Honda 600 coupe: A tempting buy
 

There's a local CL ad for a pair of Honda 600 coupes, one parts, one complete but not running. At 1,312lbs curb, and a 2570sqin frontal area stock, it could be the ideal ecomodder car. I think I'd end up doing an engine swap, using a modern motorcycle engine. Depending on condition, I might just have to do some aeromods. ;)

600
 

Consider a full safety cage! I looked at one near here and after considering local traffic got scared off.I drove one in the Air Force,it belonged to a civilian contractor.The novelty wore off pretty fast and I don't remember that mpg was really that impressive.A modern water-cooled engine would be good.

Safety cage? Is the structure that flimsy?

And you're right, the stock mpg isn't impressive: 35mpg. But that's why I mentioned an engine swap. You know, it would be really cool to stuff a small diesel under the hood, ala Jack McCornack's MAX vehicle.

With 1300lbs of 1972 technology, I can't imagine it's much safer than an enclosed motorcycle. Cue the '59 Bel Air vs '09 Malibu crash test footage.

It's a heavy car for it's size, my parents have an N600 (sedan) and it feels pretty solid, loud but solid, sounds like an air cooled engine.
Thing is about the motorcycle engine swap is the honda engine is 36hp out of a 600cc engine, a motorcycle engine is going to have alot more power because it revs higher, it is also going to suck down the gas.

I was going to say that, motorcycle engines are not pinnacles of efficiency by any means. I like the idea of the small diesel. And honestly a cage is probably a good idea.

Safety schmafety, I always say. :thumbup:

Here's a thought: if you think something is going to hit you, get away from it instead.

It should get a wee diesel.

Kohler makes a nifty little Diesel engine series...

Kohler Engines: Kohler Diesel Liquid-Cooled: Series Landing: Engines

http://smallenginepower.com/catalog/c38_p1.html

Dave

Hmm, a small diesel powered 600 would have a certain charm. But seeing as these are 5-10 times the price of their gasoline counterparts, are there any lower-cost sources of small diesel engines? Used sailboat engines maybe?

The sailboat engine turn REALLY slow, like 900 rpm. and they are mega heavy, I helped install a Yanmar once, little 2 cyl, weighed like 800 lbs. They make them heavy to keep them quiet. On the other hand there are a lotof little diesel forklifts out there, but you'd have to find a road style throttle for them.

The most expensive of the Kohler engines is 7K cheapest about 3. Yea not for someone unless they are real serious. The question is , if the little 600 got 60MPG would it be worth it? Hmm. The old Bugs got about 35 with he old "40 horse" 1200 CC motor. (At least mine did in high school...)

Dave

Ya'll are definitely right about the motorcycle engine... I was only thinking about the broad rpm range and small displacement. A diesel, if I can find one at a decent price, would be great.

Used VW IDI diesels are about the cheapest out there, but they might be too big.

I'm gonna go look and see what the cars look like. The email I got back said that they were not in good shape.

What about putting a 3cyl metro engine and manual tranny in it? At better than 600lbs lighter than a metro and smaller frontal area, I should be able to pull 60+ mpgs easy.

the car in stock form should get 70mpg at 40ph and around 40mpg and 70mph, mostly due to it having a 3 speed transmission...
I would look in to fuel injection, you might be able to make the fuel injection from a metro work.

I have a kubota D600 out of a riding lawn mower 16 HP at 1 gallon per hour, if memory serves me right.

600 cc 3 cyl diesel.

Revs to 3k RPM.

regards
Mech

...doesn't the 600 have a "chain-drive" to the rear wheels? Or, am I thinking of a different Honda?

No, its FWD.

Maybe a Briggs and Stratton Vanguard?

:)

Dave

Chain drive but it's front wheel drive, the chain is fully enclosed and runs between the engine and the transmission, kind of like it's done on the Saab's.

...Thanks! that is what I thought, although I was obviously way off on front- versus rear-drive!

...I saw and rode in a 600 while stationed on Guam back in '66-'68, and later heard of the "woes" epeople encountered trying to bring them back to the 'States from Japan. California was one state that "banned" them from the highways--as I recall--because of their chain drive, which was deemed "not safe". Ironically, motorcycles aren't banned and THEY still use chain-drives.

I had to pass on this CL ad, but I'm still very intrigued by the car. Being a car with a rear axle rather than an independent suspension, it would be possible to even convert this to a hybrid. Cut and splice in a differential into the rear axle. Then mount an electric motor to the differential.

Or make into a eco-rodder by stuffing a Civic engine and tranny - with that weight, the hp to weight ratio would be make for a very quick car.

And still a very efficient one as well. :thumbup: