Toyota powered smart?

331211 Views 1973 Replies 88 Participants Last post by Podracer22, 10 mo ago

BARNEY O

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 2011

As some of you may know I have purchased an '08 from "Kermit' and have decided to do a make over since the original engine has inhaled major dirt from a split vacuum hose that I talked about in another thread. This project is going to take some time and quite frankly will serve no purpose other than give me a challange or anyone else thinking of going down this path may give you some ideas. Would hope for criticism, constructive or otherwise...
I am building a new subframe for the back end which is already in progress and have 3 different engine combinations to choose from. I'm liking the Toyota Tercel 1.5 liter with automatic but may change up to a MR2 1.6 with a 5 speed. I have 35" between the frame rails so that has opened up a big can of worms for engine and transaxle possibilities (hint, no chain drives).There might be something better yet? Will post pictures as progress develops.

Barney ..Cornfield Productions

Reactions: 4

1 - 20 of 1974 Posts

smartcar111

· #2 · Aug 8, 2011

I would have looked into the Chevy EcoTec motor. That's a nice little 4 banger and can handle many things you throw at it. Very solid motor.

Pee-wee Germa

· #3 · Aug 8, 2011

How about a marine duty 3 cylinder out of a jetski? or keep it in the Mitsubishi family and go for a turbocharged 4G63 out of an Eclipse GSX/GST. Or no wait, how about a diesel from a canadian 450?

kilted

· #4 · Aug 8, 2011

I have often wondered what the tiny little rotary engine out of an RX-8 would be like in a smart. It's a great engine (except for the terrible fuel economy and oil burning) in the RX-8, I know, I used to own one, and it seems like it would turn the smart into a rotary powered rocket.

Reactions: 1

smartcar111

· #5 · Aug 8, 2011

kilted said:
I have often wondered what the tiny little rotary engine out of an RX-8 would be like in a smart. It's a great engine (except for the terrible fuel economy and oil burning) in the RX-8, I know, I used to own one, and it seems like it would turn the smart into a rotary powered rocket.

Rotary engines last 50k miles and require a replacement. The apex seals are the weakest point in the design.

Reactions: 1

Stretchmobile

· #6 · Aug 8, 2011

Subscribed

opcorn:

OliverB

· #7 · Aug 8, 2011 (Edited)

I hate it when the Urban Myth machine gangs up on the RX8. We have owned an '04 RX8 auto since it was almost new. It does not drink oil!! If it does, something is off on the oil injection calibration. On trips driving at cruising speeds of 70-75 mph, ours consistently averages 25 mpg - not bad for a car with handling often compared to a Corvette and decent performance to boot. With a 9K redline for the stick, these cars are usually driven in a VERY spirited manner resulting in lower fuel mileage. Besides, with the mods the original poster plans, I hardly thing mpgs are a concern. As far as engine durability goes, there are many previous gen RXs out there with well over 100K on the original engines. This is not our first RX either, having owned two others over the years - neither of which were problems.

smark

· #8 · Aug 8, 2011 (Edited)

2

There are a bunch of turbo 3 cylinder Honda engines, the Japanese market offers.
They use them in their small A class cars. $$$$ who knows?

How about a Harley V-twin back there. Can you imagine the sound, pulling up to a group of Harley riders. Lots of parts.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

kennyrayandersen

· #9 · Aug 8, 2011

smark said:
There are a bunch of turbo 3 cylinder Honda engines, the Japanese market offers.
They use them in their small A class cars. $$$$ who knows?

How about a Harley V-twin back there. Can you imagine the sound, pulling up to a group of Harley riders. Lots of parts.

maybe, but that's a Moto Guzzi

Stretchmobile

· #10 · Aug 8, 2011

OliverB said:
I hate it when the Urban Myth machine gangs up on the RX8. We have owned an '04 RX8 auto since it was almost new. It does not drink oil!! If it does, something is off on the oil injection calibration. On trips driving at cruising speeds of 70-75 mph, ours consistently averages 25 mpg - not bad for a car with handling often compared to a Corvette and decent performance to boot. With a 9K redline for the stick, these cars are usually driven in a VERY spirited manner resulting in lower fuel mileage. Besides, with the mods the original poster plans, I hardly thing mpgs are a concern. As far as engine durability goes, there are many previous gen RXs out there with well over 100K on the original engines. This is not our first RX either, having owned two others over the years - neither of which were problems.

Take out the references to Mazda and RX7 and substitute smart instead, this sounds just like it came from our forum. (and make the gas mileage a little higher

)

Reactions: 2

BARNEY O

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 8, 2011

Keep in mind that I want to work with an engine and transaxle package.
I prefer to stay away from current iron as I don't want to get into electronic integration of trans and engine control like we currently deal with. No one has "cracked" or offered up any hardcore hardware to reprogram what we have so I'm going older school on this except for the stand alone control for the engine..

Ken Boothe

· #12 · Aug 8, 2011

That MR2 package would be a real screamer. I own an ‘88 MR2 S/C 5spd and I can imagine what a package that would make.
Ken

Reactions: 1

Pee-wee Germa

· #13 · Aug 8, 2011

BARNEY O said:
Keep in mind that I want to work with an engine and transaxle package.
I prefer to stay away from current iron as I don't want to get into electronic integration of trans and engine control like we currently deal with. No one has "cracked" or offered up any hardcore hardware to reprogram what we have so I'm going older school on this except for the stand alone control for the engine..

How about a Yamaha FJR1300 with the automatic thumb shifter?

BARNEY O

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 8, 2011

Pee-wee German said:
How about a Yamaha FJR1300 with the automatic thumb shifter?

I will probably steer clear of motorcycle combo's other than I do find the new generation of 3 wheeled bikes interesting but don't know if any are of transaxle nature and I would think the clutch would be an issue trying to propel a 1800# car.

Reactions: 1

BARNEY O

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 8, 2011

Ken Boothe said:
That MR2 package would be a real screamer. I own an ‘88 MR2 S/C 5spd and I can imagine what a package that would make.
Ken

This is what the IHI guys would like for me to use also..

Was there an automatic option for this?

Periclaws

· #16 · Aug 8, 2011 (Edited)

BARNEY O said:
This is what the IHI guys would like for me to use also..

Was there an automatic option for this?

Yes but hard to find in the states.
I would suggest the 1999-2007 with smt tranny which is also hard to find.

btw it has been done before

here is one in the 450

jwight

· #17 · Aug 8, 2011 (Edited)

BARNEY O said:
This is what the IHI guys would like for me to use also..

Was there an automatic option for this?

Looks like a Toyota A240 or 241 4-speed auto: Toyota A transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.automotix.net/transmissions/1988-toyota-mr2-automatic_transmissions-a240e_1.html

Reactions: 1

Ken Boothe

· #18 · Aug 8, 2011

Periclaws is right an automatic Supercharged model would be hard to find in fact a standard shift S/C is hard to find only brought to states in ‘88 and ‘89 about a couple thousand each year I understand.

kennyrayandersen

· #19 · Aug 8, 2011

the NA makes enough HP for this app I would think

Reactions: 1

BARNEY O

Discussion Starter · #20 · Aug 8, 2011

Jim Dandy video, hope to keep mine a little more intact..

Plan to have pics up of new sub frame later this week.

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