A lot of guys make bastardised mongrel motors out of different Honda bits and pieces - a 2.4 litre bottom end out of a CRV mixed with the VTec head from an S2000 makes a wicked four cylinder that, once set up and tuned nicely, can crank out 260-280 horsepower all day long naturally aspirated. Plus they're fairly compact and nice and lightweight.
Problem is, seeing as it's a VTec, you'll have to start wearing sideways baseball caps and saying 'yo' and 'brah' a lot. You'll also need to install at least 7 subwoofers in your buggy.
I'm liken Chris more every dayMan love?
What exactly is the layout of the car you are proposing? Front engine rear drive? If you are trying to do rear or mid engine with rear drive, the length of any setup is to long IMO. There are cars built that way but they are longer drag race type cars and not as manuverable, and not well suited for topping dunes, etc. I also don't know what terrain your targeting.I have several of those setups sitting around.If you want I'll measure one tomorrow. They are commonly called a PG Shortie. Put kevlar frictions in and you have a bullet proof PG. No need to spend big bux either. All you need is a good full manual valve body such as a TCI,a GOOD converter,a KILLER cooler and you have it. Get any auto tranny hot and it's all over.Still too long overall for your need tho. I'd estimate approx 22" lng tho. Let me know if you want the measurement.
In the drag race world, a super common setup is any motor coupled to a powerglide 2 speed that has no tail shaft just an adapter, then a splined coupler is used between the tranny and the solid mounted 3rd member. This setup is about as short as you can get with an OE tranny and rearend setup, but is still two long IMO for an agile car. I would estimate it is 30" from the front of the tranny to the axle centerline. Fabr could give us the actual number. Hint Hint.
IMO either of the motors you mentioned would work well with an 091 bus tranny, Adapters would be readily available for either. Then you would have a common and very upgradeable transaxle while keeping the car proportions very well in line.
After rereading some of your posts, I may be way out of line with the direction of my response, but physical packaging was always the downfall of any nontraditional drivetrain ideas that I came up with.
The width will suck also.
i dont understand why you woudnt just mount in normally and use the axles to your wheels? why do you want to tunr it sideways and run to another diff? whats the point? whats the advantage, orther than working for a logging company? lol jk.. it seems like way more work, worse end results... why?
he said it came out to like a 7.4 or something.. that is insane!!! log hauler....
Take a peek :o at a Dodge Neon SRT4. 5 speed manual, equal length half-shafts, limited slip diff (2004-2005), and available at wreckers/Ebay. With bolt on :'s, 400 WHP is achievable! :)