Feroza/Sportrak engine repair/replacement

Forum: 

Hi.

My Sporty`s bottom end is rattling heavily, and I don`t know which to do.
1. Replace bottom end and re-grind crank etc and have enlarged bearings, etc etc etc.
or.
2. Replace engine with something else.

Have had a look around and can get new bearings etc, and do all the work myself. But will deffo need a new oil pump. But just thinking as to what other engine I could replace the 1.6 Daihatsu plant with. Or am I just better off just re-doing my Sporty engine AGAIN??

Was considering something like a Ford Pinto 2.0 jobbie, but anything thats cheap to buy and to easily get parts for would be of benefit.

Diesel?

Thought about a diesel conversion? I know the Suzuki Vitara & Samurai nutters have a conversion kit available to fit the 1.9 Tdi Volkswagen Golf diesel lump, but I don't know if it's available for Sportys. Try any one of the popular 4WD magazines for details in the ads (I know I saw one in a mag, somewhere, when I considered it for my old Samurai).

Those engines are very good, with stacks of torque (almost foot-off-accelerator trundling off road) and cheap to run...and readily available in the breakers for peanuts prices.

The Ford TDCi engines are as good and as plentiful, too - ditto, regarding fitting info/kits.

Good luck!

Baz.

Only probs with Diesel

Only probs with Diesel convertions are, need to beef up front suspention and gearing is a bit low. 5th gear, 4000 rpm in sporti is about 70mph. Thant's way too high a rev. Larger wheels would help, but not enough I feel. As a toy it would be fine. I wouldn't want to drive it every day though.

Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.

Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.