metro engine question

For my senior project this year I decided to build a go-kart and put a metro engine on it to beef it up a little. I have already made the frame and everything but and having some troubles with the engine. I dont want the ECM on my go kart so I bought an old beetle carb of of ebay and with an adapterit will be my carb. However, I don't know what to do about the distributor because it also relys on the ECM. Any suggestions?

Also, I know that one cylinder has low compression and needs to be fixed but before I take it apart, is there any common problems with low compression. I figure that it is either piston rings or valves but am not sure.

Let us hope for your sake that the frame you made is strong enough!!!
Please explain ECM (what does this stand for?)
Also, a beetle carb is going to be WAY to big for the Geo engine, the carb probably came off of a 1300cc engine or bigger, and the Geo engine is under 1000cc displacement!

Originally posted by 2strokebloke
Let us hope for your sake that the frame you made is strong enough!!!
Please explain ECM (what does this stand for?)
Also, a beetle carb is going to be WAY to big for the Geo engine, the carb probably came off of a 1300cc engine or bigger, and the Geo engine is under 1000cc displacement!

electronic control module.

Yeah,
ECM = Computer

I found this website on someone who did almost the same thing but I dont know where he got his distributor. I've heard that if I connect the positive battery to one end and negative to the other of the distributor, it'll work. Has anybody else heard this?

oh yeah, here's the website.

http://ttt-ranch.net/ttt-discoverer/geo_modifications.html

Yeah, he got the distributor from a 91 Geo metro,any 91 or earlier should work. (maybe even a Chevy Sprint)

So 91 or earlier metro distributors do not have a connector wire that connects to the computer? Is there a way that I can just use mine now without a computer?

I have no idea, because I'm not a Geo expert, but I don't think that pre 91 distributor should be too hard to find, also the carb he is using is not a stock VW carb, it looks like it's part of a dual-carb upgrade kit for VW's and is actually smaller than the stock VW carb.

dude!! dont use a geo!!!! the engine is heavy and gut less. its built fore fule economy. use a bug motor there cheeper, more realiable, good gass miles, easy to work on, lighter. more power no radeator, and parts are every where.:twak:

If it's got low compression, it most likely needs a valve job. They have a bad habit of burning valves on the SOHC 3 cylinders. A 3cyl turbo motor would probably be your best bet for a go-kart motor. small, light, and 100Ft-Lb's of torque. You can pick one up from a junk yard for fairly cheap.

There were certain models of Metros that were built in Canada, that had the older style of distributors and they didn't require an ECM to operate it. Mine is one of those. It has the old style of vacuum advance. As far as carburation? Hmmmmmm, I think three side draft carburators from a Honda 750 street bike would be awesome. I think if you get the LSI engine, it'll have plenty of spunk for a go-kart

BTW, 2strokebloke.....cool pics of the little Subaru on your post there. Those are cool little cars. I seen a couple of those in the past. They're extremely rare now and make a good collectors item.

if you get a intake off a JDM engine some of them came with a carb. if you get a distributor off a 91 or older with vacuum advance it does not need the computer to work. the stock metro engine puts out 55hp, thats probably more than you need for a go cart, engines weighs 125 pounds complete with oil. you will need to rig up a radiator with electric fan. the jdm engines run about $300-350 and most places sell them with a warrenty

What causes them little boogers to burn valves, anyhow? Is it because of a bad lifter design? These are hydraulic lifters, aren't they?

What causes them little boogers to burn valves, anyhow? Is it because of a bad lifter design? These are hydraulic lifters, aren't they?

The EGR passages clog up with carbon and the #3 cylinder is the first to go.

The Holley Bug Spray should work fine if jetted properly, but a popular mod is to use motorcycle carbs.

All Geo Metro cars except the convertible that was made in Japan and part of one year in California, were assembled in Canada and as stated the '91 and earlier cars used a vacuum advance distributor.

Not to detract from this forum, check out http://www.teamswift.net/index.php

Mine doesn't have an EGR. Would it still be as prone to valves burning as the ones with?

i run across just as many metros without EGR valves that still have burned valve so not sure thats the culprit

most metros did not have a EGR valve until 91 or later depending where they were made for, i have a lot of non EGR manifolds off US cars. i have got the JDM engines both ways. the JDM engines also came with carbs and EFI depending on year they were made. i think its just the heads and valves wear enought that they just eventually burn a valve. i have checked several out and even the intakes are a little warped and not sealing as well as they could. lot of people think that a piece falls out of the exhaust valve but a piece is actually burned out like if you used a torch, hence the "burned" valve. if guide wears the valve will move slightly and eventualy build up deposits or carbon and not close tightly and allow enough hot gas to escape that it will erode valve and then burn it