46 replies to this topic

[bousfield19]

not to forget the twin 2.0l 16v xe engined clubman estate that is fully road legal it can be found at www.16vminiclub.com

[flamejob]

what about the whole hybrid thing? Isn't an electric motor and 'engine'??

[JetBLICK]

huh??

[flamejob]

soz... should have quoted then and didn't.

I was referring to the illegality of running two engines in 4WD like the lexus RX400? Do they use a transfer box of some sort?

[edjohnson]

yeh i remember that one retro 10's, a black round nose, running a sierra 4x4 set up. all i can remember of it was it had the radiator in the boot, and mesh on the boot lid

looked pretty mean.

was in mini magazine when i was about 12 or 13

[KruJoe]

Yeah that black Sierra based one is a monster.

Let's keep dreaming...

Gong back to the Swift/Justy idea:
I once had a J reg Swift (4dr) SALOON 4x4, quite rare, but it wasn't an import.
This jap-box handled brilliantly, even after three minis, but it looked very boring, especially inside. It ran a 1.6 16valve engine similar to the vitaras. The 4wd system was full time and as I remember it used a viscous coupling between the axels. I suspect the running gear is similar to that in the later Justys (earlier ones were selected electronicly with a button on the gearstick), and these Justys look like the earlier Swift hatches.
The hatch Swifts had just 1.0 or 1.3 engines, including the GTI, but my saloon 1.6's power was similar to the GTI (both about 100bhp, I forget now).
Just a thought guys, but I thought perhaps if you were considering this route, then the saloon might be an easier option because you'd only have to deal with one donor car (that's of you can find one, that is...)
I'd have thought more power could be wrung out of the 1.6, but I'm not sure about the availability of tuning parts compared to the 1.3s.
I wish there was more info on this guy's page... it doesn't say which engine he used in his pick-up, but he'd turbo'd it...

http://www.miniboost...enrik/index.htm

I hope this - my first post - is helpful, or at least slightly interesting for someone...

[Purple Tom]

Crazy idea here but I've just thought of the Freelander....

1.8 K-series (therefore very VVC 160-able!), permanent 4 wheel drive with a viscous coupling between front and rear, transverse engine - from what I remember of working on them it should be pretty easy to shorten the propshaft and make it narrower track.....

Hmmm, I may have just given myself a good idea for my next project!!

[ed4ran]

That's a Mk1 GTI engine by the looks.
Im using the Justy box, but without the rear section, and will be looking at a turbo in the near future

[Jammy]

Isn't the 4WD systems for performance and off-roading two quite different things though? Meaning, the off-roading one will be set up for low gearing, less rpm, and thus less power?

[Guess-Works.com]

A friend is doing a Suzi conversion as I type.... it's about the best fit for the job as the track and wheelbase is almost identical to the mini..

Choice of power unit for offroad, is basically BAGs of torque and who cares about rpm.

[Purple Tom]

Not hugely.....yes the gearing is lower but the Freelander is still capable of over 100mph - mind you that is on 17" wheels or whatever they are, not my favoured 10" combination!

Imagine it with a VVC 160 engine though, 8000rpm! Lots of torque and plenty of power, and I can imagine the hill descent control being quite useful too lol!

[flamejob]

This pickup is a lot more my cup of tea!

[Ethel]

Sure there was a moke / scamp looky likey using Panda Sisley running gear.

A SWB landrover is 88" wheel base and a van or estate is 84" - pretty close if you just want the looks.

Wasn't it a twinny Mini Cooper that put Colin Chapman in a wheel chair?

Renault 5 alpine was another twin engined wagon.

[commander]

i cant be bothered to look for the pictures on my pc but i have what you could say was a 4wd minivan although its now in several peices all over my spare shed and will soon be in the skip
it was two 1300 vanden plas a series engines using seperate gearboxes but using just one gear stick,

[ed4ran]

You mean a twini then!