Rescued attachment ClanForSaleApr2006Side.jpg
I want to try and shoehorn a bike engine into my Clan which was originally Hillman Imp based. Has anyone out there put a bike engine in an Imp or Imp derived car before, if so could you please tell me which engine / diff etc you used, many thanks Nigel
Do search using the word IMP !
Try here
http://www.theimpclub.co.uk
Any bike engine you want ! The engine sits the same way as the bike so no oil surge
issues. Plenty of vids on Youtube featuring fireblade, GSXR1000, FJ1200 R1 etc.
Use a chain driven diff such as the Quaife QDF7ZR.
What about installing infront of axle line (i.e. right behind the seats)
Rescued attachment ClanForSaleApr2006Side.jpg
Imppaul on here has a ZX12 Imp I recall...
Many thanks for the replies folks. I have thought about putting the engine behind the seats but I don't want to cut the shell up. There were only 120 of these cars made in N. Ireland so I would rather keep it so that I could turn it back into a standard car at a later date. I'm thinking along the lines of a shaft drive bike engine and a sierra diff at the moment. I can't use a chain drive engine behind the axle as I will have 6 reverse gears! Hope this makes sense, Nigel
Just having a look at some of Imp Paul's photos, very interesting stuff, many thanks
Clan used the Imp rear suspension sub frame, Clan body shells have a structural weakness just ahead of where the Imp subframe bolts on -- the early
production ones used to crack wide open here. Anything that involves removing structural material from anywhere near this area is going to result in a
danger the subframe parting company with the monocoque.
This is a classic 1970s sportcar don't b*****r it about.
The only Imp i've seen with a bike motor had it where the back seat should be,was for sale on the club site about 12months back.if the clan is anything like the Imp I think you'll struggle to find an engine that's not too tall to sit in original position,weighed it up for mine afew times and its uprising how small the Imp motor is top to bottom with the angle its sat at!then there's the 5 or 6 speed reverse,one speed forward problem!if you sort it tho I'd be interested in the results,I have access to afew old shells and always fancied a quick Imp!
Thanks for the advice, mine is one of the later Irish Clans so i guess its a classic 1980's sportscar, but I have no intention of taking the angle grinder to the shell! I'm going to a bike breakers this evening with a tape, I'll let you all know how i egt on!
I know of Darren Grasbys Stiletto with a bike engine, I saw it at the Autosport show.
From memory he is a member of the Yorkshire autograss club.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avnlfpX3AIA
Its very very clean
You can use chain drive and have the engine behind the axle, you need to use a jackshaft, like this one I have for sale
Cheers
David
quote:
Originally posted by genevive51
Many thanks for the replies folks. I have thought about putting the engine behind the seats but I don't want to cut the shell up. There were only 120 of these cars made in N. Ireland so I would rather keep it so that I could turn it back into a standard car at a later date. I'm thinking along the lines of a shaft drive bike engine and a sierra diff at the moment. I can't use a chain drive engine behind the axle as I will have 6 reverse gears! Hope this makes sense, Nigel
this was in a imp based car here you go
quote:
Originally posted by Minicooper
You can use chain drive and have the engine behind the axle, you need to use a jackshaft, like this one I have for sale
Cheers
David
Hi Dave, using the jackshaft as you have suggested will I not have to offset my engine about 12 inches to one side to get the chain to line up with the diff? Thanks Nigel
genevive51 - 24/6/10 at 06:28 AMquote:
Originally posted by imp paul
this was in a imp based car here you go
Thats one serious looking piece of kit, I assume you had it in a race car. I have looked at some of your photos and am particularly interested in the blue imp that you build around 2007. What diff did you use for it? Did it have a reverse facility? Thanks Nigel
Minicooper - 24/6/10 at 09:11 AMYes it will be a bit offset but the diff offset compensates for that a fair bit, plus there is no need to run the diff centrally. In the rear different length driveshafts don't have the same negative effect that they may have in a fwd car.
I wouldn't use a very short chain if you intend to do anything but hillclimbs, the strain and heat generated by such a short chain are great, I have not done this personally but have talked to several people who have and they have all said the short chain overheats spits out the grease and then fails in only a few laps
Cheers
David
quote:
Originally posted by genevive51
quote:
Originally posted by Minicooper
You can use chain drive and have the engine behind the axle, you need to use a jackshaft, like this one I have for sale
Cheers
David
Hi Dave, using the jackshaft as you have suggested will I not have to offset my engine about 12 inches to one side to get the chain to line up with the diff? Thanks Nigel
genevive51 - 24/6/10 at 03:30 PMThanks for the info David, now I need to find an engine that is short enough to go in! Does anyone out there know of any websites that list the basic dimensions of bike engines? Many thanks Nigel
Minicooper - 24/6/10 at 04:10 PMI have ZZR1100's, ZX9r, R1's, Blackbird and GSXR here, let me know if you need a particular dimension
Cheers
David
zilspeed - 24/6/10 at 04:58 PMA pal of mine has a Blackbird powered Clan.
Because he wasn't allowed to put the engine anywhere other than in the back, due to the rules, his is mounted longitudinally driving forward into a Sierra diff via the shortest driveshaft in the world.
There's sod all weight over the front end, so he spent the first year or so dialling out collosall understeer.
Traction is phenomenal.
As an asides, I've had the pleasure of helping with the restoration of some clan shells which were right back to the gelcoat. The rot can be pretty drastic and is not simple to put right without having a very very bare shell.
None of these cars will have a bike engine within a million miles of them and they are all in build right now.
genevive51 - 24/6/10 at 07:57 PMquote:
Originally posted by Minicooper
I have ZZR1100's, ZX9r, R1's, Blackbird and GSXR here, let me know if you need a particular dimension
Cheers
David
The one critical dimension for me is the height from the sump to the top of the engine or carbs whichever is highest. I went to a bike breakers yesterday evening and the best I found was a GSXR / Bandit motor at about 20 inches. The problem with a lot of later engines is that they all seem to be going to towards downdraught carbs. It would be very helpful if you would stick a tape on your motors to see which are the lowest. Many thanks Nigel
genevive51 - 24/6/10 at 08:02 PMquote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
A pal of mine has a Blackbird powered Clan.
Because he wasn't allowed to put the engine anywhere other than in the back, due to the rules, his is mounted longitudinally driving forward into a Sierra diff via the shortest driveshaft in the world.
This is obviously very interesting for me, would you mind asking your friend if I could e mail or ring him with some questions, many thanks Nigel
[Edited on 24/6/10 by genevive51]
zilspeed - 24/6/10 at 09:11 PMNigel
It'll be Sunday before I speak to him, will get back to you after that.
It wasn't complicated though.
genevive51 - 24/6/10 at 09:41 PMMany thanks for that, Nigel
Minicooper - 25/6/10 at 10:43 AMAll of them are a lot more than 20" if you include carbs/throttle bodies, ignoring the carbs/throttle bodies the R1 is the lowest height at around 19", with it's flat sump.
My suggestion would be the fazer version of the R1 which has the level carbs, I'm talking about the older carb one not the newer fuel injected version
Cheers
David
The one critical dimension for me is the height from the sump to the top of the engine or carbs whichever is highest. I went to a bike breakers yesterday evening and the best I found was a GSXR / Bandit motor at about 20 inches. The problem with a lot of later engines is that they all seem to be going to towards downdraught carbs. It would be very helpful if you would stick a tape on your motors to see which are the lowest. Many thanks Nigel
genevive51 - 25/6/10 at 12:37 PMThanks for that, very much appreciated. I originally thought it would just be a trip to the breakers to pick up a cheap big lump, but its turning out to be a wee bit more involved than that. I'm still reckoning I can get a 1200 bandit motor in with K&N filters on it but I need to do a lot more checking, cheers nigel
Minicooper - 25/6/10 at 01:42 PMThe bandit motor is oil/air cooled so having it enclosed in the rear will be not advisable
Cheers
David
quote:
Originally posted by genevive51
Thanks for that, very much appreciated. I originally thought it would just be a trip to the breakers to pick up a cheap big lump, but its turning out to be a wee bit more involved than that. I'm still reckoning I can get a 1200 bandit motor in with K&N filters on it but I need to do a lot more checking, cheers nigel
genevive51 - 25/6/10 at 07:47 PMThanks, I'm going to have to go back to a big breakers with a tape to see what will fit and what won't. At least you have given me a starting point, I haven't had any involvement with bikes for about 15 years and it shows! I'll let you know how I get on! regards Nigel