CAT diesel for a Festiva/

[CharlieZ]

I'm posting this as "idea material" for the guys interested in diesel power for their Festiva.
This is a 3 cyl. Caterpillar diesel in a Fiat X19 listed on Ebay. Impressinve MPG figures.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-FIAT-X-19-BERTONE-DIESEL-28-HORSE-POWER_W0QQitemZ190331002149QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item2c509c9d25&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

[GenevaDirt]

pretty cool....would be fun to have

[Pu241]

I just don't think 28Hp is going to cut it in our cars.
Due mostly to wind resistance of our beloved "brick".
Even the first VW rabbits 1.6L 4 cylinder diesels gave use 48HP.
Still nice commuter at 70 MPG and WVO conversion/blend easily done.

[scout800]

I always thought one of those motors would be cool in a car they are made to be put in power units on trucks so you dont have to run the big diesel so you can have heat and ac though. They had one in the showroom at Cat dealer I always looked at it and thought how cool that would be in a car someone beat me to the punch.

[blkfordsedan]

I just don't think 28Hp is going to cut it in our cars.
Due mostly to wind resistance of our beloved "brick".
Even the first VW rabbits 1.6L 4 cylinder diesels gave use 48HP.
Still nice commuter at 70 MPG and WVO conversion/blend easily done.

Depends on what RPM it develops 28HP. If it's 28Hp @ 2500RPM or something like that then it's probably as much as a B3 and would cruise on the highway fine......as long as your willing to accept 0-60MPH in 30 seconds! In High School, I had a 1959 Ford F250 4X4 that had a 6Cyl diesel out of a Ford 6000 tractor and a 3 speed w/overdrive from a '60 Ford Galaxie. It had a governor set @ 2000 rpm and was only rated at like 60HP. It would cruise all day at 60MPH and make 23 to 25 MPG. It just took it a half mile to get to 60MPH! My dad used to install 4cyl Perkins diesels (irrigation motors) into full size pickups back in the '70s as well.

I think the 3cyl CAT would be sweet with a small turbo and 5 speed Aspire trans in a Festiva!

[big_ty2003]

maybe you could turbo it and get 35-40hp

[Banana Bonanza]

I agree, you arent going to sell a non-turbo diesel in America. Nobody anymore would put up with it except diehard cheapskates and us diehard cheapskates dont buy new cars...

Even the old Oldsmobile 350 diesel from 70s and early 80s was slow as all get out when you were accelerating. Back when I was married, my wife bought a non-turbo diesel Volvo with automatic from friend of hers. I told her it was expensive dog, but she insisted. Boy it was slow. Lasted all of 3 months before blowing head gasket. $100 just for the gasket and it needed a complete rebuild. Even she didnt suggest we repair it. After divorce I needed a car and put Dodge slant six out of a rusted old Dodge pickup I had into it. That was a good match. Called it my Volvo Valiant.

[Banana Bonanza]

Reminded me of the 10hp Metro http://www.utterpower.com/10hp_chevy.htm Who needs 28hp? Gotta love the engine sticking up out of the hood.

[skeeters_keeper]

curb weight on that fiat is 2315lbs... a little turbo on that cat engine, a 500lb lighter car, and it would be a great commuter!

[Festiva_tunner]

Only problem is the height of this motor will give you little ground clearence - they are good little motors though

[odiekokee]

just add the turbo from a 1.8t VW.....maybe?