Help 404 wagon engine

[tassie frog]

I need to put a new engine in my 1966 404 wagon. Does anyone know what engines would suit?

[JohnT]

I need to put a new engine in my 1966 404 wagon. Does anyone know what engines would suit?

My observation is that 404 engines have worked well in 404s since 404 production began! A rebuilt 404 engine would probably be the cheapest and work best. A 504/505 engine is also good if you can find a good one.

If you want a sensible answer perhaps you might explain what you really want. Do you mean that you are interested to fit a modern engine of some sort?

In my opinion a Mazda MX5 engine would suit a 404 well but a lot of work would required to do a conversion. I have a 2nd hand 1600 MX5 motor and I would like to assess a conversion but finding time for such an exercises is difficult.

Sorry to be not very helpful.

Cheers

John T

[robmac]

My observation is that 404 engines have worked well in 404s since 404 production began! A rebuilt 404 engine would probably be the cheapest and work best. A 504/505 engine is also good if you can find a good one.

If you want a sensible answer perhaps you might explain what you really want. Do you mean that you are interested to fit a modern engine of some sort?

In my opinion a Mazda MX5 engine would suit a 404 well but a lot of work would required to do a conversion. I have a 2nd hand 1600 MX5 motor and I would like to assess a conversion but finding time for such an exercises is difficult.

Sorry to be not very helpful.

Cheers

John T

If you fit a 504/505 engine you will need to re-drill the existing flywheel to fit the new engine.

Binky did this very successfully. Do a search on his posts.

You car has the early fitchel and sachs clutch system. All later 404/504/505 have a diaphragm clutch , hence the change of flywheel.

404 engines are at 45 degrees. The bonnet height limits the engine choices. The engine bay is narrow.
The steering column and gear linkages cause grid lock with exhausts.

Unless you have time, money and skills re-drilling the flywheel and fitting a 504/504 engine will be by far the simplest.

If you want a bit more go, there was a 504TI , injection engine in the for sale section. They have a genuine 100hp at flywheel (when new). They drop straight in after you fit the re-drilled flywheel.
You would need to work out an air filter and fit the electric pump, change the fuel lines, plus mount some new bits under the bonnet. This is still easier than re-powering with a different manufacturers engine.

If you are stuck I have a goer 404 engine for free, in Melbourne but it is up to you to arrange pick up and shipping and pay my out of pocket costs for packing it up.

It's a late model, so the flywheel needs changing to fit. I could tie on to a pallet, in a old tyre.
There is no warranty on the engine but the car was driving OK when I collected from the other side of Melbourne.

PS: Just to confirm the clutch, tell us the gear lever "moves" to select reverse gear when sitting in the drivers. Away and up? ?

[tassie frog]

Yes I was particularly non specific- because I'm not sure what to do,
ideally I would put an original engine in it; but really I was looking for advice on different possibilities and how difficult it might be to find a 404 engine?

[tassie frog]

Yes away and up

[robmac]

Yes away and up

So it definitely has the older style gearbox c3.

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