Hi, I just registered here although have been reading as a guest for a while.


In my younger years, I worked on my own cars but these days I don't have the time or the garage space. I would like to have a car that is a bit a of sheep in wolf's clothing - a sleeper. I'm thinking something like a Fiesta, perhaps the new model but a base model - nothing flash. Understated all the way. Something Grandad would be seen in. However, I'm thinking something like a Duratec 2.3 engine swap with a moderate level of tuning plus very good handling, brakes, etc.


Actually, I own a new model Ford Ka right now so that's an option as the project car too but it seems to me that the engine options are quite limited? A Puma engine might squeeze in but would that be worth the effort?


By the way, if anyone wants to ask, 'Why not just buy a standard factory performance car?', please don't bother... If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.


Can anyone suggest a company or individual who has a lot of experience with projects like this who can deliver a reliable, safe and driveable car to handle the power? Heck, you can suggest yourself too! As for budget... Well, I can see that that any given project can consume any given budget but I'm looking for value for money at a reasonable cost.



Zarty

 

i would still buy the performance model but make that better
look for the car you want and the engine you like and go from there
you roll up for a place and say you want any car and a good lump and they make give lip service btu no realy work can be done until you tell them what you want, especially if you roll up in a new ka

or do it the easy way and get a focus rs and fit standard bumpers and bits
or a standard focus and a donor frs or fst and chuck it all in
if you want to spend Ł20k+ send it to a1 for a rwd cossie set up

 

the new ford ka model? no offense but isn't that shape very similar or based on the fiat 500?

it would be awesome to see someone uprate a new ka. the past model has been modified to a big extent like focus rs turbo engine etc.

i've seen under the bonnet of the new ones and for the space i think a 2.3 duratec would be a massive squeeze! especially considering the gearbox you have to put in there as no doubt the standard box wouldn't take it!

if its true that the new ka is actually a fiat 500 underneath wouldn't it be good to see if you can find an abarth engine maybe? just a thought! be quite a sleeper that!

but if you want to stick with a ford engine its probably best to consider looking into new engine looms etc.

i don't think there are many or any tuners that have touched the new ka yet. well not that i am aware of. but i'm sure some decent tuner or engine swapping specialist can take their time with it. just depends on what you would like done within the time you have?

 

No offense taken! Yes, the new Ford Ka is built in the same factory as the new Fiat 500 actually. You know, this might sound kind of perverse but one of the reasons I like my new shape Ford Ka is that I get so much disrespect on the road. Yes, it's slow and had poor brakes but it's not as slow as it looks and I have fun with it...especially on B roads. For some reason, a lot of 'drivers' get mad if a Ford Ka overtakes them! It got me thinking that I could have a heap more fun with it if it had some serious go-forward! Oh yeh, I've owned a Ford Cossie and other performance cars in the past but I just don't like being seen in 'sporty' looking cars these days - people see you coming and it attracts the wrong kind of attention.

I know the new Ka is probably not the way forward though - not least because nobody seems to have used it for engine transplants yet. I'm open minded, if I could make a sporty model (eg. Focus RS) look like a base model, I might do that. However, the basic design of the Focus is still essentially sporty looking even on a base model. It's just not frumpy enough.

By the way, I was considering buying a Honda Jazz that was up for sale with a supercharged K20 Honda engine. Looked fairly standard from the outside and quite understated. I missed out on that one. I'm still considering that option. The Jazz has those flip down rear seats so very practical too. I see lots of retired fold driving Jazz's so it really does fit the image I'm trying to build.

Zarty

 

I think that a Honda Jazz with a K20 would be fun, but with a properly built/mapped turbo or supercharged K20 it would be an absolute riot.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Buy my Volvo, job done lol

 

really?

Tbh mate what you actually put made me think you was an ebay nigerian scammer! Western union yes!?

 

Simple price up a fiat 500 abarth ss 1.4 turbo engine and running gear, 180bhp they even use bigger brakes too maybe find a write off.

From what i have read the new ka is more fiat than ford so without severe fab work a duratec of any sort wont fit.

 

sheep in wolf's clothing?

 

Gotta love a sleeper. As said, you could abarth your KA, but an engine swap would be a winner. Relatively straightforward on a mk6 fiesta (previous shape) i'd start with an ST and change the bumpers to poverty spec items, fit steels and remove the spoiler, change the seats etc. then you could turbo or supercharge it. About 5k for a nice example of the car (need red or black really) then you can drive in and out of a tuners with the engine mods.

 

Gotta love a sleeper. As said, you could abarth your KA.

But an engine swap would be a winner. Relatively straightforward on a mk6 fiesta (previous shape). However, i'd start with an ST and change the bumpers to poverty spec items, fit steels and remove the spoiler, change the seats etc. then you could turbo or supercharge it. About 5k for a nice example of the car (need red or black really) then you can drive in and out of a tuners with the engine mods, such as Jamsport etc.

(edited to make sense)

 

Just buy an Arbarth and tune it ?

And one thing you cannot forget. Emissions and MOT rules for such a new vehicle could get tricky for engine swaps. Something you need to bare in mind if it's to remain road legal.

And if using your daily driver for a conversion...dont forget it will leave you with no car for months !

 

Nothing wrong with wanting a sleeper.