engine and drivetrain Whats your opinion on hybrids?

[t0fudelivery]

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/801686/3

It has a CA18DET engine conversion. A I-4 1.8L turbo engine that Nissan offered in the old S13 Silvias and 180SX's (Japan Spec 240SX).

Whats your guys' opinion on hybrid swaps like these? Ive seen the sister engine, an SR20DET in an E30 M3 and not many people were too happy about it.

[ClayW]

BMW makes good stuff. I'd rather spend the fabrication and engineering time on adapting a BMW motor.

I do, however, appreciate the engineering, fabrication, blood, sweat, tears and willingness to go your own way.

To me, the beauty and genius of BMW is that so many stock BMW parts are interchangable. If you want an upgrade part, chances are there's a new BMW part that'll do the trick with little or no fabrication.

[andrewro]

Whoops, I thought you meant "hybrid" as in Civic Hybrid.

[peteinjp]

I'm ito the expeience of driving first and foremost. That can mean many things but basically the 2002 balances a lot of that stuff for me. Visually Its nice to drive with its great visability. Easy to fix everything is realtively easy to get to. If an install is done well and doesn't destroy the overall balance of the car and adds to the experiece of driving then I am all for it.

[robspeed]

I'm ito the expeience of driving first and foremost. That can mean many things but basically the 2002 balances a lot of that stuff for me. Visually Its nice to drive with its great visability. Easy to fix everything is realtively easy to get to. If an install is done well and doesn't destroy the overall balance of the car and adds to the experiece of driving then I am all for it.

i totally agree, especially if the work is reversible (not that anyone would bother if its done nicely). To me, a powerplant is a powerplant. Im more interested in the power-to-weight and smoothness, where the torque curve is, etc. rotary, the buick v8, other lightweight and powerful plants i think are all cool for 02 transplants. i would love to have an e28 with ford 302 power, which is actually lighter and smaller than the BMW big six.

All that being said, Lisa will probably always remain an m10-powered beest. the next motor id put in it would be either the original 2.0liter (has busted rod bolt, sitting outside inlaws' garage currently) from my car, or, an e30 1.8 swapped complete with EFI. Or the 2.0 with the EFI stuff on it. But mostly for budget reasons...

In my fansasy life i see a turbocharger and intercooler in there, set up to mimic the torque and rev curve of a small block v8. Big boost early, relatively low redline, about 200hp (ok a slightly choked-off v8 ).

that e28/ford idea is far more interesting (to me) because of the big power available in a LIGHTER package (except for rotary swaps, nothing else for an '02 would be all that much lighter than the original motor), all in a bigger sedan sort of to match the big 'plant. Lighter and far more cost-effective than the BMW big six. (theres power-to-weight ratio, and power-to-dollar ratio. in my book equally important, at least!! )

[Lars]

If we could only get one of those engines over here.

[Contraband]

i would love to have an e28 with ford 302 power, which is actually lighter and smaller than the BMW big six.

My dad would kill me for posting this (he's a Ford guy, and so am I), but the Chevy LS1 is even lighter and makes more power than a small-block Ford. But then, the SBC has been around a lot longer than the 260/289/302...

[Harv]

I did vote for the BMW hybred. After driving AndyS's M2 I'm convinced that's the way to go. Made me wish I hadn't already bought all my M10 stuff. However, I'm going forward with my big M10 motor. With ITB's and distributerless ignition and Megasquirt II it should come close to 190hp if I'm luckey.

John

[SHELLAC]

Its nice,

I'll stick with the BMW motor in my Touring

However, the CA18det in my 180sx track/fun car makes 400hp all day long,, and its pretty average compared to many of my clubmates 180's.

I'd rather turbo an M10 for the 2000/2002 purpose

[Vroomer]

Hybrid produce a lot of SMUG.

[robspeed]

i would love to have an e28 with ford 302 power, which is actually lighter and smaller than the BMW big six.

My dad would kill me for posting this (he's a Ford guy, and so am I), but the Chevy LS1 is even lighter and makes more power than a small-block Ford. But then, the SBC has been around a lot longer than the 260/289/302...

Actually, contrary to what one might think, the all-aluminum LS1/6 is 500lbs and the ford 302 (iron block, alu heads and intake) is actually lighter still, only 425lbs!!! the iron chevy LT1 is 550lbs (all with standard flywheel and other accessories except for a/c compressor). I got the Chevy numbers directly off the Chevy website and the ford number from various sources on the web... If you look at how SMALL the ford motor is (only 18" wide from manifold to manifold!!!!!!!!!) you see why its lighter even tho its made of iron...