Engine swap

[Jota69]

I'm getting a 126P in Italy to take back with me to the US. I want to be able to use the car regulary and also be able to keep up with today's traffic. I was thinking of doing a fire engine swap here in italy but when I take the car to the US the parts for that engine will not be easylly available and not that many mechanics to work on them. I was thinking of installing an Honda 1.6L SOHC from a Honda Civic because this engines are light and also torque is not that high so I can use the 126 tranny. Do you guys think that engine will work with the 126 tranny? Any other engines you would recommend that parts will be easy to get in the US?

[Hazey-n-Marc]

Not sure about the 126 gearbox coping with the civic power, and it will be a very tight fit even after cutting quite a lot away. I have always quite liked the idea of a harley davidson engine.
As standard mine keeps up with general traffic, I actually find the cars in front hold me up more than I hold up those behind. There isn't a speed limit I can't (just) break in britain, just not great for racing.

[Eklipze3k]

Anything here take your fancy - http://retro500.com/Engine_swap_Gallery_2.html

[Jota69]

Anything here take your fancy - http://retro500.com/Engine_swap_Gallery_2.html

I really like the fire engine swap but like I said those engines are not available in the US and that is why I would like a similar engine but something that will be easy to get in the US. Thts why I was thinking about a 1.6 single cam honda engine, I was also thinking about a rx7 12a rotary engine. The engine has to fit in the back because I want the car to be street legal and I will like something that will require the less modification possible

[Hazey-n-Marc]

The honda engine would be too long on the fiat box as it would have to be mounted longitudinally, the alfa or subaru boxers look fairley possible, think the w****els might be a bit wide and long.

[Jota69]

The honda engine would be too long on the fiat box as it would have to be mounted longitudinally, the alfa or subaru boxers look fairley possible, think the w****els might be a bit wide and long.

Do you know what model subaru engines will fit?

[Hazey-n-Marc]

Can't believe w****el gets censored, thank god this isn't an rx forum!!
Not sure of which subaru engines, look at the boxers.

[Pete126]

http://club126uk.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6487.0

[Jota69]

I really like the motorcycle engine idea but I have not seen any fitted in the back, all the ones I have seen are mid mounted and also I dont like not having reverse. What ar engines will be small and light enought to fit in the back of a 126 either using the original tranny or using a VW tranny?

[Pete126]

Well then take a look at these pictures, This is an engine swop in the water cooled bis using a water cooled 8 valve parallel twin, not sure if its a honda (maybe someone can tell us) but there's no reason why you couldn't fit a similar engine in the upright position, If you can find a 600/800cc twin you should be able to double the output power to around 50+ bhp High revs and low torque so you can use the std gearbox, the bonus is it fits where the original is, you can always run the water pipes to a bis heater box and controls so you can be nice and toasty

I found this conversion on a French site in 2008 but can't find it now

[ronb1967]

The SMART is available in U.S what about a complete engine and box change and its already a rear wheel drive assembly

[Jota69]

The smart drivetrain is too wide and it will require lots of cutting to fit, I saw on youtube a 126 with a bmw k75 engine installed using the stock tranny and it looked like a really nice swap