Topic: Mistsubarushi

[GEARHEAD1000]

  It started with a post in a mini truck forum that sparked the idea in my head about building a mini truck with a boxer  :boxing:engine in it. At first it seemed like a great idea. Build an adapter plate and bolt the Subaru FJ18 to the bell housing and tons more power. Not to mention super tight fit for the 1.8L but theoretically it would fit between the frame rails. So I got a mitsubishi 1992 Minicab for cheap and retired an old ice racer 1997 subaru Impreza wagon of mine and got to work.
I figured that I could use the suspension off the subaru on the mini truck also to increase piddly 3" of travel  and run bigger tires under it. I have owned another one of these that I took as far as you can go stock and I ran 24" mayhem ATV tires on it and it did pretty well but ran out of power in the mud and clearance is an issue. So I wanted to build what I think should be offered by the KIE truck industry. lol
Here is the link to some photos in case I am going to lose you with my boring narrative lol.
https://1drv.ms/a/s!ArEO1rsppOh6goIDyJJRpiahpfYfpw

So early on I realized that the minicab drivetrain was not up to the task. So a redesign was in order. So that is what brought me to this website in the beginning because I wanted to find a reliable transmission and transfer case that would take the boxer and have a gear driven transfer case. So I ended up with a W56 trany and T case. For differentials I could not use the subaru 150 as it is too long and length is not at a premium on a mini truck. So I wanted something strong but not half ton strong because the rig is going to weigh about 2200 lbs I am guessing. So I wanted lockers too which is hard to find in and 8" or less ring gear diff with no housing for independent front and rear. So I ended up with subaru 8" BRZ 2013 rear diffs for front and rear of the truck. Come stock with torsen limited slip and there is a locker available but for now I will have 2 E brake levers, one for each side independently controlled at the rear and the torsen up front. The steering rack in the mini truck was also not up to the task the 30" modivator tires I put on there would fold that thing up for sure so I got a rack from a 2000 RSX Acura because the tie rods attach at the center of the rack not the outsides so I could fit it in a 54" wide body.

Anyway I though I should get this out there to see if anyone thinks this is as cool as I do. 18" of clearance, 30" tires , 76:1 gears(with 4.70 gear kit), street legal, gets warm in the winter, 65" wide 144" long, 81" tall, 2200 lbs, 160 HP 170 FT/lb of torque(with 2.5 L phase 2).

 

[:)bestgen4runner]

 

[helipilot77]

I've always wanted to try that with a bellhousing. Thanks for testing it for me. Those tires look great on there. Looks like you still have some adapting to do on the front axles. Whats the plan? That motor is going to be so much power for that tiny thing. Great project!! I'll be watching this one.

[Gnarly4X]

I only know a couple guys that have that level of fabrication skills and equipment… Amazing! 

That looks like one of the more challenging projects! 

What kind of wheeling will you do with it? 

Gnarls.

[crawlerdan]

im watching

[GEARHEAD1000 [OP]]

Thanks for the encouragement! I basically have the same issue with both the front and rear cv shafts. the BRZ axles are 29mm and the Impreza fronts are 28mm. The rear impreza are 27mm. So I am going to sleeve them and weld the crap out of them. I found some 1 3/8" pipe that is 28mm inside and am going to double sleeve the back and test with this configuration. If this buggy flies I am going to have shafts made for it as there is a shop that builds custom cv shafts with any end on them.
The bell housing is a total crap shoot. I had to custom build the clutch fork(toyota) pivot and extend the collar on the w56 for it to slide a bit farther forward than in the original yota config. It seems to throw the bearing and engage the pressure plate well but until it runs I don't know if it is good or not. But I am confident it will work.

[GEARHEAD1000 [OP]]

You bet this is the most challenging project I have ever attempted but I am going for it. I ride quads in the rocky mountains up here and enjoy the sawtooth mountains in Idaho. Basically I want it to go through anything. I have worked hard to have 16-19" of clearance and be able to drive over 2 5 gal pails wide and 1 high.lol

[crawlerdan]

i attached a w56 to a subaru ej22 a few years ago. im sure theres a thread somewhere

[GEARHEAD1000 [OP]]

Update, I have got the buggy on 4 wheels steering and brakes. I installed the gas tank and lines. Both drive shafts are in. Here is the link to the album with some new pics. I am loading it up to store the project for a bit. But I will be working on it from time to time this summer. Thanks for your interest

https://1drv.ms/a/s!ArEO1rsppOh6goIDyJJRpiahpfYfpw 

[helipilot77]

need more

can those rear CV's really take that much of an angle. In the end I don't care cause it looks so B.A. I love the "Make It work" attitude that is going to  get this project done.

[redneckcustoms13]

A company like Turner can certainly make some that will hold if the need arises.

[helipilot77]

Any updates on this project?