Stand alone engine 150+ HP

[amorrison]

Some vehicle engines now(2012) require four computers to operate properly. A custom wiring harness is $$$$.
How far back in time does one have to go to find an engine that can be made to operate "stand alone" for low dollars.
Require 150+ HP ( V6 ?).
Thanks.

 

[MikeHalloran]

I once worked on some engine modules that are rented in quantity for generating power or pumping stuff into/out of ships.

Said modules comprised one Deutz air-cooled Diesel engine with mechanical fuel injection, air start, and a fuel tank all mounted in a tube frame that made them easy to handle and stack. No electrical parts whatsoever. Attach a pump or generator to the flywheel, start 'em up, and just keep putting fuel in the tank.

I don't think you could make a new one today, because current emissions requirements pretty much demand computers.




Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[TheBlacksmith]

My guess would be late 70's early 80's depending on the manufacturer. I had a 1977 GM car with a 305 cu in V-8 that used a carburator and high energy (self contained)ignition.

 

[ivymike]

Call your Perkins dealer, or look for used industrial engines.

 

[patprimmer]

If you have some fabricating skills you should be able to make almost any engine run with no computers. You need to adapt a magneto and a carburettor if it's spark ignition.

If it's a diesel, you just need pre common rail I think or adapt an old fashioned MFI system.



Regards
Pat
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[izzmus]

I seem to recall some newer vehicles with the engine controller mounted to the engine itself. The only hurdle there is CAN.

Assuming that the application is a vehicle and not a stationary application, GM V6s in the cheaper cars did not go full CAN until (relatively) recently, require only the engine controller, are relatively simple wiring-wise, and meet the power goal with ease.

 

[BigClive]

It is not uncommon in Oz to see the big Ford straight six SOHC EFI engines being used on the road and speedway with carburetors in place of the throttle body and the older model non-computer distributor.
I have actually used an engine like this myself in a stationary application.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

1929??

 

[patprimmer]

I have seen plenty of Falcon inline sixes raced with carbies including triple Webber set ups, but I can't say I ever saw a MPFI engine converted to carbys unless class rules dictated it. I am not saying it does not happen, just that I never saw it and I see a fair bit.

Regards
Pat
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[izzmus]

If you're converting to a carburetor and distributor, the sky's the limit. I've seen one enterprising individual stick a distributor on the timing case of a 32v Ford, driving directly off of the end of one of the cams.

 

[GregLocock]

I'm tempted to ask why bother, stick a megasquirt on a modern engine.

However assuming you really do want an unmodified SI engine that runs without a computer, very early smogged engines often ran horrible carbs covered in vac pipes, and electronic (no contact breaker/rotor arm) distributors.

So that's be late 70s early 80s.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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[LionelHutz]

It depends on the manufacturer.

There are some new engines you can still convert to a distributor and carb.

Which manufacturer is using 4 computers for the engine? Typically, there are multiple computers in the car, but only one is used for the engine controls.

I've converted a number of wiring harnesses for stand-alone operation. Just requires the wiring diagrams and time. The ability to re-program the computer helps too.