I just checked on the History channel and Full Throttle is on tonight. They are going to build and race a Pacer against a Gremlin. Would anyone want to win? Maybe the loser has to take both cars.

 

Thats funny Russ

The gremlin all thr way Maybe garth from Waynes world will be behind the wheel and wrenching on it

 

what time is it on

 

I'm watching it. I had no idea they originally planned using a Wankel rotary and FWD for the Pacer, but couldn't due to lack of funds. Winner take's both cars again. In this case what kind of incentive is that?

Lon

 

yeah it also sucks that they both still need to pass smog to be registered so now the winners have 2 19 second cars for brakett racing hahaha

 

I gotta be 100% honest (all joking aside) I'd take that Pacer in a heartbeat and torch the front independant suspension out of it. It is one of the best geomerty front suspensions you can find for retro fitting into an older hotrod. That and a Jag rearend with the inboard brakes.

 

anyone see the one a few nights ago that they made 2 old school right hand drive mini's and took them to Willow springs?

 

While we're on the topic of auto shows on the History Channel — has anyone caught an epsidoe of Auto Maniacs?

It's a new show with former wrestler Bill Goldberg as the host. It looks pretty good so far. They go in to some good detail on cars from either a certain era or that were used in particluar profession.

Last night the episode was dedicated to cars that were used to run moonshine back in the 30's, 40's, 50's and even early 60's. Covered some great history of early Fords and cars like the Hudson Hornet.

They even got into how all this lead to circle track racing. Pretty good show IMHO.

 

I caught the last 5 minutes of that episode on Moonshine hauler cars. Shims in the rear springs, hmm, wonder why? Might be hauling something heavy.

Lon

 

I saw it. It was pretty good

 

You mean something like this? Yes, its right hand drive. I video taped the show about 6 months ago when it first aired.The beauty of owning this car is it only takes up 4'7" of my garage when I have it against the side wall completely. Allows for the Camaro to sit in 2/3rds of the garage.

 

pretty cool

 

thats awesome... theres someone on the LS1tech board who is swapping in an LS1 into a mini like that.. its nuts

ive also seen another company swap in a Vtec motor.

 

That happens to be my aggenda with this Mini. There is a company in Georgia called GoMinis that manufacture a bolt-in subframe and transaxles to accept an Acura Integra 1800cc Vtec motor and 5 speed trans (197hp in stock form).

It is actually kind of a shame what I am doing to this car being that it is such a prize and the ultimate "Collector" mini, But I got a deal on it and want it for future racing fun. Its so small and easy to store that once I get it finished in the next 5 years (its a back burner project that I only grabbed because opportunity knocked) it can fit in a shed up the side of my house. At that point I can bring the Vette back home in the two car garage and I will have a fun stable of cars- A built V8 car, A built V6 car, and a built 4 cylinder tinker toy that will still get 40MPG and do sub 12 sec 1/4's and 135mph top speed.

As for it being the ultimate collector mini- It is a '67 Austin Mini Cooper "S" right hand drive, and factory rag top. Not all Mini's are mini Coopers. They were only made from 64-67. Not all Coopers are "S" models. Their were three versions- An 871cc, a 1071cc, and this 1275cc motor which I do have original matching #'s. The problem with the motor is that the stock 1275 puts out 75HP. The most you can get out of them is 135HP and its wound up like a top idling at 2200rpms and the power range from 4-9K, Not streetable nor is it reliable tweeked up like that. I intend to just keep the factory motor in strock form and drop in an entire Vtec setup that I could still swap the original A-series back into it at any point for true vintage racing (but I doubt I would ever care to. We still have the original Vette 327 with 8,000 miles on it sitting on an engine stand since January of '69. It'll never go back in, but it makes the car twice as valueable having it.)