Hi,

Just found this group. Looks interesting so I thought I'd introduce
what I am doing.

I'm in the planning stages of building a fuel injected 2.0ltr twin
cam 16v Locost using a Rover 820 as the donor producing around 150bhp.

Although the Rover 820 is front wheel drive, I achieve a rear drive
configuration using an LT77 Rover 5-speed g'box mated to the engine
via a Sherpa van bell housing and engine end plate.

The Rover 820 series engines are externally identical to the O2
series engine in the Sherpa so using standard parts from the Rover
parts bin does the trick.

Sherpa parts required are
* bell housing
* flywheel/clutch
* hydraulic clutch slave, fulcrum etc
* starter motor
* engine end plate complete with ignition pickup sensor
* gear box ?

2.0ltr petrol Sherpa vans post '86 D-reg are suitable and are readily
available. Don't go for a 1.7ltr by mistake, that uses the old 'o'
series engine from the Ital which is not compatible with the Rover
engines. You can recognise the 2.0ltr because the starter motor is on
the left (near side) whereas the 1.7 is on the right.

You can use a Sherpa gearbox in which case the gear lever extension
needs swapping with one from a saloon car (or TR7 is possible) BUT
importantly the gear ratios for 1st and 2nd are not so good.

The best thing is that the 820 Rover is an untapped resource so far
as kit cars go so process reflect that. I got a 'J' plate low mileage
complete car for £275 but I had offers for early cars around £150.

The early Rover 820's Mi16 engine came in single and multi point
injection form. The former denoted by the 'e' suffix i.e. 820e. It's
25 bhp less than the multipoint.

Late models had a refined T series model which I went for. It's free
reving and very smooth.

I am attempting to utilise steering wheel/shaft/controls, wiring
loom, peddle box assembly etc from the donor. An adjustable steering
column Locust with airbag!

I'll know soon what chassis mods will be required to fit this largish
engine lump into the Locost. It may fit a standard bay but it's
looking tight on paper.

I considered a K series engine using a bell housing from Frontline
Spridgets Ltd mated to a Ford Type-9 g'box but this option is very
expensive as custom clutch/bell housing/starter exceed my budget.

Reply if you find this of interest or take this off-line to
roger@....

Roger