i must confess

[beermonkey9417]

wow, a 4wd mini w/300 ponies? thats damn INSANE! :shock: i've always like the gixxer smartfor 2 mods. those things are sha-weet!

 

[custom442]

The only car on my list that would tempt me to trade my Cutlass for it is the Mini, but not a stock one. There is a kit available to make one that is absolutely berserk. It involves using the AWD system from a CRV with the engine from a Integra Type R, all in a package that weighs around 1700lbs when finished. Considering all that could be done to a Honda B series VTEC engine, I would probably trade my Cutlass on either a nicely built example, or (preferably) a huge pile of parts (Including a new Heritage body shell) that would allow me to build my own. Add a turbo and make it about 300hp, and a ZR-1 would have nothing on you!

I've read somewhere on the net a guy converted a old CRX to drive all 4 wheels with a swap from a CRV. They said it wasn't what they were expecting and sold it all after all that work :shock:

Will a CRV drivetrain hold up with that much power?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

You have to see it in terms of overall shock loads. The Mini is almost half a ton lighter than the CRV, so the load on the drivetrain will not be anywhere near as much as it would be in it's original vehicle. Plus, it originally had a Honda B series in it, so any B series will bolt right in to that setup. The biggest issue with it would be the wheelbase to track width relationship as it is nearly square and not that stable. It would probably be better to use a Mini Traveler, cargo van or pickup rather than the sedan or convertible, but I think the sedan looks the best. A guy in Germany built a Mini pickup with AWD by using the system from a Honda Wagovan. He is better known for his Gixxerkart, but the Minis he has built are quite interesting! His VTEC Mini panel van was featured on an episode of D-Motor (German Top Gear) racing Sabine Scmidt who was in a 911.

I see it as a bit better than a FWD Mini with a VTEC swap though as the lack of weight tends to mean a lack of traction. However, I would be happy with a 160hp B16A1 swap in an original Mini as I think it would be no slower than a B18C and get better gas mileage.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Here is a site that sells the AWD kit: http://vtec.minimania.com/awd-mini-gallery.cfm

 

[custom442]

...A guy in Germany built a Mini pickup with AWD by using the system from a Honda Wagovan...

I see it as a bit better than a FWD Mini with a VTEC swap though as the lack of weight tends to mean a lack of traction. However, I would be happy with a 160hp B16A1 swap in an original Mini as I think it would be no slower than a B18C and get better gas mileage.

That's exactly what I was thinking, I was toying with the idea of swapping the drivetraing from a wagovan to my 91 civic a few years back. Good thing I didn't it would've been a lot of work.

The b16 also likes boost better from what I've read, so it's a better starting point. Plus there isn't a problem with availability

 

[custom442]

Here is a site that sells the AWD kit: http://vtec.minimania.com/awd-mini-gallery.cfm

holy sh*t that car is sick. I see how you could get into those, they're so light. I just don't like the looks of em that much

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, no matter which B series you used, Boost would mean the need for some work to the engine internally. At minimum you would need a deck bridge to strengthen the cylinders at the top of the block, and I would probably drop the compression a bit and put in stronger rods and a lightweight flywheel too as I would probably try to push a B16 to around 10,000 RPM. If I did it N/A, I would use a set of sport bike carbs instead of the EFI, and run the ignition off an MSD box and the VTEC off a set of RPM switches. I would also consider bike ITB's instead of the carbs with the turbo because it would let me run them off a common plenum box that I could feed boost into and still be smaller than the stock Honda intake manifold. Space is a REAL problem with VTEC Mins, after all! If I did go the EFI route, I would use Megasquirt to run the engine electronics instead of the Honda ECU.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Here is a site that sells the AWD kit: http://vtec.minimania.com/awd-mini-gallery.cfm

holy sh*t that car is sick. I see how you could get into those, they're so light. I just don't like the looks of em that much

I adore them! They are so cute looking that a fast one is unexpected. It's like a cuddly little puppy that proceeds to rip your face off.

 

[custom442]

It's like a cuddly little puppy that proceeds to rip your face off.

:lol:

Have you considered a awd eagle talon drivetrain? or is that engine too big to fit in the mini. Just saying cuz I've seen those run insane power on the stock drivetrain

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Have you considered a 4wd eagle talon drivetrain? or is that engine too big to fit in the mini. Just saying cuz I've seen those run insane power on the stock drivetrain

The 4G63t would be too big and way too heavy to work. It barely fits in an Eclipse, and a Mini is several magnitudes of size smaller than an Eclipse. (It is smaller than a Yugo or an old Geo Metro at 10 feet long, 4.5 feet wide. It even uses 10 in wheels and makes 13's look like dubs!) The Honda B is a aluminum engine that also needs a very small radiator to cool well. Aluminum rejects heat far better than Iron does, and in a car this small you have to consider everything when designing it. Thinking about these cars taught me a lot about engineering as it made me learn things I had taken for granted in large V8 powered cars. I sometimes like to do mental exercises like this though, as it expands my mind and teaches me far more than I would ever learn if I just stayed inside my comfort zone.

I have also considered using this concept in a slightly larger car, the East German Sachsenring Trabant P601. The problem is finding a Trabant, and then finding parts for a Trabant.