Ooooo - yes please!!

[jonathan_dyane]

With regard to Alfa engines, there was a lad local to me who had a much-butchered Ami Super which had been fitted with the Alfa engine and box, although IMHO it was a bit of a rough job. That said, it did seem to work...

[andmcit]

Of course being aircooled and designed to be oil temperature critical/dependent on the original fitment,
any alternative watercooled engine will have serious consequences on the engine bay; you just can't decide
one doesn't need a water jacket for cooling any more!

Guess I'll just have to look for an aircoold Porsche 911 flat 6...

Any more extra weight out front would totally bugger up the sharpness I so adore on the G too.
My head has been dizzy with all this for years! I know my mates couldn't shake off my 1220 SuperConfort
(what a name!!) in the twisties in their XRsomething i!!

Andrew

[jonathan_dyane]

If it helps, having manhandled both the G and Subaru engines, I have to say the Subaru one didn't feel particularly heavier. That said, obviously the need for a radiator is a bit of a bugger.

I have heard of people machining VW barrels to fit the G block, but I think if you go this route you're likely to end up with a somewhat temperamental and extremely thirsty engine.

[Peter.N.]

They didn't make a diesel one though

[Dean]

A flat four air cooled diesel?...that would sound like a skeleton playing the drums in a biscuit tin

[Peter.N.]

They used to have some air cooled buses down here, you dare not drive close behind them for fear of being deafened.

Peter

[jonathan_dyane]

Oh God, if their were a suitable flat four engine I'd be right in there! I did once muse on the practicality of fitting the donkey engine from a freezer van, but the difficulty with gear ratios put me off, aside from other considerations such as noise and suchlike.

Perhaps the XUD would just fit if modified to work 'lying down' like in the old VW Transporter diesel

[minijet]

.

A flat four air cooled diesel?...that would sound like a skeleton playing the drums in a biscuit tin

.

[citroenxm]

Subaru have just launched a FLAT 4 DERV, in the latest legacy!

Ok so its water cooled, but its a flat 4!

Paul

[robert_e_smart]

I did once muse on the practicality of fitting the donkey engine

You don't want to do that! They're noisey as hell. We use them to power hydraulic pumps on ejector trailers at work. They are a real noisey bandit.