grassyknoll wrote:The Toyota 4age was put in the M90 prototype . It is such a close copy of the BDA, it even has the engine mounts in the same place.
There is a Plus 2 locally with the Toyota 4A-GE 4 valve TC and five speed combination. Fits very well. Mind you, I believe these are a much later engine. I did not know the motor mounts line up. The car here uses a specialty Spyder frame. It makes a really nice drivetrain, and is a very interesting ?What might have been?.
The owner has two Toyota engines available; I believe they are around 130 and 160 hp, although I can?t recall the specific details. I actually purchased his Stromberg TC as it was surplus to his project.
There is an interesting story on BaT about the actual M90 / X100 Prototype. One of the commentators mentioned the Toyota output was pretty similar to the older TC. Another person pointed out that it was undoubtedly cleaner, so there is that.
https://bringatrailer.com/2018/04/23/ch ... s-m90x100/What would have been great is a Tall Block TC, with the Crossflow Block and Lotus TC head. I imagine this never happened as they were working on the more modern engine for the Elite / Eclat /Esprit line?
Not a big deal if the whole Plus 2 drivetrain was being re-engineered, but I think the Pinto has the carb and exhaust sides reversed, As mentioned the engine is too tall anyway, but wasn?t the Pinto used with the T9 five speed? That would have been nice!
Cheers!
Stu