Stupid question...

This is what happens when you're stuck without a car (completely) and browsing Craigslist for a beater. You get these random ideas...

Mitsubishi Mighty Max RWD pickup for Group 5.
PROS:
-Still a Mitsu (which is important to me)
-Cheap to pick up (we're talking <$500 for a near-running specimen)
-Cheap to build (cage for a 2-seat mini-truck has to be cheaper than a 4-door saloon)
-Suspension (there was a 4x4 version, meaning off-road bits are available)
-Gearing (trucks are generally geared lower than cars for hauling reasons)
CONS:
-Stock engine is puny (likely less than 100hp)

The voice out in left field said to me this afternoon, "4G63T out of a DSM into the Mighty Max has been done dozens of times. 220hp, turbocharged, RWD pickup would be a LOT of fun." The question now is, wouldn't the engine swap be illegal, even for Group 5? There was a Mighty Max with a 2.4L SOHC turbo diesel, but I know it's not the same thing. (Although, if I could find one of those turbo diesels and turn up the boost a bit...)

Just curious. I haven't been without a car for this long in about eight years. God. This sucks.

(And yes, JVL, I have made a point of clicking on links for Ovlovs and, dare I say it, even Xrattys! I still want to bring more Mitsu folks to the rally world.)

Thanks for the read.

---

Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest

DR1665 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mitsu (which is important to me)

Fix this, and you have a hope for the future.

---

Grant Hughes

I think that would/could be pretty cool to see. Maybe not the easiest? Anyway...why wouldn't it be legal?

Hey Brian

I'm pretty sure that a 4G63 would be G5 legal. The trannies are a weak point with big power -- probably fine if you keep it in the stock 200ish range.

Ask Alex at DentSport about his tranny issues -- he ran a rear drive 4G63 hillclimb car for a while and busted a bunch of transmissions, truck ones as well as truck/starion hybrids.

Horrible as this sounds, an S10 makes so much more sense, they're practically free, they're everywhere, the cabs are big enough to fit two humans into (much bigger than a ranger) and the desert racing boys have developed shit-tons of parts for them.

Plus, everything Chebby is cheap cheap cheap and durable. You could probably build a simple 2wd LS-swapped S10 for the same price as a Golf, cheaper and simpler (but way slower) if you stick with a 4.3l.

Cheers, Ted

---

Pure mathematics is the enemy of every truly creative man -- Sir Alec

Greg Healey built and ran a Mighty Max a number of years ago. It has since been owned an run by Anders Green, and just competed at Sandblast with Mike Hall driving.

Greg shows up on some of the boards occasionally; I'd suggesting talking to him.

I think his SpecialStage forum name is GPHComp. I'm not sure what it is here.

Peter

Fine for M1/G5.

We were talking to Mike Hall at SB after they rolled. A soft roll, mainly bent sheet metal. We went over a lot reasons to do/not do a Mitsu MightyMax, things to improve it, and alternatives, so your question's timing is interesting.

The stock engines are OK but the Starion engines are better: better oil pump plus piston oilers. Mush easier to make reliable power with the turbo, even without the intercooler. 11 lbs boost will let you spin the rear wheels all day long in thr P/U, and is still easy on the engine. The one thing to do is to tranfer the wiring harness and ECU from a Starion/Conquest. And put in a large alternator to support the electric load. Making good turbo 2.6L power is well documented by guys like www.racetep.com

If you do the Starion/Conquest engine, use the '88 or '89 versions; best FI setup and ECU programming. Avoid the pre-'87's by all means.

Starion trannies are fine, better than the truck. I would not take info from hillclimbs or drag racing as an indication; the slippage on dirt makes trannie life a whole lot differnt. And those trannies don't like high RPM shifts. We've been on the same Starion trannie for about 15 events; no problems. Don't rev them to 7000 rpm all the time; use the 2.6L, set the engine up for torque, and shift at 5500. This combination was dynamite for the early PGT class in the Fire Arrows, and no reason that it doesn't work now. Again, don't take trannie info from guys revving high and racing on pavement.

The Mitsu MightyMax rear suspension is just Ok. It is an old design, similar to the Colts/Arrows with rear leaf springs. Tends to not maintain good bump geometry. Might be good if you converted it to a 4 link. (One thing we mentioned to Mike..) Front suspension is actually OK IMO for a light truck. Steering is a box but for a properly driven RWD, you don't need a fast/super R&P system. There is some reinforcement needed for the crosslink.

I think Mike is being held back a bit in his driving development with the Mitsu truck. Good for starters, simple, rugged, VERY easy to maintain. But after a while, I think one would need to move from this to a better platform. Threw up the idea of a Volvo to Mike; he likes RWD.

You might also communicate with Mike Halley; he ran a MightyMax for a good while.

Regards,
Mark B.

The Mighty Max is a pretty good club rally chasis. The truck Greg built is no longer with us, Ander's destroyed it early in his rally career. But he built a replacement and that truck was still racing at Sandblast last weekend. Mike did roll it on the second stage. It look like a new fender and maybe a new cab and the truck will be back in buisness.

Here are some good things that I remember about the truck
1) Very durable suspension. Never once bent an a-arm or suspension link.
2) 2.4L motor was reliable if not very powerful.
3) Since it is a truck it is modular. The entire body unbolts so if you bend something just unbolt it and bolt on a new section.

Here are some limitations:
1) the cab was a little cramped,
2) very little weight over rear wheels
3) Power steering system would over heat and coat the engine bay in PS fluid.

Not a stupid question, you were simply suffering a concussion from the accident that went undiagnosed. Now the disorientation reveals the trauma.
Get back to the Doctors for a CAT scan, STAT!


Brian, what the hell for when you have a nice CAR, indeed AN EXCELLENT CAR which by being proven as a WRC winner should give you confidence that THE BASIC CAR will never into the equation as being a hinderance to your driving regardless of how long you keep it or how good you get, you won't ever be at WRC level even 15 years ago WRC level.

See?
Now its been pranged, so it ain't a virgin anymore, now you can fawk it more vigourous!!!.

All this talk of pick-ups is silly, they were always an embarrassment to watch.
You don't seem to be a guy that is looking to crawl around in an undersubscibed class, cruising and TOWING to all the events for a "Towing Trophy".

Only guy who was worth watching was Bill Holmes cause he's a madman lunatic, and puts the FOOT DOWN.

If you for some reason don't want to do the Gaylant as a rally car, then get the "Escort for America" a 240 Volvo.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Don't worry about the high medical bills for the CAT scan, Brian, JV can send you his 606 copy of the real thing:

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2008 11:21AM by fiasco.

How's a cat say goodbye?

Meowta here
El gato go.
or
Pussy ya

---

Grant Hughes

Damn this secondary trauma! Perhaps I will be long dead before this small-time insurance company I'm having to deal with actually RTFM and cuts me a check.

Good feedback here. As expected. And I appreciate it. (Even Grant's comment about Mitsubishi. Consider me a glutton for punishment.)

As I mentioned, it was just a left field idea I had while browsing Craigslist for a replacement daily while I'm cranking on this turd to get it back on the road. It's refreshing to hear something positive about my rally car project. It's never been pretty, but if it's got an official salvage title, then I can absolutely "fawk it more vigorous!" (As it should be fawked, imo.)

Turns out both the little Mitsu p/us I spotted have been sold and, in my weakened state, I've probably succumbed to getting-to-attached-to-the-rally-car syndrome like that other guy here with the DSM project.

My biggest struggle (once I get some money from this slacker insurance company) will likely be sticking to my guns about driving an utter POS to and from work every day so that I have funds to get the Gaylant back on the road and maybe even make some progress on it. Just when Marciniak had officially convinced me that buying another GVR4 for a daily would be a mistake, I find I might have reason and means to do so. MAKE THE VOICES STOP!

I guess this issue is resolved for my liking, but I *do* have one more question for the group. If I were to find a Volvo or Merkur and use it for a daily driven beater while building the Gaylant, how much shit would I get for that?

"Fawk it more vigorously." I think that will be my new motto for the project.

---

Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest

Talk to Dave Rodgers in Prescott. He has a Mighty Max that has TONS of history. Cool truck, too, and has had some great results! Everyone told me what NOT to do, but I built an RX-7 against what they said. Good idaeas don't necessarily have the masses agreeing at first, or ever, but that doesn't make them any less good as ideas!

Cable

---

Cable Rhodes
Boise, Idaho
'87 Mazda RX-7 Turbo

DR1665 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Just when Marciniak had
> officially convinced me that buying another GVR4
> for a daily would be a mistake, I find I might
> have reason and means to do so. MAKE THE VOICES
> STOP!


Don't buy another GVR4 for a daily -- you need all your extra time to wrench on the rally car, not chase endless maintenance bs on a 20 y/o clusterf*ck.

Buy a Civic or a domestic pickup as a daily and change the oil at least once a year, done

Or buy my GVR4...

---

Pure mathematics is the enemy of every truly creative man -- Sir Alec

Yeah. Another GVR4, as much as I would love to own one, would be a bad idea. Test drove one of the Mighty Max trucks last night. O.M.G. Every vac line in the bay had a screw in it, wires spliced together everywhere, wouldn't stay running until warm (carbed), and then flooded out when you gave it more than half throttle. I went in hoping it would be an easy yes or no and it was.

Now, on the way home, my buddy Dan and I hit the QuickTrip for drinks. Upon walking out, there's a sweet, pimped out Volvo 240 parked a couple spots down. Electric blue, lowered, chrome wheels, (4) round headlights on the front, dark tint, shaved. It was really nice. So I shout to Dan, "Now that's what I should be looking to buy right now. That thing is fuggin' SWEET!" I walk over to get a closer look and see that the driver is still in the car and the sunroof was open. I think I made his night.

Today, I've got emails in to a couple turbo 740 owners on Craigslist for more pictures. A wagon and a sedan. Both loko pretty sharp and are being offered 41k obo. We shall see...

---

Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest

DR1665 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah. Another GVR4, as much as I would love to
> own one, would be a bad idea. Test drove one of
> the Mighty Max trucks last night. O.M.G. Every
> vac line in the bay had a screw in it, wires
> spliced together everywhere, wouldn't stay running
> until warm (carbed), and then flooded out when you
> gave it more than half throttle. I went in hoping
> it would be an easy yes or no and it was.
>
> Now, on the way home, my buddy Dan and I hit the
> QuickTrip for drinks. Upon walking out, there's a
> sweet, pimped out Volvo 240 parked a couple spots
> down. Electric blue, lowered, chrome wheels, (4)
> round headlights on the front, dark tint, shaved.
> It was really nice. So I shout to Dan, "Now
> that's what I should be looking to buy right now.
> That thing is fuggin' SWEET!" I walk over to get
> a closer look and see that the driver is still in
> the car and the sunroof was open. I think I made
> his night.
>
> Today, I've got emails in to a couple turbo 740
> owners on Craigslist for more pictures. A wagon
> and a sedan. Both loko pretty sharp and are being
> offered 41k obo. We shall see...
>
> Brian DR1665 | Phoenix, AZ
> Have a lucky day.


240 fer fucks sake.
There are a number of annoying things with the 747 K cars.
Trust me, think 240
Two Forty!

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.