Introductions and something some might consider insane

[sans-pareil]

There are alot of SM bodies without engine about, I have at least eight, and can pick up more for free. The maserati engine is just not a legend of reliability. In the past, many SM's were converted to DS engines. The car loses 60hp, gains about 150kg, and almost no one has managed to make engine mounts for a DS in SM that don't transmit a huge amount of vibration.

I agree that SM's really ought to have a maserati engine. Truth is though, it has a fearsome reputation for problems. There are many more SM's than there are people who want to have one, so finding an SM isn't hard, getting it complete and into very good running order is something else.

[JP]

In theory any engine could be made reliable by manufacture of custom components. It all comes down to how deep ones pockets are. But if the gearbox is no good then no point.

Had a long thought about this and I think it'll be interesting to try and make the I5 engine run in reverse as your solution.

Starter motor engagement. Pistons and rod configuration tweak, vernier chain pulleys to dial in cams (although I'd have to look more carefully at that as I think it actually has to be a different grind). And need to reconfigure the timing belt arrangement.

Definitely not an impossible task to do piston design is easy, rod configuration too. Bit of thought has to go into the cams and some fabrication for starter motor and timing belt setup.

[JP]

Just had a thought need to figure something out with the oil pump. Water pump, and ancillaries too.

[veneto rs2]

There are alot of SM bodies without engine about, I have at least eight, and can pick up more for free. The maserati engine is just not a legend of reliability. In the past, many SM's were converted to DS engines. The car loses 60hp, gains about 150kg, and almost no one has managed to make engine mounts for a DS in SM that don't transmit a huge amount of vibration.

I agree that SM's really ought to have a maserati engine. Truth is though, it has a fearsome reputation for problems. There are many more SM's than there are people who want to have one, so finding an SM isn't hard, getting it complete and into very good running order is something else.

Point taken then, agree with you on this after your explanation.

Am I wrong or in this case to have a 5pots turbo engine with automatic tranny Volvo will be much easier to fit on then?

5 IL Turbo
237bhp to 261bhp
Transverse mounted
Automatic box available

Stefano

[sans-pareil]

Oil pump, timing chain, turning pistons round, different cams for the other direction and so on are all possible, if expensive. With an automatic I'm concerned about the torque converter. It's designed to be more efficient in one direction than the other. Having a torque convertor made for opposite direction seems difficult. Perhaps the original torque converter is then an option, but it means converting the audi i5 to take the citroen torque convertor, then converting the audi automatic to take the citroen torque convertor. That makes a list of cams, oil pump, timing belt, starter, ancilliaries, conversion of i5-> citroen tc, conversion gearbox-> citroen tc. It's alot of conversions for something that can be achieved by turning the diff round. The main obstacle to turning a diff round would be the size of the casing. If all of the above (uncertain result) conversions can be avoided by having a larger diff case machined out of a solid block of aluminium... there's only one bit of "newness" to worry about. Machining something that size is expensive, but more expensive than all those engine conversions and hours of getting the engine to go the other way? Especially since it would be a good moment to mount a quaife limited slip diff to deal with some of that extra power.

[sans-pareil]

All wonderful... except for the transversre mounting, SM is lengthwise, that's why audi came up...

[veneto rs2]

All wonderful... except for the transversre mounting, SM is lengthwise, that's why audi came up...

Lol me....

[fendent]

Now that is an interesting read so far. I wish you good luck and please post pictures once you start the conversion. The poeple here are mostly open minded. This project is quite off the usual tracks. There are experienced mechanics that might find your project a welcomed change for the brain.

[spink]

Offhand i cant think of another car that has the same layout as an SM(box at front of car,see pic)

At least some,maybe all post 1997 porsche gearboxes have the same bolt pattern as audi engines so if you got one out of a auto(tip) boxster or 911 you have that problem solved,no reversing engines/torque converters etc.Only problem could be the length of audi engine compared to the maserati lump,you may find it pokes through the dashboard.On the other hand you would be able to change the timing belt while sat in the front seats

i would scrap the idea of an s4/s6 box they weigh **** loads,maybe over 100kg(i certainly couldnt pick one up the other day)

[Acidburn]

i would scrap the idea of an s4/s6 box they weigh **** loads,maybe over 100kg(i certainly couldnt pick one up the other day)

seriously? I managed to get that one of yours out the back of the car and around the other day. Not sure on the weight, more than a 5 speed tho.....

[spink]

seriously? I managed to get that one of yours out the back of the car and around the other day. Not sure on the weight, more than a 5 speed tho.....

thats a manual u tit

[Acidburn]

[martinjs]

[spink]

yeah i think the manuals are about 60-70kg but those autos are mahoosive

[mcandmar]

All this talk of SM's has reminded me of these videos...

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/super-cars/citroen-sm/

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/segment/under-the-hood/citroen-sm-update/