a package to "fit and forget" then I'd like to explore with 6 sp box if poss. Anyway, all help is very much appreciated.
My idea is to build "as new" so there's no major off the road upgrades. Question, if age related plated are relavant and you pick up an engine/gearbox from a right-off, do you end up with a Q plate? As you'll apprecaite expect loads more questions and PM's to follow :rolleyes:
Tim,
You've answered my question exactly. Of all the moans, the solution is simple, cheers.... part of my order.
Chris,
This option provides my required functionality at my time of life ;)

More to follow..
Regards,
Allen

[Sando]

Question, if age related plated are relevant and you pick up an engine/gearbox from a right-off, do you end up with a Q plate?

Hi Allen, the answer to this is yes quite possibly, unless you have a V5 to say that this was the Donor car for a 'Kit conversion' when registering it. You only need two parts from a donor car to be able to claim an age related plate. The Engine and box will do nicely.
It's common for your engine number to be transferred onto another logbook of a scrap/MOT failed car to get around this prior top SVA / Registration ;)
(This also opens up a debate about emissions tests and whether you would need a cat or not if the car with V5 you used as a donor was a pre cat (pre 94 I think off the top of my head) I think you may get away with it, but I'd leave that open for others to comment)

The other alternative, if building the car yourself using ALL new parts is to keep the receipts and also be able to prove with another receipt.. that the engine and box have also been rebuilt. That way you could claim a current registration.

If you don't have a donor car V5 and receipts for the kit/parts you will run a serious risk of having to have a Q plate and not being to transfer it later if you wanted.

totalkitcar.com (http://www.totalkitcar.com/tech_registration.php) is a really informative site on SVA and registration.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Rob