FWD drivetrain + minitruck build

I have a friend who has latched onto the idea of building an autocross/track day vehicle using an old minitruck, and sticking a FWD engine/trans in the bed.

I said that sounds like the kind of stupid idea that everyone around here will love.

However, we are both pretty ignorant on FWD platforms, and HORRIBLY ignorant on all things suspension/handling.

So, first what truck has a front suspension that could be made to handle the easiest? what are we looking for here?

second, what FWD drivetrain would yall suggest? For the cheap route I thought the supercharged 3.8 GM could be useful, what other ones would be good/cheap/decen HP?

any other thoughts, except the standard "that's really stupid, here's who I'd do it"

Nothing to add, but I support this crazy idea.

On second thought for maximum giggles why not a V8? Maybe a SHO or an LS4?

iirc there was a Challenge truck with this setup a few years ago.

If easy performance and cost effectiveness are worth more to him than internet cool points, he shouldn't do it. This is an objectively bad way to build a fast track car.

That said, I'd stick an Ecotec LNF in the back of an old Datsun pickup. Frame mods will be necessary anyway so I'd go with custom suspension. Nothing will come close to bolting on.

A V8 in a mid-longitudinal layout would be less work (and better balanced). Seriously.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

You can't fit a V-8 longitudinally in a mid-engine mini-pickup without using a transaxle, thus making it just about as, or even more, complicated as using a FWD setup.

An LS in each end would make him the king of bad ideas. Get a 4x4 and the front hubs are already there waiting.

What about a C5 transaxle bolted to an LS motor? I know that is LONG for a mid engine setup but it might fit in a 6+ ft bed. I would imagine that this could be fairly cheap as the vette transaxles aren't terribly valuable.

Edit: the automatic has been done and is fairly cheap and easy but the Manual has the shift linkage in the way of bolting the motor directly to the engine. It is PROBABLY still doable but not nearly as easy as the auto.

the th425 trans is always an option:

but personally i would get a supercharged 3.8 out of a grand prix, swap in a getrag manual trans from a fiero, and make mounts on the truck frame to hang the engine cradle, then you just need top mounts for the struts. seems like one of the easier ways to do it

The 3.8 supercharged was my first thought but I couldn't come up with a manual transmission to go with it

icaneat50eggs wrote: The 3.8 supercharged was my first thought but I couldn't come up with a manual transmission to go with it

people also seem to be using the pontiac g6 6 speed manuals aka "f40" trans (no relation to the Ferrari)

both have been used for fiero swaps so theres plenty of info about how to make it work

bravenrace wrote: You can't fit a V-8 longitudinally in a mid-engine mini-pickup without using a transaxle,

You can if you start with a crew cab and relocate the firewall to just behind the front seats

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Locating the firewall to just behind the front seats would result in the driver sitting on the engine....

icaneat50eggs wrote: So, first what truck has a front suspension that could be made to handle the easiest? what are we looking for here?

S-10 chassis trucks. Easiest to make handle well since they share alot with the cars most circle track stuff is based off of.

i saw a 500" caddy and th425 in the bed of an s10 years ago. looked fun in a straight line.

i'd go ls4 and fwd trans if i had any choice, or any ls engine with an adapter to a fwd 5 or 6 speed trans like the v8 fieros use.

yamaha wrote:

icaneat50eggs wrote: So, first what truck has a front suspension that could be made to handle the easiest? what are we looking for here?

S-10 chassis trucks. Easiest to make handle well since they share alot with the cars most circle track stuff is based off of.

I vote S-10 chassis with a supercharged 3800 out of a Pontiac GTP/Buick Riviera.

The last gen Ranger is a good choice too as it has A arms and such up front. Might be able to get something that is a little less rusty than a square body s10 that way (the later ones are hard on my eyes)

Some guys called Squirrels of Fury built a few crazy VW creations for Chump and LeMons racing:

Yup, that's an all steel replica of an Audi S1, it was not turbocharged and it was S L O W, but it was an amazing amount of work.

They have a Scirocco as their main race car:

Here it is blowing up dramatically.

They also built a VW Pickup with an Audi turbo 5-cylinder FWD drivetrain mounted in the bed and then raced it in ChumpCar.

Build thread

Pixxors of the mockup:

Oh and that Audi 016 5-speed FWD transaxle sitting in the back there? Essentially the same as the one used in the 944 and 944 Turbo? Which is nearly the same as the AWD version?

It's used quite a bit in Lamborghini and GT-40 replicas with Ford and Chebby V8's. Not too mention fire breathing Audi 5-cylinder screamers.

Just thought I'd add a little fuel to the fire.

Good luck!

I raced against that truck.

AWD Grand Caravans used a DeDion rear axle for a few years, which would bolt to the mini truck leaf springs. An Intrepid drive train might even have matching CV joints and would fit with almost no frame mods.

That or find a 30s or 40s truck and back half it around a Subaru flat 6 with the shallow bad installed on top of the motor.

I have a friend who once put a Toronado drive train in the back seat of a Fairlane for ice racing.

This could be hilarious. Go with the ls4 and just pull wheelies everywhere.

In reply to turboswede:

I know where one of those Audi drivetrains are sitting right now.