anyone ever thought of doing a mid endgined mini? i mean, we have seen the rear engine ones, whether it be vw motor, or mr2 setup, but what about a nice v-6 or v-8 or even a dohc 4 banger poking through the cab back wall? would open up a lot of creative doors for frame fabricators, and a lot of cool options for front suspension, and i could even see it done with a single cab, just scoot the driver up a bit, restyle the dash. It could be a wild idea to play with! Hide the motor, or put a rediculous rake on it and poke it out the bed, it would be cool.  

I have thought about this, definatly!  A cab-foward Dodge Cirrus would be an easy swap as its FWD and automatic!  

Love to see pics/links to the MR2 setp you referenced!!!  

way to bring it back from the dead! lol. he mr2 setup was a japanses yota that was featured it minitruckin' 6 months ago or so.  

Hey, it was only 6mos old! LOL

If you can give me the the exact issue I'll be hitting the back issue page for a purchase!  That's a must-have issue for OddBallRacing!

Another option is using a Porsche 914 tranny and some EJ love like an EJ22 or EJ25.  There are already a few Subaru-powered 914s zooming around!

I was thinking the auto trannys on the Dodge/Chryslers would make hooking the tranny up easier; no clutch mechanisims to worry about.  

Hey guys I think you all might be interested in my latest project.
  I've got a 91 Mazda Pickup that I am building as a  mid engine as we speak with a 1996 caddy Northstar engine. I've already got the engine in and mounted, I just got through building Lower A Arms and my strut mounts last night. I narrowed the CV axels and fabbed new A Arms because the rear was a bit wider than I wanted.
 I took the caddy engine and trans with the engine cradle attached and grafted it to the inside of my frame rails in the rear. I also am retaining the spindles without the rack and pinion. Just using home built tie rods with heim joints and locking spindles. Im working on getting the bump steer out as we speak.
 Let me know if you all might be interest and I'll post a few pics.

  Mazda1949  

I was tinkering with the caddy northstar idea for my 95 dime. I was also thinking of a dual caddy motor, all-wheel drive monster, with four wheel steering. Post up some pics of your mazda frame.  

Mazda 1949 Post some pics of your install  

OK boys I'll take my camera to the shop in the morning and take a few pics. I hope I can figure out how to post pics on here . I just joined this site today.
   I've been wanting to show off some of my wild ideas. I went at this backwards anyway. I just got through painting my little truck and changing it over to  five lugs so I would have more choices of wheels. I ended up with 18 inch FWD ford wheels so I could tuck them under the truck more. I found that 6 lug wheels were hard to find. Most of them were to wide and couldn't get them with enough offset to get them under the truck. I also put 2 inch droped spindles on to. Luckily the caddy lug pattern was the same as the ford lug pattern. I think GM calls it 114MM but its the same anyway. I did waste my time redrilling the Mazda rear axels though. Maybe I can sell the whole rearend to someone needing 5 lugs.
 I just couldn't wait to start putting the Caddy engine in. I was going to drive my little truck a while before I started the project but that old caddy engine kept saying (PUT ME IN, PUT ME IN)!!!!! So here I am. Im real excited.
 Its been a while since I've built anything. I own and operate an automotive repair shop and have been for about 38yrs. I also am part owner in a machine shop to. So if I need anything all I have to do is make it. I used to build Dirt Late Model race cars back in the 70s and 80s then I built street rods for a while.
 Ahh yall don't want to hear my life story, I'll try to post some pics soon.

 Mazda1949  

Dude!  Stop teasing us! LOL
Naw really I would love to see this in the works.The guys have been wondering about this for a looong time.
And by the way I love to hear old stories
Maybe you can just vent and start a "my Life story post"

If you need help posting pics watch my vid ,it should help you out.
Pic and  Readers ride (aka Garage) tutorials  

OK guys this is just a test run. These are phone pics and the quality isn't good at all. Im just trying to see if I can post pics and get them the right size and all that stuff. I have the good one after while.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh158/mazda1949/103107_18221.jpg

  I hope I got this right

   Mazda1949  

OK boys here are some pics of my wild ride.[/img]


 Mazda1949  

Oops I messed up on the last one.





 

Friggin Awsome!!
I cant say enough about this one fellas.
Mid engine MAZDA Madness is upon us!!
Hey 1949, What kinda adj suspension are you going for to contain the weight in the rear?
Get somore side pics PLEASE!
I wanna see the "clip in" from a 2d profile.

And not to be disrespectfull but how Low do you plan on being? I know the engine thing is of main concern But is it going to lay flat?  

i think it is akool ass ride......who was the badass painter who painted it?  

the rear stut idea was cool but y not round the upright bars ha ha ha