Engines to fit rascal gearbox

[AndyP]

Hi, Im sure this has been asked before but has anyone fitted another engine to a rascal gearbox before?
Ive been looking at different Suzuki engines and have heard hear says about the 1.3 Suzuki Swift engine possibly fitting?
Also has anyone tried or looked into fitting the engine and gearbox etc out of the new Suzuki 1.3 carrys into one of our vans? and whats involved?
Ive been mulling this over for some time, my better halfs van is starting to use a little oil now and to be honest the fuel consumption and lack of power has been a growing concern. Im not looking to make a mini road rocket with ridiculous speed capability, just something a little more economic and practical 
Cheers
Andy

[slowcoach]

Hi,

I read somewhere on a forum, might have been this one or another, that the 1.3 suzuki engine doesn't make that much sense as apparently the power is only slightly better and the fuel economy improvement is marginal also. Basically from what I could tell it is more trouble then its worth Im afraid 

[AndyP]

Thats a shame. I want to do alot of touring in my van and having driven it from Bognor Regis to Edinburgh and back amongst other places , I found it has very short legs and even crusing at 65mph it feels like the poor thing is being thrashed to death! Like I said im not looking to increase the speed, but to give it more power and to cruise more comfortably at a lower RPM 

[slowcoach]

Do you happen to be a Bambi owner? My maiden voyage with mine was the drive from Oban to London. I cruised the whole way at about 50 and as quite intimidating and embarrasing being the slowest vehicle on the Mxxx and A1, however strangely enough it actually felt like I was moving at about 65 so I didnt get restless as I do at anything less then 70 on a regular car on fast roads.

Luckily I find northern drivers noticably more patient and less aggressive. As soon as I got to about coventry I could feel the agro buildup behind me...

Just incase you heard about the reports of slow moving traffic on the radio, that was me. hehe.

[AndyP]

No I don't own a Bambi, though I wouldn't mind one. Id definitely have to change the engine if I owned one of those. We have a  Bedford van and a Vauxhall mini bus :-)

[Bryan]

If you get the 1.3 twin cam engine from the Swift GTi it will make a huge difference. This engine has 100bhp as standard. The engine also bolts directly to the newer Suzuki Carry 5 speed gearbox.

It still requires some surgery of the engine compartment but not that much considering. I'll have to power up my old laptop and get the link to the Auzzie build...

[AndyP]

Cheers Bryan  I look forward to having a good ole read of that 

[Bryan]

http://www.teammightyboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2744

There you go. Proof that it can be done.

I think that is one of the best engine conversions I have ever seen in a Rascal. Everyone else just hacks the body to peices to squeeze the engine in but that guy has taken his time and tilted the Swift GTi engine like the original one in order to fit it under the seats. Top class!