Scooby Engine

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Was just wondering about using the engine from an impreza as a donor engine for other projects. Ive never really come across it happening but on a first impressions somewhat thinking out loud basis seems like a good idea.

You can get imprezas nice and cheap as they are so common and their must be loads of crashed ones about you can get even cheaper and take the engine out of. Its a boxer engine so its small so wont be any worries about it fitting into what ever your intending on placing it into and it produces a lot of power. Its not hard to tune it more if you want or even detune by loosing the turbo. I guess their is the noise as well but thats a love or hate affair and not necessarily an appropriate noise for your car to make depending on where the engine will end up in.

I was wondering if the problem lied somewhere with it being 4wd meaning getting a gearbox sorted for it or running it just as RWD is hard so hence why it isn't used in other projects?

 

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Far from it. It's a boxer engine so although it's not very tall, it is very wide and creates all sorts of problems fitting into engine bays designed for inline fours etc.

Ah right fair enough, i was thinking even tho its a different shape to normal that the engine was still compact enough not to trouble most engine bays, but if that isn't the case then can guess that would not encourage it to be used.

 

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Isn't it generally better to find the vehicle/kit, before you choose the engine?.

Well i was just mainly wondering why, as like said it seemed like a good idea. Generally curious to what the reason was that it didn't seem very popular decision.

For those who want to poke holes in it i was wondering about dropping it into a Datsun 260z instead of the initial plan of using a E36 straight six, either from the 323, 325 or 328 in all honesty the 323 would be big enough and im not that old so bloody insurance is a major issue!!!

 

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It wouldn't fit in a Z.

No i was guessing as much seeing it was designed to take a straight six but hoping it would be possible to get away with.

Get a 3.5 engine from an eighties 535i. 211bhp stock and they love a bit of forced induction...

An old BMW block does seem like a good idea but i was worried that even that would be difficult to get fitted in, those old bm engines are big old brutes and the front of the Z isn't exactly as big as a 3/5 series.

 

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I'd go for an RB25DET or an RB26DETT the RB 25 would be cheaper or perhaps a 2JZGTE

How much are the Nissan engines? Lot of ideas for going Turbo, but so far i had mainly been considering N/A routes, so what about the RB25DE?

 

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The bimmer lump I suggested should fit with no problems, comes with a 'box attached and shouldn't cost more than a couple of hundred quid...

Not sure as Ive never tried buying one but there is someone on sxoc that sells complete working engines with all the bits needed for an engine swap for £1600 upwards for an RB25DETT.

bimmer engine here i come