4-cylinder crate engines?

After a recent bout of lamenting the too-late-discovered condition of the BMW M42 I picked up for the 2002 project, my lovely and talented girlfriend asked me whether it was possible to just go buy a new engine.

At first, I thought about modern BMWs, and figured the cost hit for a standalone ECU that could run one of those things would be off the charts (not to mention the engine itself), but figured I ought to A) not rule that out and B) contemplate other makes. I'm generally not opposed to across-makes engine swaps, so I'm not sure why I want so badly to keep a BMW in the 2002.

What perplexed me was that when I started searching for crate engines, all I found were V8s. I mean, I expected them to be the majority, but I didn't expect such a complete absence. Ford's motorsport site appears to only do V8s. I'd love an Ecoboost 4...

Oh yeah, whatever it is, it'd be nice it if it didn't require a custom bellhousing to use it RWD...

Anything else out there?

http://www.turnkeyenginesupply.com/products/2.4L-Ecotec-4cyl-190-HP.html

The reason you only find V8s is that they are the only engine that you should put in a 2002.

Okay, so my confusion is because, between your answers, it appears I'm incompetent and misguided

Thanks for the link! (Doesn't "I finally got a Maserati Biturbo" sound an awful lot like an epitaph?)

A V8 would be nifty, but I already eschewed the 6-cyl path for too much weight in the nose of an already nose-heavy car... An all-aluminum turbo four would be pretty nifty, though...

A Ford 302 should fit in there nicely.

m4ff3w wrote: http://www.turnkeyenginesupply.com/products/2.4L-Ecotec-4cyl-190-HP.html

Holy carp! On closer inspection, that's a remarkably complete package. It's a chunk for someone more accustomed to junkyards and home rebuilds, but that's everything from ECU to engine oil... Neat!

Most of the 4 cylinder crate engines I've seen either are rebuilt stock replacements or all out racing motors. Some examples of the latter:

Ford Midget Zetec

Half a smallblock Mopar

So these aren't exactly cheap, but would definitely be interesting in a 2002.

I think the supply of high performance used JDM engines for cheap has stifled demand for crate motors in the sport compact world. Now that some of the more trusted suppliers have gone out of business and a lot of the engines left over are in bad shape, we may start to see a sport compact crate motor market start appearing.

I think the reason you can't find "crate" engines of the 4 cylinder persuasion is because most folks will just junk the typical 4 cylinder powered car rather than "re-engine" it. Add to that, mechanics who talk folks into going used, to save some cash, instead of new....and there is little market. In Europe, of course, you can get new engines a bit easier.

I seem to remember Ford Performance Parts, at one time, had a built up Zetec somewhat similar in spec to a Focus SVT engine for sale. That's probably no longer the case, tho? Price was about $2,000.

ransom wrote:

m4ff3w wrote: http://www.turnkeyenginesupply.com/products/2.4L-Ecotec-4cyl-190-HP.html

Holy carp! On closer inspection, that's a remarkably complete package. It's a chunk for someone more accustomed to junkyards and home rebuilds, but that's everything from ECU to engine oil... Neat!

Yeah... definitely interesting... How hard is it to find a RWD bell housing for an Ecotec?

a guy i used to work with is finishing up an S2000 engine swap into his 2002

I figure an aluminum inline six from a later 3 series or Z3 would be perfect in a 2002...and probably weigh in very closely to the M42.

In reply to njansenv:

Is the aluminum block really that much lighter? I confess to dubiousness...

Even if it is, the nose-heaviness of this car makes me want to stay away from long engines. I'd be more tempted by a similarly-weighted V6.

While I'd love to avoid the plumbing, it really seems like a turbo four is going to be the best combination of packaging and autocross-friendly flat torque curve. If I can substitute displacement for turbo (perhaps the 2.4L Ecotec mentioned above), that might work out...

ransom wrote: If I can substitute displacement for turbo (perhaps the 2.4L Ecotec mentioned above), that might work out...

I am an Ecotec fan, but just keep in mind that a turbo, plumbing and intercooler etc all has weight. You may be surprised at how much.

Wonder if an Ecotec would fit under the bonnet of a Spitfire.

In reply to njansenv:

apparently the M54 is about 45 pounds lighter than an M20 or so says the always correct internets.

but there's a guy that completely rebuilt his 2002 around an M54 and called it a 3002TTiL.... the TT is for Twin-Turbo!
http://www.2002twinturbo.com/

In reply to WilberM3:

I've seen that site, and am completely in awe of that car.

I am a bit baffled about their stickling on BMW-ness to the point of making a rear transaxle by coupling a transmission and rear diff... If I were going to do that, I'd use a 944 or GTV6 transaxle (though I continue to google for saner options). But I digress...

I do need to weigh a turbo setup.

Yeah... definitely interesting... How hard is it to find a RWD bell housing for an Ecotec?

Mantaparts had Quad 4 and I believe the Ecotec bellhousings for RWDs . They closed up shop last August due to the bad economy. I suppose parts may still be out there somewhere.

I bought a 2liter bug cup crate motor from Bertils five years ago. I think you can get a decent crate of any sort if you are wiLling to pay what the V8 guys pay for HD engines.

Available from Ford Racing Performance Parts

Ford 2.3L Duratec - PN M-6007-PZEV $2600

Ford 2.0L USAC Midget engine - PN M-6007-USAC $6995

And you can still get 1.6L Kent blocks.

There's a 1992 Ford Festiva 1.2L for $50 on my local craigslist!

I know you can get a EJ257 long block (STi) new from Subaru. Even though it's four cylinders, I don't think it's exactly what you're looking four...

At the risk of sounding like a punchline (at least around here), how about a Miata engine? Great motor in N/A form and,. as we all know, it handles boost quite nicely too.

Metric Motors or VAC motorsports ought to be able to build a pretty hot M42/M44 hybrid.

You can take the 1.8L out to 2.1L, although 2.0L is more likely because of different crank availability.

MM has tunes for theres, so you could even use a stock M42 engine harness as well.

However, I think just the engine itself is about $8k.

I'm personally going over options for my e30. The one's that tickle my pickle so far (on a budget) are

1. Ford 302
2. KA24DE from a 240sx + turbo (hx35?)
3. junkyard LM7 (or similar) + ls1 intake crap + t5 tranny

but for me none of these would be crate motors... and none of them are particularly light weight

A local guy to me bought a bunch of "crate" Mazda KLDEs when a ford dealership was clearing out stock. Brand new, in boxes, ready to roll.