Minivan Madness

I was watching TOP Gear last night and I caught the end of the segment where they put an F1 rear wing on a minivan and it made it slower around there track.

This got me thinking about minivans.

There is the VW one that's the underpinnings from a 993 Turbo (cool but obviously way to many $$$)

There is the take an old dodge add a 2,2 turbo and go have fun. Kind of a common trick and up here in the rust belt you really don't see many those anymore.

So what minivans are out there that are a good starting platform for bolt on go faster parts. I realise that with thigh CG it will never be a race car but lets just say if you were going to go shopping for a minivan that you intended to hop up the HP and add some handling bits and maybe better looking wheels and some better rubber what would you start with? What platform lends its self best to the swap out options.

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

Since I already have a Mazda 5 in the driveway, I would start with that and aim for this:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/one-lap-mazdaspeed5/21707/page1/

Astro van with a LSx. Aerostar with a SHO motor. Does the Ford Transit Connect share so much with the Focus that the suspension and brake kits bolt in?

Mazdaspeed5 FTW here!

Honda Odessey + TL gearbox + go fast parts.

ProDarwin wrote: Honda Odessey + TL gearbox + go fast parts.

This. My brother's Ody lays some serious rubber. Great engine.

Post recall Windstar with said SHO motor. It is just an overgrown Taurus anyways......

Or get a cheap pre recall one and do the same thing, except I would find a way to throw in a 5spd with it too.....

Getting away from the motor and driveline for a moment.

The basic recipe as I see it is.

Subtle body package that would include side skirts air dam & splitter, Small aero type wing incorporated in to some sort of functional roof rack. Alu mags that are painted to match the body slight lowering of the entire vehicle. Koni's all the way around. Sway Bars, depending on the chase it may require some x bracing/sub-frame connectors. Upgraded brakes (4w disk preferred).

Color schemes include:

Grey/silver with silver fade tinted windows

OR

Black with black tint and fire engine red pin striping on rims

The method to the madness is that I have been looking for a more utilitarian vehicle. I have the need to transport a ladder every now and then and my expedition can do it but getting it on and off the roof practically requires the use of a crane. It is also not the greatest vehicle to take in to the city. Where as a minivan can easily hall a ladder with a roof rack. Lower it a bit and it becomes even easier. Tinted windows keeps things out of side and in my opinion really improves the look or most any vehicle not to mention decreasing solar gain in the summer. I also think that a properly done minivan could actually look good Handel well and dare I say actually be fun to drive.

Is it me or is the mazda5 one of the larger minivans? Or is it just the photo.

dean1484 wrote: Is it me or is the mazda5 one of the larger minivans? Or is it just the photo.

It's tiny. Se my Freestyle thread - I have been looking to see if I can deal with one and I don't think I can.

AWD Astro, LS9/Viper T-56, coils, spindles, flip kit, 17x11's with 315's at all 4 corners and flares.

ProDarwin wrote: Honda Odessey + TL gearbox + go fast parts.

I hate Hondas, and I would second this, if only for troll status. Bonus points for using an Oasis instead.

mazda 5 is probably your best bet for bolt on goodies. it shares a lot of suspension bits with the mazda 3.

smaller engine than all the others but... also because 5 speed minivan.

pretty sure it can handle a ladder from time to time.

failboat wrote: mazda 5 is probably your best bet for bolt on goodies. it shares a lot of suspension bits with the mazda 3.

As in pretty much all of them. Find a dope like me that decided they needed a monster RSB in their car, and buy the factory ms3 bar from them. Makes em rotate nice.

I like that very much. Needs tint and more of an aero package. I really like the wheel and tire package!!!

rollinchicane wrote: Since I already have a Mazda 5 in the driveway, I would start with that and aim for this: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/one-lap-mazdaspeed5/21707/page1/

Was this the one in Gran Turismo 2:

Mazda5 has 157hp... no thanks.

157hp.... stock. Who said anything about leaving it stock?

DaveEstey wrote: Mazda5 has 157hp... no thanks.

What is wrong with 150 odd hp in a car that weighs 3500 pounds or less? Especially with a 5 speed, that is MORE than adequate... this is like the equivalent of a 2000 pound car with 90hp...

DaveEstey wrote: Mazda5 has 157hp... no thanks.

And a MS3 engine is 263HP, which is why I said Mazdaspeed5, duh!

What platform lends its self best to the swap out options.

I started making a list of all the engine combos that would bolt to a stock k-car tranny the other day (this applies to k-car minivans equally well since any k-car trans will bolt up to a minivan).

The thought being: FWD trans swaps are tough because custom axles are either hard or expensive to make.. If you can use factory axles and no adapter plate (using one of many oem bellhousings) you can do a swap fairly easily just by building 2 mounts and a few odds and ends.

This list is far from complete, largely because i dont know that much about VW motors, although i am pretty sure nearly every vw 4cylinder from 1980-present belongs on this list.

2.2 8v
2.5 8v
2.2 16v Lotus
2.2 16v Masi
2.5 16v lotus
2.5 16v masi
2.2 + 2.0 sohc head (magnum or non)
2.2 + 2.0 dohc head
2.2 + 2.4 head
2.2 + 420a head
2.5 + 2.0 sohc head (magnum or non)
2.5 + 2.0 dohc head
2.5 + 2.4 head
2.5 + 420a head
1.7vw (and everything with same bellhousing..)
3.0 12v 6g72
2.5 24v sohc 6g73
3.0 24v sohc 6g74
3.5 24v sohc 6g74
3.8 24v sohc 6g74
3.8 24v 6g75 MIVEC
3.0 24v dohc 6g72
3.5 24v dohc 6g72
3.3 ohv chrysler
3.8 ohv chrysler
3.2 24v sohc Chrysler
3.5 sohc 24v Chrysler (1g or 2g)
4.0 24v sohc Chrysler
2.7 24v dohc chrysler
2.0 16v sohc
2.0 16v sohc Magnum
2.0 16v dohc
2.0 16v 420a
2.4 16v dohc
2.6 8v sohc 4g54
2.0 8v sohc 4g52
1.8 8v sohc 4g63
2.0 16v dohc 4g63
2.4 16v sohc 4g64
2.4 16v dohc 4g63/64

I am pretty sure k-car caravans are some of the most 'swappable' cars on the planet with the biggest engine bay and the least amount of custom work involved.

HiTempguy wrote:

DaveEstey wrote: Mazda5 has 157hp... no thanks.

What is wrong with 150 odd hp in a car that weighs 3500 pounds or less? Especially with a 5 speed, that is MORE than adequate... this is like the equivalent of a 2000 pound car with 90hp...

I must be from another planet where 150hp in a 3,500lb vehicle is slow. That's 22.2 pounds per 1 hp.

A Miata for instance is 16.5 pounds per 1 hp, and it's not winning any drag races.

The Mazdaspeed5 has been done by some other car magazine.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q2/return_of_the_boss_wagon_mazdaspeed_5-project_car

They still have it, too -- at least someone on their staff does. At a LeMons Gingerman earlier this year (I was there as a spectator just before I got hired at GRM), I saw the 'speed5 there. Must've been their parts hauler or something. I think Patrick Bedard and Csaba Csere were driving it. They raced a crappy Prelude last year, but I don't know what they competed in this year.

I must be from another planet where 150hp in a 3,500lb vehicle is slow. That's 22.2 pounds per 1 hp.

I sort of see his point, though. a 3500lb vehicle with 150 hp and a 5spd can run 16.5, which is about as fast as anyone needs to go just to cruise around.

Dont get me wrong, i think thats a really low standard, but ive been very happy with less. My 5spd caravan started out at 3200+driver and had 100hp, i loved that thing and didnt feel it was slow. I drive a 1900lb +driver Insight with 63hp and while it IS slow, i still get it up to 105-110 every week or so and frequently blow by people doing way over the speed limit. It works well enough.