Which lightweight N/A V6 or H6 to choose?
 

Hi,

I want a naturally aspirated engine that is as light as possible and as short (front to back) as possible. The ability to mount the engine as far rearward as possible is important to me for weight distribution also.

For ease of fitting, I have these requirements:

- Port injection (aftermarket ECU will be used)
- Little to no major work required to get it in there

I want a very rev-happy engine that makes good power and doesn't necessarily need to be torquey.

The engines I'm looking at:

Subaru EZ30R - I absolutely loved this engine in my Liberty (aka Legacy). The power delivery and sound of these engines with good headers and exhaust are awesome.

EZ30R Pros:
- Inherently balanced
- Beautiful exhaust note
- Seems to bolt up to factory gearbox
- Easy to mount

EZ30R Cons:
- H6 engine layout restricts the amount it can be moved rearward due to steering column interference. Bad for weight distribution.

Toyota 2GR-FE - A bit torquier. Not as nice sound IMO.

2GR-FE Pros:
- V6 layout probably allows more rearward mounting while clearing steering column.

2GR-FE Cons:
- Requires more expensive ECU with quad VVT control
- Need to grind block webbing to get starter motor in
- Probably requires custom bellhousing


Are there other worthy engines that I'm missing?

No interest in an LS motor?

Synergy V8

I'm no expert in this but according to your pros and cons list, why not just do the engine you love with the EZ30R? You already are familiar with it and it'll bolt to the gearbox w/ minimal issues.

No. I've had a few powerful cars but want to buy an 86 and put a light and short (front to back) 6 cylinder NA engine in it, something that won't be hugely fast on the track so it's good on brakes, fuel and tyres. Also I plan to keep it for my children to use down the track both on the road and the track so I don't want them in something too fast at a very young age. I just want a light car with great weight distribution that needs to be worked hard for the fun factor! I'm a bit over big power cars at the moment.

I may end up just sticking with the FA20 and getting an ACE CS400 header with a custom exhaust and tune. I feel that this won't quite be enough for what I want.

:wub: I wish. I certainly don't have the budget for that!

I'm leaning that way but just wondering if there are any different motors that I've forgotten.

The Dream :drool:

The Contour 2.5 SVT Cosworth V6..... Really sweet motor in its day!

LS or built FA20 for what you said your goals are. Anything else seems like a waste of time and effort, let alone cost.

Agreed with Summerwolf. A stock FA20 with drop-in filter + header + tune and/or e85 and a good oil cooler will accomplish most of what you're looking for. This will get you over 200 WHP reliably.

If you want more power reliably, any supercharge kit with CARB tune + tune + oil cooler. Stay under 300 WHP and 250 TQ if unless you want to upgrade the clutch. Get a catch can in either case.

Forged internals are nice, but not required for either of the above.

Spend the rest on tires + pads + fluid + camber bolts and you're good for years.

Mazda 1.8l K8-DE

Hmmmmmm... Lightweight, rev happy, makes a good noise, not too powerful, able to be mounted far back

=

13b ROTARY!!!


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Principal problem with fitting any v6 is height.

Subaru ez30 is your best bet.

Starter is on the wrong side but it can be addressed.

The first Gen ez30 motor with single port exhaust sucks.

Second Gen is nice.

It will be as heavy as an LS1.

Honestly though, if you want the v6 feel with less than 300 hp and Rev happy, just supercharge the FA20 and forget about the rest.

A swap will generate large headaches. Many of them.

The EZ30 will not fit any further aft than the FA20. The reason the FA sits so far forward is the steering column. That can't be moved aft either.

V engines can be pushed aft and in line engines even more so.

A 3sGE BEAMS motor with a GTX28-anything will do the job you want, but it's an I4. Despite being iron block, it is lighter than the FA20. The FA20 is a sickeningly heavy 4 banger. The 3s is an 86x86 i4, 11.5:1 and NA BHP of 209. It'll make more than 300 on a gt30-anything at 9 PSI. Expect to spend 1500 on motor and box. Port injection only.

If you have money there's been some speculation on Honda j or c series. The c series is a 90 degree and the exhaust note from the 4v heads is awesome. The J sounds like ... well ... a Honda v6. And it's probably too tall.

For your goals with the car as far as a medium power fairly reliable platform you might want to consider doing a small turbo or a supercharger setup. That'll put you right in the sweet spot of enough power to have fun with but not so much that you're constantly getting in trouble and you won't have to be sourcing replacement parts for a custom setup down the road.

3.6 h6 variocam? (Porsche engine). I mean if money is no issue lol