Building the Geo Metro with 3 cylinders instead of four

Every time gas prices jump I think more about going with a stock 3 cylinder for my Geo Metro build instead of the 1300 four cylinder I bought for it. Maybe I ought to build this thing for gas mileage instead of as a hot rod. The advantages would be not having change the wiring harness or do a megasquirt. I would still have to find a 3 cylinder engine and transaxle for it.

I know Zomby Wolf thought a turbo three cylinder would be a better option.

Tell me, is that the same engine that's in the Wave/Swift? Bloody horrible thing that munches its timing belt at 50,000 km, with mass valve and piston chaos ensuing. Go for the three!

Lesley wrote: Tell me, is that the same engine that's in the Wave/Swift? Bloody horrible thing that munches its timing belt at 50,000 km, with mass valve and piston chaos ensuing. Go for the three!

Yep. It's a twincam 1300. Just like the one I had in my old Swift GT. I got it from a wrecking yard in Louisiana out of a Swift GT. It's the interference engine.

A turbo-three metro is the closest thing possible to a US kei car. I love the looks of the metro convertible

I'd say it compares very nicely to a Honda Beat

I bet the geo could look good all done up

mad_machine wrote: I bet the geo could look good all done up

It's the five door 'station wagon'. I have to have something that hauls large dogs around and still gets good mileage. I wonder if I could find some 13" Minilite/Panasports to fit.

Lesley wrote: Tell me, is that the same engine that's in the Wave/Swift? Bloody horrible thing that munches its timing belt at 50,000 km, with mass valve and piston chaos ensuing. Go for the three!

No it' not. That's a 1.6 Daewoo motor.

JoeyM wrote: A turbo-three metro is the closest thing possible to a US kei car. I love the looks of the metro convertible

The turbo 3, and GTi swap are both popular with the vert guys

Snowdoggie wrote:

mad_machine wrote: I bet the geo could look good all done up

It's the five door 'station wagon'. I have to have something that hauls large dogs around and still gets good mileage. I wonder if I could find some 13" Minilite/Panasports to fit.

that would be cool.. have not seen one of those in forever

The transmission from either the 3 or 4 bolts up no problem,the mount on the end of the tranny is different to account for the engine lenght change.The axles are different between the 3cyl,the non Gt and the gti. Honestly if your umm cheap enough to be worrying about the fuel costs between the 3 and the 4 cyl buy a bus pass.

Mine started as 3cyl(unbelievably underpowerd)then swapped to a 13b with cams,ported tb and chip(MUCH better)and finally this.......

Maybe I ought to build this thing for gas mileage instead of as a hot rod.

pretty much the way I view my Excel.

originally planned to do a 4G63T swap but that was when gas was a heck of a lot cheaper.

kept the anemic 4G15, did basic engine mods for breathing, lightened flywheel & that's about it. made it handle fairly well so it's fun to throw around - the way I see it if I can rail through turns without touching the brakes then I'm improving my fuel economy.

It's the five door 'station wagon'.

years ago I had a friend with one of those in skittle blue. I remember stuffing a launch ramp in the back and a bunch of us piling in to go somewhere and skate.

Zomby Woof wrote:

JoeyM wrote: A turbo-three metro is the closest thing possible to a US kei car. I love the looks of the metro convertible

The turbo 3, and GTi swap are both popular with the vert guys

I like the way that looks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38icBN1f1_g

kevlarcorolla wrote: Honestly if your umm cheap enough to be worrying about the fuel costs between the 3 and the 4 cyl buy a bus pass.

It's more like wanting to save enough driving the three cylinder during the week to put gas in my motorhome/boat/jeep for the weekend. The Miata is my daily driver now. Maybe I should keep the Geo stock and spend some more money on the Miata. Not to metion the fact that dropping the stock motor in would be less work leaving me more time for my '75 Goldwing project and making the 914 into more of a track car.

Wally wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38icBN1f1_g

Holy crap. I saw the first commercial with the beater Metro. I guess with the gas prices these cars get more respect now.

Wally wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38icBN1f1_g

I like the hood, and the spoiler is tolerable (I would prefer the isuzu/storm type), but that ricer body kit is horrible.

I really want to build a low budget version of this...

http://jalopnik.com/5203560/honda-element-dog-friendly-concept-is-for-the-dogs

The 3 cylinder is entirely livable with a few mods.

Snowdoggie wrote: It's more like wanting to save enough driving the three cylinder during the week to put gas in my motorhome/boat/jeep for the weekend. The Miata is my daily driver now. Maybe I should keep the Geo stock and spend some more money on the Miata. Not to metion the fact that dropping the stock motor in would be less work leaving me more time for my '75 Goldwing project and making the 914 into more of a track car.

Ding. Everytime I drive my truck (which is a lot lately, as I've been hauling stuff around) it makes me ill when I have to fill it up for $100.

I can get more km's in the city out of my Firefly for $~30 in fuel. My free firefly has literally saved me over $500 in fuel since I got it 6 months ago, that is a pretty big deal.

Oh, and since I never get tired of posting this picture:

I want a Firefly. :(

HiTempguy wrote:

Snowdoggie wrote: It's more like wanting to save enough driving the three cylinder during the week to put gas in my motorhome/boat/jeep for the weekend. The Miata is my daily driver now. Maybe I should keep the Geo stock and spend some more money on the Miata. Not to metion the fact that dropping the stock motor in would be less work leaving me more time for my '75 Goldwing project and making the 914 into more of a track car.

Ding. Everytime I drive my truck (which is a lot lately, as I've been hauling stuff around) it makes me ill when I have to fill it up for $100. I can get more km's in the city out of my Firefly for $~30 in fuel. My free firefly has literally saved me over $500 in fuel since I got it 6 months ago, that is a pretty big deal. Oh, and since I never get tired of posting this picture:

Yes but your comparing a firefly to a truck not a 1ltr firefly to a 1.3ltr firefly.

That looks a lot like my old Swift GT. The one I never should have sold.

kevlarcorolla wrote: Yes but your comparing a firefly to a truck not a 1ltr firefly to a 1.3ltr firefly.

My 1.0L Firefly gets 5.0L/100kms on the highway, 6.0L/100kms in the city (all short drives of 10kms or less).

My 1.3L GTi would do 7.5L/100kms on the highway, and around 9.0L/100km city. Of course, I also had some gnarly cams in it. But still, it is actually a pretty big difference.

Having said all of that, Mike is right (and he's the one to ask) that there are plenty of ways to make the 1.0L more peppy than a 1.3L sohc for not much coin AND get better MPG.

JoeyM wrote: A turbo-three metro is the closest thing possible to a US kei car. I love the looks of the metro convertible I'd say it compares very nicely to a Honda Beat

I am really liking this Geo Metro US Kei car idea. This thread is making me really want one of these. And I never thought I would.

WOW really? We are even talking about trying to get better mileage than a 1.3 liter? I mean doing it because the 3 Cylinder has a cool sound or it is a more reliable motor I can see. I really want a 3 cylinder motorcycle. I guess I like odd stuff.