Help me choose my next money pit

[decay]

That video is insane Simon!



I’m in Australia - we didn’t get the 5mph bumpers down here. Even with our good climate they have pretty well all rusted away so spares are scarce & I’d need to sell off the two e30s to get it (without needing find a good divorce lawyer)

ah, i didn't realize your handle meant Adelaide. yeah maybe finish one of the e30s and flip it before taking on another build. happy wife, happy life, all that.

[lukeADE335i]

That video is insane Simon!

i haven't seen one of those in a hot fucking minute, and i've never seen one that didn't have the USDM 5mph bumpers. that's gotta be a grey-market car, she's a hottie and they weigh 2klbs out of the box. those panasports are a nice touch. i vote do it.

I’m in Australia - we didn’t get the 5mph bumpers down here. Even with our good climate they have pretty well all rusted away so spares are scarce & I’d need to sell off the two e30s to get it (without needing find a good divorce lawyer)

[2mAn]

Off topic in the off-topic lounge...

this is part 2

https://youtu.be/MiwxGrRv06w

[varg]

X1/9s are sweet but I've had a look around and under one and they're pretty lightly built, I'd get ready to reinforce a bunch of things if I were to double the torque the anemic 1.5 made.

[decay]

I’ve been eying off a cheap Fiat X1/9 that’s for sale near me as a rolling shell with similar ideas You can get a swap kit from Midwest Bayless, although it would probably be the ultimate money pit (at least until it was finished!)

https://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-1029-k20-kit-stage1-acura-honda-k20-k24-engine-swap-kit-for-fiat-bertone-x19.aspx

i haven't seen one of those in a hot fucking minute, and i've never seen one that didn't have the USDM 5mph bumpers. that's gotta be a grey-market car, she's a hottie and they weigh 2klbs out of the box. those panasports are a nice touch. i vote do it.

[2mAn]

I’ve been eying off a cheap Fiat X1/9 that’s for sale near me as a rolling shell with similar ideas You can get a swap kit from Midwest Bayless, although it would probably be the ultimate money pit (at least until it was finished!)

https://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-1029-k20-kit-stage1-acura-honda-k20-k24-engine-swap-kit-for-fiat-bertone-x19.aspx

If the chassis has no rust its a smart move. A stock motor would be a rocket in that small car

[lukeADE335i]

Except that was already a mid engine car and he installed FWD setup out back. If I do a K-swap it will probably be a 3rd-gen MR2 and do the same.

I’ve been eying off a cheap Fiat X1/9 that’s for sale near me as a rolling shell with similar ideas You can get a swap kit from Midwest Bayless, although it would probably be the ultimate money pit (at least until it was finished!)

https://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-1029-k20-kit-stage1-acura-honda-k20-k24-engine-swap-kit-for-fiat-bertone-x19.aspx

[decay]

decay glad to see you back and posting... but I already addressed that suggestion. Keeping the Alfa carb'd as I would like to drive it in '23 more than I did in '22

i missed that, my bad, and yeah, a baby two-liter sounds good too, and you're keeping it authentic.

arite then i'll limit my suggestion to a set of OZ wheels, as they're also made in italy

carry on, brother

[2mAn]

this guy been trying and I’m learning from his pain that I won’t consider it at all... https://www.alfabb.com/threads/k20-conversion.706075/

In fact I am likely dialing back my own ambitious twin Spark swap dream to a more realistic and easy upgrade from the ‘1400’ to a 2000cc . I can swap over my euro cams and I should be around 126bhp, maybe a little more with the header I’ll be using... much less than the twin Spark, but I have a lot of good reasons.

don’t get me wrong, I am still going to build the twin Spark motor but probably find a different home for it

decay glad to see you back and posting... but I already addressed that suggestion. Keeping the Alfa carb'd as I would like to drive it in '23 more than I did in '22

[decay]

Except that was already a mid engine car and he installed FWD setup out back. If I do a K-swap it will probably be a 3rd-gen MR2 and do the same.

true true, but you already bought the alfa, no?

then i stand by my original suggestion. K24 with an S2K transmission, the intake manifold and header from K-Sport and engine management from Hondata gets you the rest of the way there after you figure out how to get it all mounted, which is the non-trivial not-off-the-shelf part

i think that setup would be hairy enough naturally aspirated in such a little baby of a car. what's the curb weight on that thing?

[2mAn]

that stanceworks guy did most of that with a Ferrari and i thought it came out pretty good

Except that was already a mid engine car and he installed FWD setup out back. If I do a K-swap it will probably be a 3rd-gen MR2 and do the same.

[decay]

Who said put the engine up front? Do all the things, mid engine, RWD, transaxle, inboard brakes, you know, full crazy.

that stanceworks guy did most of that with a ferrari and i thought it came out pretty good

[roguetoaster]

Why convert a car when you can start with one thats already aiming the engine the right way?

Who said put the engine up front? Do all the things, mid engine, RWD, transaxle, inboard brakes, you know, full crazy.

[Holland]

I've personally been thinking about this route. Friend picked up a super low mile M3 (SMG). It's cool, but I like the practicality of a ZHP sedan more

LOL, that was me.

Nice thread bump, Alfa was the right choice imo.

[decay]

one of my roommates at my last place had an alfa and you definitely picked that money pit you wanted, from his experience

first, check all of the fasteners on that thing and inspect for rust

i agree with other comments that a K24 swap with an S2K transmission might be the way, not least because i might do something similar with my Z3 if i decide to piss off the purists