I'd like to hear opinions on the best ( Light weight, power, reliability ) pre OBDII I4 USA engine.
The Ford Zetec SE (Sigma) would be ideal due to it's extreme low weight except that it apparently wasn't available in the USA.
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July 29, 2011 8:53 a.m. Chet New Reader
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July 29, 2011 9:01 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
SR20DE was available as OBD1 and FWD in Nissan SE-Rs and Infiniti G20s of the time. Theyre everywhere, take up to 12 lbs boost stock, have aftermarket everywhere, parts grow on trees, and are more reliable than gravity.
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July 29, 2011 9:03 a.m. RossD SuperDork
The zetec that came to the states didn't really weigh that much, at least when you compare it to the Lima.
I weighed a zetec from a '00 focus and came in around 250-260 lbs, IIRC. It had a flywheel from an automatic trans, no belt driven accessories other than the water pump, throttle body, intake and exhaust manifolds, fuel rail and injectors, plugs/wires/coil, and a handful of aluminum brackets. I believe there is some fluids in it but not sure how much. You'd have to get a Zetec from an early Contour/Mystique for OBDI though (I think...?). As for power, I've heard with a better intake, exhaust and tune you can reach 170 hp without crack open the motor. I don't know for sure because mine is still hanging on the engine stand.
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July 29, 2011 9:03 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
Mazda BP
Honda B-series
Toyota 3sge was pretty cool, but not impressively light. -
July 29, 2011 9:55 a.m. HStockSolo New Reader
Chet wrote: Light weight, power, reliability
Those seem to be mutually exclusive.
The 1.9L Saturn DOHC is very light engine. SR20DE variants are all very heavy.
I don't think the second cam is normally worth the weight. One of the SOHC 4-valve engines might be the way to go.
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July 29, 2011 10:45 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
well, I took it as a given that the rule of thumb was: Light, powerful, reliable...pick 2.
IMHO, toting around an extra 40# of engine isnt a big deal. if 40# is a deal breaker for a build, youre build spec is too tight.
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July 29, 2011 11:02 a.m. oldeskewltoy Reader
4AGE long block is about 200#s
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July 29, 2011 12:56 p.m. alfadriver SuperDork
What's the intention? Many post OBDII powertrains are modifyable, and if you put enough into them, and aftermarket computer is needed, anyway.
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July 29, 2011 1:14 p.m. MadScientistMatt Dork
Some ones that come to mind:
Mitsu 4G63 if you want a turbo motor and can find one that hasn't been driven into the ground.
Nissan SR20DE from an Infiniti G20 may be one of the less likely ones to have been abused.
Honda B18 - or even B16 - if you like naturally aspirated power and want to rev it to the moon. H22A if you'd like more torque with your H.
Still, I'm with Alfadriver here - what exactly does it have to be pre-OBDII for? You can get an OBDII motor in an older car and still be emissions legal, if this is a legality issue.
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July 29, 2011 1:57 p.m. mw HalfDork
Suzuki g13b? It's light and reliable. It can be made to be powerful.
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July 29, 2011 2:01 p.m. corytate Reader
you can argue for an sr20de or a 4age very effectively imo. I like both but definitely prefer the 4a for reliability. and i'm just a toyota person at heart
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July 29, 2011 2:22 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
corytate wrote:
you can argue for an sr20de or a 4age very effectively imo. I like both but definitely prefer the 4a for reliability. and i'm just a toyota person at heart
I agree, both are very capable, but the 4ag is not nearly as common, and has less aftermarket.
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July 29, 2011 2:25 p.m. Chet New Reader
FYI- A pre OBDII engine would make it a lot easier to legally satisfy NJ regulations.
As an example NJ has now proposed making it a crime to make any changes to an engine ecu. Penalty is up to 10 years imprisonment & up to $150,000 fine. I'm not kidding. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A3500/3302_I1.PDF
I've waited patiently for the SEMA registration process to pass here in NJ but it has been on hold for a couple of years now.
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July 29, 2011 2:36 p.m. ProDarwin Dork
B-Series
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July 29, 2011 2:51 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
Chet wrote:
FYI- NJ has now proposed making it a crime to make any changes to an engine ecu. Penalty is up to 10 years imprisonment & up to $150,000 fine. I'm not kidding. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A3500/3302_I1.PDF
Whew, that makes me feel better. If the tards on the shore have time to worry about engine ECU fiddling, I guess that means they have all the poverty, crime, employment, and drug situations handled already. Good for them!
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July 29, 2011 2:58 p.m. MadScientistMatt Dork
Chet wrote:
FYI- A pre OBDII engine would make it a lot easier to legally satisfy NJ regulations.
As an example NJ has now proposed making it a crime to make any changes to an engine ecu. Penalty is up to 10 years imprisonment & up to $150,000 fine. I'm not kidding. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A3500/3302_I1.PDF
I've waited patiently for the SEMA registration process to pass here in NJ but it has been on hold for a couple of years now.
I think the key to that one is "purposely or knowingly and without authorization, or in excess of authorization". They're not concerned with tuning devices as much as with things like the Car Shark, OnStar abuse, or other theoretical malicious car computer hacks.
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July 29, 2011 3:03 p.m. Hal Dork
RossD wrote:
The zetec that came to the states didn't really weigh that much. As for power, I've heard with a better intake, exhaust, cams and tune you can reach 170 hp without crack open the motor. I don't know for sure because mine is still hanging on the engine stand.
Fixed it. BTDT
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July 29, 2011 3:15 p.m. alfadriver SuperDork
Chet wrote:
FYI- A pre OBDII engine would make it a lot easier to legally satisfy NJ regulations.
As an example NJ has now proposed making it a crime to make any changes to an engine ecu. Penalty is up to 10 years imprisonment & up to $150,000 fine. I'm not kidding. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A3500/3302_I1.PDF
I've waited patiently for the SEMA registration process to pass here in NJ but it has been on hold for a couple of years now.
that law is totally irrelevant and superseeded by EPA's anti-tampering law. (or CARB's if they are a clean state)
Nice to see them working on stuff for the sake of working on it.
OTOH, it's clear that someone is complaining about modified cars not being clean enough.
Still- do the mod before it becomes law. Can't go backwards in changing the rules.
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July 29, 2011 3:16 p.m. Chet New Reader
I wonder if some NJ lawyer would argue that no one has legal authorization to modify an engine ecu due to emissions laws.
What would happen if the ecu was modified to increase the engine redline and the car was involved a year later in an accident?
As a cost savings measure NJ recently did away with car safety inspections but they still require the OBDII readings be reviewed.
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July 29, 2011 8:38 p.m. patgizz SuperDork
w41 quad 4?
