Why would someone buy a car with a sewing machine engine but then want to spend money to soop it up?
by 
j-man
ANSWERS: 3
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To compete in a class with a smaller displacement limit, possibly. . For lower fuel consumption with improved performance, also. . Remember the two Deusenberg Brothers. They both built cars but each with his own philosophy. One favored small displacement, high compression engines with performance at high Horsepower per unit of displacement ratios, usually using forced aspiration and high compression. The other favored large displacement engines with less dramatic compression and natural aspiration. Their competition was fierce. . Perhaps the strategy to by a small engine and then improve its performance takes after the first example mentioned above, but they should be cautioned that improved performance on the top end might result in excessive wear and premature failure of the bottom end.
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If by "sewing machine engine" you mean the Japanese "Kei" cars, then you obviously have never raced anything that has the snappy response of a go-kart. When you have a small, lightweight vehicle, you get a certain thrill you CANNOT get with larger, heavier vehicles. To illustrate this point, strap a 50-pound knapsack to your back and see if you're nearly as agile as you are unencumbered. If by "sewing machine engine" you mean anything other large 8-10 cylinder engines built with 1960's technology such as pushrods then I recommend that you learn enough about cars to understand any answer I could give to that. I've seen more 2-liter four-bangers exceed 400 HP than I have V-8s that put out over 350 HP. Combined with what I said above about response, I see no reason to go with the bigger engine unless you are building something STRICTLY for the drag strip. One good set of corners or one stop at a gas station will make that four-banger look better and better.
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I have no idea. Funny question though. All good humor is based in truth and I know people do this very thing. Funny.
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