Libidinous enthusiasm?? What kind of acid are you on? Vice, fetish, whimsy, lust, fruits; sounds like someone needs to get laid. We want to hear about the cars, tell us why these parts work so well, show us cutaways and technical specs, not this load of bovine droppings.Chris DriverLynchburg, VA
Love Letter of the MonthI just finished reading Wangan Assault. Oh my word, what an article. Jared, I must say, that was one of the most captivating articles I have read in several years of reading SCC. Thank you for delivering a phenomenal chunk of literary work so desperately needed in today's media. Not only did we get to relive the story through your eyes, we also get the added joy of the photos you took. Too bad you might have kept some of the best ones for yourself.John DudenhoefferSt. Louis, MO
Dear DaveTheStreetDirect "Dear Dave" tech letters to dave@eyesoreracing.com. Coleman will share mind-numbing details, earth-shattering revelations and technical nerdisms in this space each month.Can you stump the geek?
FestibusaI have a question regarding putting an engine from a Suzuki Hayabusa into a Ford Festiva. First, is it possible? Or better put, what would need to be done to make it work? I take it that I wouldn't have A/C or an alternator or a water pump because I have never seen accessories bolted to a motorcycle engine. I'm also assuming that this means that I will need to downgrade to manual brakes and steering.
I plan on bolting it to my Festiva 5-speed. I know that I will need an adapter made. I also want to know who the hell makes tachometer that goes up to 13,000 rpm, cause I sure as hell can't find one.
Alright, last question. When looking at SCC's article about swapping a B6T engine into a Festiva, I noticed that the car had a coil-over suspension and I was wondering where I could locate one?Alex LaughlinApple Valley, MN
Your project is doomed, but not for any of the reasons you suggest. Most of your concerns are easily overcome, but you seem completely unfazed by your plan's most fundamental problem, which suggests to me that you've never really looked at a Hayabusa engine.
Let's attack your problems in order:
A/C: No, you can't have A/C. Roll down the windows.
Alternator: Motorcycles have lights, so clearly they are able to generate power. Typically they have generators instead of alternators. The difference is DC vs. AC, but beyond that I'm not the one to tell you how they work. Electrons scare me. The reason you don't see them spinning on the ends of drive belts like you do on cars is that bike accessories tend to be attached directly to the crank or driven internally by the timing chains. Belts have a nasty way of snagging on your pants.
Water Pump: Hayabusas have radiators, and the water doesn't just get sweet talked into going through them. There is a water pump. Again, drive is internal.
Manual brakes: Power brakes are driven by engine vacuum. Hayabusas have throttles, so they generate engine vacuum just like Festivas do. You might have to drill and tap the manifold to hook up the vacuum line, but if you're qualified to do this engine swap, you should be able to handle a vacuum line.
Power Steering: You're right, it would be too hard to find a power steering pump that could handle the rev range of a Hayabusa and even harder to connect it to the engine. With such a light front end, there's no reason a 'busa-powered Fester would need power steering anyway.
Adaptor Plate: Ahhh, let's get back to that one.