The "Maximum Minor" Build

Will be watching for updates on the "Maximum Minor". Mine was a "Medium Minor" - had a twin carb 1275 in place of the 948.

Ponderous build.

I love where this is going...

Graefin10 wrote: My first car was a light blue 1959 Morris Minor 1000. I personally like the looks of them. They always remind me of 40 Fords and Willys. I'm looking forward to see the progression of this one. Google "Modified Morris Minor" and you might get a few ideas.

It has taken a bit of getting used too. When I got the Morris home after buying it, I looked hard at it, and immediately got that queezy sick feeling of "What have you done now?". I went inside and sat down at the internet and found a couple of pictures that give me hope. If I build toward something like this, I personally, should not bee too disapointed in the end.

dlmater wrote: SHOTGUN!!

Better you than me. This build is hilarious excess. I don't want to ride in it, but I do what to drive behind it.

Way... waaaaaaaaaay behind it.

Woody wrote: I'm not normally one to discourage wretched excess, but are you sure that you really want 1000hp in a car with an 86 inch wheelbase? Looks like you've got some talent, though...

Thanks for following Woody. It means alot.

Just 1 dyno pull to make a big number. That 1,000 is a magic 1 time number. Bucket List scratch off. After that lower the boost/EFI and detune it to something much more reasonable and driveable. I would like to turn it loose on the dragstrip a couple of times to see what can be acheived.

Spent a good deal of time with the Hotrod article, "The Big Bang Theory". They made 1,200 horsepower pretty easy with a smaller 4.8l. Over 60 dyno pulls and it still lived. If they can do it...makes me think, So if I have enough turbo and injector?

In the real world, I hear the rings loose pressure at big numbers. They don't go in the motor to fix the rings, it is easier to go buy another $250 5.3l motor. With a little hunting, that is a typical price here in Atlanta.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1109_stock_gm_ls_engine_big_bang_theory/

This thread is awesome. Keep up the good work!

I talk to myself about thing I find neat. I will post here, for us to think about as well.

The right rear knuckle on a C6/C5 vet is the same as the front left knuckle and same for left rear and right front. The wheel hubs simply bolt on the knuckle. The rear hubs are splined for the CV joints. OK.

What I am getting at is, bolt rear splined hubs on the front knuckles, move the shocks out of the way add a chunk and CV axles and I don't think a clawing Corvette, late model, 4X4 suspension is out of reach. Mid-engine....I don't have a motor sitting in the way. Ford even makes a strong IRS 8.8 aluminum front chunk. I still would be adding a transfer case, alxes, another driveshaft, more front tire/traction, and the downside-much more weight, but it has potential.

Someone work out the bugs and maybe it could be phase 2.

8.8 Ford Front

Biasing it slightly toward pulling from the front might be very helpful in keeping a 1000hp, 80" wheelbase going in the general direction of where you pointed it - or breaking your thumbs with wheel feedback. Either way... fun for us to read about.

" Wheels $100 Moltrie swap meet. Next one is in April!"

This is very cool. Next Moultrie, however, is Feb 3,4,5. You might be thinking of Charlotte Autofair, April 20,21,22

Good Lord, I'm voting this up. Best of luck in your endeavor, sir, looks like it'll be a blast!

We think a lot alike. Cool, can't wait to see it running!

I just remembered a short street ride I took with a drag racer from NE TN. He had two Austin coupes, one for the street and one for the strip. I got in the street car one Sat. night and he asked if I wanted to go for a ride. "Sure", I said. About that time a friend of his pulled up into a parking lot across the street. He started it up and eased off until he could take a quick look for traffic, then he floored it and the torque converter locked up immediately and the wheels came off the ground just as fast. This was his street car as I said. It had an Olds. 455 with a very strong street build and massive rear tires. quite impressive. I never got to see his race car run but was told that it won quite regularly.

My b-in-law also had an Austin drag car but it only had a buit slant 6 and a 4sp. with 4:56 gear. I drove it on the strip several times and it too would pull the wheels off in 3rd. Exciting days!

The point is that a SWB car can get you there if it's set up right. I'm sure you've done some home work already.

I think a Ferd 8.8 in the front would be amazing.

TIGed up the headers tonight with v-bands. I am no welder, but my machine makes me look better than I am. If you don't have a TIG, you should work toward getting one. I don't even bother sanding off paint and the aluminum coating. Just burned it out of the way. Next time I promise.

Took a while and I am tired, but they are done for now.

Please videotape the first drive.

I'm afraid there won't be a second.

gjz30075 wrote: " Wheels $100 Moltrie swap meet. Next one is in April!" This is very cool. Next Moultrie, however, is Feb 3,4,5. You might be thinking of Charlotte Autofair, April 20,21,22

You are so right. Sorry for the error and thanks for the correction.

I checked my planner and the April date I have marked is the Perry Georgia Swapmeet April 6th and 7th.

You guys have my attention with the short wheelbase concerns. I don't want to lengthen the body, but I might be able to push the K members out (front and back) as much as a can. I think I measured across the wheels and it comes about 74.5" wide....sheees a fatty.

Shorty yoke between short transmission and rearend

Awesome project!! Any update? And how do I subscribe to this thread so I can get email updates?

^Click the heart icon under the post box below.

I like the way you think, and it looks like you may have the talent to pull it off.

2 thoughts from a planning perspective.

You are not giving all the cost data in this thread (and don't need to), but I note that you are new to the Challenge. You are making a lot of mention of things like turbos "laying around the shop", a "friend at Discount Tire" and your free motor from "my scrap guy", and "free LS3 cams. Please pay attention to the Challenge rules regarding free stuff and FMV calculations. All of these things have limitations in how they can be utilized, and I wouldn't want to see you make a great effort and be DQ'ed.

Also... you obviously have some drag racing experience. The NHRA rules do not allow motor swaps in wheelbases this short. It's to try to keep someone from putting something crazy like 1000 hp into it. This particular rule does not apply at the Challenge, but the track officials could override that if they had a safety concern. Good chance the track officials would not allow it at other events.

I'm looking forward to seeing this come together and make a great appearance at the Challenge. Just wanted to put a couple of things on your radar!

Keep it up!!

Have fun building. I had a Morris Minor in high school and I like to use C5 parts in cars that I have built.

I will be interested in your seat location with the short wheelbase and the transmission being between the engine and diff.

Since the Vette spindles are the same front and back how about running drive hubs up front and make it all wheel drive? Run a jack shaft along the passenger side of the engine. Use chain or a toothed belt to run off of a sprocket or pulley bolted between the trans and diff and then the same for a short shaft connected to the front diff. I have this laid out for a future project that I was going to get to someday.

Anyway, have fun. I will be following.

I forgot to add that the S10 4wd front diff would work fine.