Choosing the Right Engine for a Build

What can you spend

I usually start here as most people do not have a quarter million dollars to spend building a car. Determining your budget is the most important thing. A good rule of thumb is to double whatever you think this number is! Unless an existing kit is on the market you will have to do a lot of fabrication and developmental work. Not cheap!

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The famous LS

If you want to make great power on the cheap, it is almost impossible to beat this motor. Dollar per horsepower the LS is tough to match. They are light, reliable, produce great amounts of torque and can be found anywhere from Craigslist to junk yards. It’s difficult to imagine a true enthusiast who doesn’t love this motor.

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Packaging

When it comes to picking the right engine the physical space you have to work with is a major factor. Some simply won’t fit in the space you have to work with. John Hartley’s V8 uses two motorcycle engines joined by a custom crankshaft to created a motor that can produce up to 500 horsepower in one of the smallest packages on the market.

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Weight

The physical size of a motor has a huge impact on performance. For a build where lap times matter you want your center of gravity to be low and tucked behind the front axle. In a front engine, rear wheel drive car this is what’s referred to as front engine mid ship layout. Rotary engines are a great example of a tiny engine that can be placed well and it is common to see motorcycle engines swapped into light weight hill climb cars. A heavy iron block mounted high up is an instant performance killer.

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Class rules

If you’re building a race car from the ground up you’ll want to consider what is legal for your class and how much power you’re going to need to be competitive. Choosing the right engine is about more than being different. It’s about what has been done and proven at the race track. Reliable power is king.

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Final thoughts

All in all, picking the right engine is about balancing weight, class rules, cost and packaging. The LS, 2JZ and RB have become extremely popular, but there are other great engines out there if you do some digging!

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For help with service of your car, check out the how to section of LS1Tech.com