Hayabusa engine......

[Restomod]

Lets just say you get hold of a 04 Busa engine for nearly nothing..What would you put it in that is street legal (no sand rails), Mini like the member here did, Street legal Radical style car, Porsche 356 :fingersx: What?!?!?!?!?!?!

[moreHP]

Look up the smart car with a busa engine in it on you tube. That looks fun!

Personally, I would like to find a rhino or something to put it in! But I am kinda crazy like that!:drive2:

[FreakShow]

A Yugo. People would never expect it.

[shmoov69]

Yugo, or Geo or something like that!!

[CarlC]

Some states allow these to be street-legal. It's hilariously fun to drive.

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?64349-I-m-almost-ready-to-sell-the-Camaro....&highlight=barracuda+buggy

[showa]

T bucket with ind suspension out front, kinda like a big go-kart....Mean little auto-x car....
or one of these bodies... http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1932-Modified-Coupe-Body,8028.html for a single seater.
or a Fisher Fury ....
or a Honda N600...
Not that I've ever considered anything like that....

[justasquid]

The smart car thing could be done and does look like fun as moreHP suggested,

Or This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUH8S5wvK0M

Personally, I would build something for the offroad like a mini sandrail. I know thats not what your after, but thats much power on the sand would be awesome.

Or sell the engine and have some money to dump into your car:)

[gmjj13]

how about putting a turbo kit on it and put it in the 356

[Randy67]

This is a good idea:
http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010AutocrossPoints10101610Gallery1#55292413041131 78546
It's a Honda S600 more or less, carbon fiber body replica. Engine sits next to driver (in box). Cars weights 1700 lbs with driver, probably 1500 or so without.

More pictures in here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010AutocrossPoints10101610Gallery1#

[Scott Parkhurst]

Vintage Mini?

[dontlifttoshift]

Anglia...an english Ford. Use the smart car drivetrain layout and your legs can fit under the dash then. This is actually something I have thought about....a lot.

The problem with a t-bucket is that you sit ON it instead of IN it. not good for autocrossing.

[Restomod]

GREAT suggestions guys!! Thanks, I really like the Mini idea but they are hard to find reasonable, the Honda S600 is VERY cool. I am thinking seriouslyon putting it in the 356 but I also wanted to put the 3800 Supercharged in it so I am undecided. May keep my open for a early Civic or Golf like above........
Keep the ideas coming!!!

[fbody_mike]

Put it in a Harley. Might get you killed though.


I would stick it in something British, maybe a MG Midget. Whatever it is, keep it small and light, should be lots of fun.

[jv982]

I don't know how the Lotus 7's have not been mentioned yet...
Here are some awesome bike powered lotus's:



http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x33ann_lotus-seven-hayabusa-turbo-au-nurbu_sport


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gao59nYxXJk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wjl3UrmiHA

[showa]

Just add lights and glass....

http://jetcouperacing.com/default.aspx

[DarkBuddha]

Fiat X1/9:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[shmoov69]

or.........a VW Bug, cheap and definately different!

[68Formula]

Fiat 500 (classic one of course).

[rogue]

While I love the novelty of my R1 mini, I can honestly not recommend the swap to anyone. Too much hassle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig6yGvS5OkY

[absintheisfun]

if you are a GM guy, what about a Fiero? Kind of heavy at 2500 lbs, but I'm sure weight can be pulled from lots of places..

[Slow Ride]

since that is a Suzuki engine, why not a sidekick or swift?

[Tiger]

I'm also partial to a classic Fiat 500

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

id put it in a datsun Z car.

or a early 70 something corrolla.

[68Formula]

I'll put on my TonyL hat and say turbo it, and drop it into a Corvair.

[DarkBuddha]

Fiat 500 would be cool. Or maybe a Ford Fiesta:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1978_Ford_Fiesta_SCCA_Race_Car_Front_1-1.jpg

[Declawed69]

A BMW Isetta

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Restomod]

Rouge, what was the pain about putting it in the Mini?? I like the Mini but good ones are $$$$$
Wyatt, Diggin the Fiesta....gotta look at them!!
Declawed,Sorry not felling the BMW....MAYBE a 2002.
Vengance, Z nahh to heavy, Corolla or 510....HHHMMMM

I think I would be "shooting myself in the foot" if I put it in the 356, prob better sell it and get a cheaper/lighter car.

[68Formula]

I like the Isetta. I think they weigh less than 800lbs. Just don't rearend anybody, or you'll have to exit out the sunroof!

[rogue]

Rouge, what was the pain about putting it in the Mini?? I like the Mini but good ones are $$$$$
Wyatt, Diggin the Fiesta....gotta look at them!!
Declawed,Sorry not felling the BMW....MAYBE a 2002.
Vengance, Z nahh to heavy, Corolla or 510....HHHMMMM

I think I would be "shooting myself in the foot" if I put it in the 356, prob better sell it and get a cheaper/lighter car.

Any motor bike swap is going to be $$$ whether you realize it or not. It'll nickel and dime you to death. Need reverse? Qaife ATB transmission, need dry sump, proper cooling, oiler, wiring loom, clutch, gauges/instruments, exhaust, tuning A/F ratio with ???, all things to consider.

I consider my 1970 mini heavy at 1400lbs, even so it'll bring out the pucker element in anyone not holding the steering wheel. Anything more than that will be a pig with a motorbike motor. I wouldn't bother. You'd be better selling it and dropping in something else.

It'll bog everywhere in a 356 I'd imagine unless it was a glass shell. I'm going to be selling my Mini once its bodywork is done. Too much of a crazy car for LA.

[Lance-W]

You're not by any chance interested in selling the Busa motor are you? I've been casually looking to buy one to build a two seater version of what Carl_C posted above.

[Restomod]

Rouge, Thanks for the info.....the 356 is real Porsche steel.....just may have a line on what I am looking for!!
Lance, no not really..when I said I had very little in it that was high. I sold off the extra parts today that came with it so now I have made $40 on it. I could never replace it reasonable and it runs perfect, fired it up today.

[CarlC]

You're not by any chance interested in selling the Busa motor are you? I've been casually looking to buy one to build a two seater version of what Carl_C posted above.

Oh yeah!

[justasquid]

what about a chevette? I know they are horrible little cars, but I remember growing up the 80's, there a some that weren't that bad. Of course, it was the 80's where every car looked the same. But, rear wheel drive and light weight,(around 2,000lbs) and should be cheap if you can find one. It would certainly be different.

You should shave off some serious weight with the engine swap itself. Then add some aluminum wheels, racing seats, remove unwanted parts..you could probably get the car under 1500 with the right mods. Those cars only had around 60hp, so dropping in 160 will be quite a jump for it, should put it close to the new camaro as far as power to weight. turbo'd, and the car would be very fast.

No matter what you choose, should be a great project. I love off the wall stuff like this. Be sure to keep everyone posted.

[showa]

43590Austin Healy bug eye Sprite........

[DarkBuddha]

A bugeye/frogeye would be cool... if you can find one cheap enough to make it worthwhile.

[69stang]

How about a Crosley?

[wmhjr]

Worlds fastest Yugo?

[srh3trinity]

Opel GT

[dannyho]

Build a Lotus 7

[68Formula]

Opel GT

Or an Opel Manta A with a widebody kit.

[Restomod]

Like the Manta wide body idea!!!!!!! You guys are naming off some great cars to use this in BUT most are hard to find in good cond for a reasonable $. Mini prices are stupid.......

[tylers88]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/Mantell2-1.jpg
Would be WAY differant but VERY cool

OR


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/usedezgogolfcart-1.jpg
just nucking futs

[rogue]

Like the Manta wide body idea!!!!!!! You guys are naming off some great cars to use this in BUT most are hard to find in good cond for a reasonable $. Mini prices are stupid.......

Like I said... This isn't a cheap project no matter how you spin it. A caterham clone would cost you 15k+ too.

[Restomod]

Thanks Rouge but I AM going to do it and NOT spend $15k. The car I am looking at is $2500.00 and is SOLID, has more under hood room than a Mini and is about the same size and no heavier.
Engine = $0
Running driving car = $2500
Home made LSD chain drive $1000 ??
Labor $0 do it all myself
=$3500
So not much more than $5k should do it.......I hope!

[DarkBuddha]

Lol... we've all heard (and said) that "$5k should do it" line before. It costs what it costs, but whatever it is will surely be very cool.

BTW, I found a mostly rust free and straight '78 Fiesta this week... at the u-pull-it yard. It was heart breaking to see 'cause it already had a set of 13" minilites and some tuning parts on the motor (header, webber carb, etc.). Someone built a very cool car out of it a very long time ago and then it went unloved until it was discarded. Bummer. :(

[Restomod]

$5k may or may not do it but I sure aint spending $15k on it. That is just a loosing battle cause you will never get it back................
I allowed $1500 extra for wheels/tires and maybe seats.
The Fiesta sounds cool, to bad someone threw it away.

[2blownstangs]

Karmann ghia most def! I love those lil cars

[Twentyover]

I'd be concerned with clutch life with anything much over 2-3X the weight of the bike. Plate area, even on a 'Busa, isn't that great. Put it in a heavy body you'l lend up with a pile of clutch slipping to come off a stop. A Lotus/Catherham can pull it off because they only weigh about a thousand pounds.