What drivetrain should I use for my buggy?

[dep]

I am currently making some small progress on my rear engine buggy and would like help figuring out what engine-trans-t,case combo to use. I need it to meet these criteria:

fairly inexpensive, fairly compact, automatic trans, fuel injected.

I am running D44's front and rear so I dont want huge power and its pretty small so I need nothing too big, or too long.

Any suggestions, recomendations would be appreciated. thanks.

PS I was thinking GM 3.8. anyone know of a trannie-Tcase which would work?

 

[Jeremy]

this one

 

[Caleb]

a Toy 3.4L (supercharged or not) or a Chevy 4.3L...the nice thing about these two engines is parts are everywhere so when you are in hicksville you will likely still be able to find a replacement water pump

 

[Rodeoman]

my dibs are for Ford 5.0 (302ci), prefferably out of Mustang or exploder V8, it has standalone engine managment system, C4 or C6 tranny, if you go woth C4 you can get short adapter from AA, as far as tcase goes, pretty much whatever you desire, lets say a 205 bolted to Wagoner Machine service 3.1 range box, should still run you less than atlas, and you could have twin stick or if length is issue just get Atlas or something comparable. parts for most of stuff listed can be found at just about any parts store.. here is good link on some more Ford 5.0 combos.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45309

 

[Caleb]

my dibs are for Ford 5.0 (302ci), prefferably out of Mustang or exploder V8, it has standalone engine managment system, C4 or C6 tranny, if you go woth C4 you can get short adapter from AA, as far as tcase goes, pretty much whatever you desire, lets say a 205 bolted to Wagoner Machine service 3.1 range box, should still run you less than atlas, and you could have twin stick or if length is issue just get Atlas or something comparable. parts for most of stuff listed can be found at just about any parts store.. here is good link on some more Ford 5.0 combos.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45309

A healthy 5.0 and Dana 44s wont get along too well

 

[dep]

I appreciate the input. I would like to keep it smaller than a 4.3 and less powerfull than a 5.0. and I really would like to keep away from the special adapters, price is a big issue. anyone know of any good small v6 or 4banger Auto combo's around??

 

[mbryson]

I appreciate the input. I would like to keep it smaller than a 4.3 and less powerfull than a 5.0. and I really would like to keep away from the special adapters, price is a big issue. anyone know of any good small v6 or 4banger Auto combo's around??

In my mind, you're describing a Toyota powertrain. Common, reliable and pretty easy to come across.

I like the earlier suggestion of a 3.8 Buick motor. You'd need a cheap adapter ($70ish--from Buick, Olds, Pontiac to Chev bellhousing bolt pattern) to bolt up to a T350 (and any number of t-cases are available with that). They have a ton of torque for a small engine, good power, are VERY common in a LOT of GM cars in FWD form. The one I'd use for a buggy would be one out of a fourth gen Camaro/Firebird. No oilpan mods or flexplate issues and would mate easily with a common tranny.

 

[Kiel]

What about a 16v 1.6 suzuki and matching auto, You can get 4 to1 gearsets for the case and even toyota, dana 300, samurai doubler kits. They also are plenty light and they make cheap toyota trans adapters also. Lots of options

 

[dep]

So there is an adapter to make a 3.8 work with the v8 transmissions??? I would be all over that if it were true. If you have the info on that would you post it..thanks

 

[Caleb]

I appreciate the input. I would like to keep it smaller than a 4.3 and less powerfull than a 5.0. and I really would like to keep away from the special adapters, price is a big issue. anyone know of any good small v6 or 4banger Auto combo's around??

I'm curious to know, have you actually seen a 4.3L? You will not find a smaller motor unless you go to a 4 cyl (and even they may be longer because they are generally inline rather than a V-design). The 3.8L would be a sweet motor but its gonna be the same size as a 4.3L.

 

[bobdog]

I am pretty sure instead of an adaper you just need to use a 60 degree tranny to use a 3.8. The thing I don't understand is why you would want to. I understand replacing a 2.5 cherokee motor with one, but starting from scrach no way. You say you want something smaller than a 4.3 but the 4.3 is really pretty compact (not really any more space hungry than a 3.8). If you are afraid it is too powerfull, don't put the petal to the metal.

 

[mbryson]

So there is an adapter to make a 3.8 work with the v8 transmissions??? I would be all over that if it were true. If you have the info on that would you post it..thanks

Almost any adapter company will have a bellhousing adapter (BOP to Chev) for your needs (I KNOW Advance has/had one). If I were you, I'd research if GM had already done that for you . There is a BUNCH of 3.8 information out there. You'll need to sort through which donor you want to use, what you can find for your budget, and that will lead you down the road to what YOU want to do. (the 3.8L (G-car sourced) and small block Chev was a COMMON swap into Toyota pickups in the late '80s--think slammed mini-truck)

I wanted to swap a naturaly aspirated, injected 3.8 Buick into an early CJ. For me, the aforementioned F-car kept popping up as a the 'right' donor but I think they started appearing in '94 (ish?) with about 200 hp (after they dropped the 3.4L as the base engine). I wanted to use a T350 or T200R4 (but that gets even more interesting) for their somewhat short length. I finally came to the conclusion I should just buy a donor S10 (4.3L, 700/231) and go from there. There's not a lot of difference in power output between the 4.3L vs. the 3.8L. I think the 3.8L has more torque potential, but only marginally unless you want to spend some $$$$.

All that said, I'm just about driveable with my project Willys (that's really a YJ and won't even look like a Willys) and it's donor engine (that's really a TBI 350/700/D300). I like that I've kept things VERY simple (as far as these things go) and I know that's why I've been able to do this on the limited budget I've had over the past 18 months (two moves and a new bambino included).

 

[dep]

Correct me if Im wrong but isnt the 4.3 the same size as a 350 -2 cyl. thats not very small. My understanding is the 3.8 is one of GMs "small" v6's and is substantially smaller.

Anyone have any other suggestions I should look into??

 

[Caleb]

Correct me if Im wrong but isnt the 4.3 the same size as a 350 -2 cyl. thats not very small. My understanding is the 3.8 is one of GMs "small" v6's and is substantially smaller.

Anyone have any other suggestions I should look into??

Kinda sorta...the accessories from the 350 are the same on the 4.3L but think about, how much smaller can you get than three cylinders in a row (V6 )? Like I said before the 4 cylinders are prolly even laonger because they are generally 4 cylinders in a row. The only difference is size between the 3.8 and 4.3 is gonna be *MAYBE* a tad in length (if cylinders are smaller on the 3.8L) and maybe a tad on width 90* vs. 60*...not anything to write home about. Something else is ANY transmission that can bolt up to a chevy v8 will also bolt up to the 4.3L without any adapters or special machined parts. I know the 4.3L isn;t real original but there is also a reason so many people use it (good power from a small, common, package).

 

[mbryson]

Correct me if Im wrong but isnt the 4.3 the same size as a 350 -2 cyl. thats not very small. My understanding is the 3.8 is one of GMs "small" v6's and is substantially smaller.

Anyone have any other suggestions I should look into??

The 4.3L and 3.8L are pretty similar in size. A 'small' V6 would be a 2.8L (3.1 or 3.4L), 60* family.