Roy,
I did a lot of research and exploring to do this on my '68 project several
years ago.
Probably the two easiest are the RX7 and the Datsun 210 engines. They are
probalby the best choices for size and weight compared to original
equipment. They will also fit with the least chassis modification. There
are certainly dozens of others. That said however, I believe even those
will require some cutting of the foot boxes and a fair amount of
"engineering" to install. You will also need to fabricate things like motor
and transmission mounts, driveshafts and custom made headers and exhaust
systems as an absolute minimum. Then there are rear end considerations
because your new found power will be breaking axles left and right.
It certainly can be done, but it's not a light undertaking. If you don't
want to be doing a lot of cutting, welding and fabricating, consider
building a strong 1275 motor and adding a Datsun 5 speed. It makes for a
great driving combination.
Check out the Modified Healey section on my web site to see what some other
have done, though most of these are more radical that you're thing about. I
have links to web sites showing RX7 and other installs if you want to see
what's involved. Dan Dwelley and Brad Fornal (both on this list) are
building RX7 powered cars at the moment too.
BTW, Jacques is right about the comparisons between racing a Spridget and
an RX7. I have a friend that ha raced Spridgets very competitively for
sveral years and switched over to RX7 SCCA racing. He can race for an
entire season for less money that rebuilding one of his Huffaker motors
once, which tyoically needs to be done at least once a season. This
includes having someone else maintain, store and transport the RX7 to the
track!
Gerard
At 1:20 PM -0500 2/12/02, David N Waldmann wrote:
>I had similar thoughts for my '72 Midget. However, after reading Mr Vizard,
>I've pretty well decided that I'd rather do some mods to the original
>engine. It doesn't take all that much to get 100 HP out of a 1275. Even 125
>isn't terribly radical.
>
>If you do decide on a swap, I think that a Mazada rotary would probably be
>the way to go.
>
>Here's a commentary on rotaries by Jacques Le Clainche from when I was
>thinking of it:
>======================================
>If you decide to install a rotary engine in your Spridget- I would go for a
>1984-1985 13B (rated as 1300 cc)from a RX7 first generation. Bullet proof
>engines, light, relatively cheap to buy, easier and cheaper to rebuild than
>later generations, and giving 135 HP stock. It is very easy to get more
>power out of them without turbocharging... A 1979-1985 12A (rated as 1100
>cc) would not be too bad either- that's what I have in my 1985 Mazda RX7.
>100 BHP stock, another easy 20 or 30 BHP with a better exhaust,
>carb/manifold and air filter... and they run best with the cheapest unleaded
>fuel! My race car engine (stock) has zillion miles on it, still revs to
>8,000 rpm with no problems, and all I have done to it in one year of racing
>is change the oil and filters!.. By the way, my Sprite race car engine
>(948cc overbored to 1018) cost a fortune, needs very high octane gas to run,
>and cost a lot of money!... Won't last half as long as the rotary either -
>but, heck, it revs just as high and does sound A LOT better than the rotary!
>======================================
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