Thanks to Comstock's post, now I am looking at hot rod minivans again...| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

singleslammer UltraDork
3/3/15 9:43 a.m.

Over in Comstock's car post GPS pointed out that minivan's CAN be made to be fun. This got my head a twirling again. I know for a fact that this transmission:

Toyota E series manual transmission

Will bolt to this motor: Toyota 2GR-FE found in the last two generations of Sienna.

According to swank, those E series transmissions are about as robust as you can get in a transaxle. Find a Sienna with lots of miles (150k+ on a newer model), install transmission and custom axles (may or may not need these), and figure out how to make the ECU not get pissed off and you might have something interesting. Think FWD Dajiban with newer parts.

This with a manual trans and the possibility of large quantities of boost:

singleslammer UltraDork
3/3/15 9:46 a.m.

Also, since the 2gr motor was used by Lotus in the Evora, there is a pretty decent little aftermarket available. They are also popular with MR2 folks for swapping.

Ian F MegaDork
3/3/15 10:32 a.m.

Oh sure... now somebody will tell me a Neon SRT-4 manual will bolt up to some Grand Caravan engine...

Ranger50 PowerDork
3/3/15 10:44 a.m.

Ian F wrote: Oh sure... now somebody will tell me a Neon SRT-4 manual will bolt up to some Grand Caravan engine...

Only one with a 2.4.....

bgkast UltraDork
3/3/15 10:44 a.m.

In reply to Ian F:

The whole powertrain will bolt in.

failboat UltraDork
3/3/15 10:49 a.m.

There's some sort of pseudo-online van club under the tag #vankulture, seems like 90% of the photos I see tagged are these siennas or odysseys. Both have springs/coilovers/bags kits available.

They all really like vossen wheels too for some reason. I dont get the appeal of making all the vans look the same.

rcutclif HalfDork
3/3/15 11:01 a.m.

Honda vans can share parts with manual trans acuras.

There is always the Mazda5 MS3 swap.

Taurus SHO v6 + manual trans + older free/windstar?

There's got to be a european manual trans for the merc wagons.

singleslammer UltraDork
3/3/15 11:50 a.m.

That would solve a lot of issues I hear about those MB wagons. They are CHEAP because of it too! The windstar will never look cool IMO though.

Ian F MegaDork
3/3/15 12:30 p.m.

Ranger50 wrote: Only one with a 2.4.....

So not a 3.3 V6? Whew... bullet dodged...

bgkast wrote: In reply to Ian F: The whole powertrain will bolt in.

Must remain OBDII compliant (like when the shop plugs the computer in, the computer has to think it's an '08 Caravan), so a complete swap isn't an option.

jstein77 SuperDork
3/3/15 12:34 p.m.

singleslammer wrote: That would solve a lot of issues I hear about those MB wagons. They are CHEAP because of it too! The windstar will never look cool IMO though.

Never?

szeis4cookie HalfDork
3/3/15 12:41 p.m.

Has anyone actually completed the MS3 swap on the Mazda5? My Google-fu is failing me...

bluej SuperDork
3/3/15 12:43 p.m.

In reply to jstein77:

That thing looks like someone took an svt focus and popped it like a puffer fish.

+

bluej SuperDork
3/3/15 12:46 p.m.

also, google image search turned up this when I was looking for a good focus pic.

someone here needs this. badly. http://cars.smartcarguide.com/listing/47003917/

dj06482 SuperDork
3/3/15 12:46 p.m.

Didn't C&D do the MS3 swap into the Mazda5?

DrBoost UltimaDork
3/3/15 12:47 p.m.

I miss my hot-rodded minivan.

GTwannaB HalfDork
3/3/15 2:05 p.m.

dj06482 wrote: Didn't C&D do the MS3 swap into the Mazda5?

It went very poory IIRC and was mostly fully of regret. Many ECU challenges.

Vigo PowerDork
3/3/15 2:06 p.m.

I've driven my hot-rodded minivan to work the last two days. It drew a crowd when i parked it in the school shop area last night.

Fueled by Caffeine MegaDork
3/3/15 2:48 p.m.

The 3.3 in the Sienna is a bit weak for being a "hot rod"...

singleslammer UltraDork
3/3/15 4:23 p.m.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

I was talking about the 3.5L 2gr - That is 260+ HP with stock parts to get you over 300hp. Aftermarket the sky is the limit.

Hal SuperDork
3/3/15 7:26 p.m.

bluej wrote: also, google image search turned up this when I was looking for a good focus pic. someone here needs this. badly.

The Coswagon!! Very nicely done and definitely not your average Focus wagon. Here it is parked next to my car at the 2010 All-Ford Nationals at Carlisle.

Vigo PowerDork
3/3/15 11:43 p.m.

At one point i saw a magazine article that said a 3.5L sienna would do the 1/4 mile in 15.3@93mph. That's fast for a stock van!! I've also read other articles that put it much slower, but at the end of the day it's a quick van by any reasonable standard. I like them a lot.

If you want even more unexpected quickness, there's always the 3.5 Rav4. Those ran 14s stock and there are a few people running 13 second 1/4 miles in them with bolt-ons!