[AngliaBob]

I just acquired a 57 Metropolitan.
What would be a fairly easy engine/trans swap?
I saw an article 2 mo's ago in R&C , where they put a, 02 Ranger Engine and 5 speed in a Metro.
Would this be a difficult swap?
I would think the wiring harness/computer would be difficult.

I have above average skill, and a friend with much more skills than myself.

Is there an easier swap. Maybe a V6/auto combo. Make/C.I/Yr?
I don't have to pass any emissions test. If it was going to be my car, I would go for a SBC and 700r4, but it will be for my wife, so a 4/6 cyl with a 3/4 speed auto will be okay.

Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob

[OneMoreTime]

Bob,
With your skills I would suggest the 2.8 V-6 from a mid 80's S-10..it is a very compact unit comes with the auto tranny attached and its major problem was being asked to pull around some very heavy cars by GM..I believe there are some performance parts for it and the finished result could be a nice runner as it were..

OMT

[willys36@aol.com]

Proceed with care. The bay is big enough to accept any small RWD 4-banger but the rear end is guaranteed to blow with any power increase. Heck, I have heard of them blowing from the stock 35hp Metro engine. And no, as far as I know there are no good modern rears that will drop right in. You are faced with narrowing one, Vega maybe?

Also, while you are at upgrading look at replacing the front suspension with something stouter. The stock spindles on those cars are notorious for snapping off on a good pot-hole. Also, the 4 anemic lug bolts snap off regularly. You are looking at having to narrow and adapt something more modern and robust - Vega again?

There is a very good reason there are so many of those cute little rides still around after 50 years - they are so poorly built, they rarely ran so weren't wrecked!!

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

Mother nature wasn't too kind on them either!!

I drove one of those little beasts back in the sixties. It was a ""chase car" for the dealer I was working for. It had a tow bar permanently attached to the front. The original motor had died and was replaced with a Triumph TR. It started hard in cold weather, usually had to have two batteries (jump)connected in series to start it. We wasted the rear end, rolling it down a big hill on a cold winter morning. The driver (ME) popped the clutch and the rear went "BANG!, crunch crunch, Bang!". I couldn't believe the size of the rear end gears. Looked like something from a yard/garden tractor.

It was a fun car to drive tho and it got lots of looks. I still remember that little shifter lever sticking out of the dash/steering column.

[willys36@aol.com]

I've owned two and love/hated both of them. Total junk but really fun to drive.

[AngliaBob]

I just picked up the car yesterday and I will be dumping the Austin motor and transmission, also the wiring harnesses.
I'm thinking the 86-88 Ford 2.9 with an A4LD would be a good combo.
Does any one know the actual physical size of Ford 2.9 V6?
Does the 2.9 require a computer?

Thanks,
Bob

[macx]

The Buick 3.8 (older, carb'd version)(or 4.2 version)
is also a small, compact and lightweight engine that puts out a surprising amount of smooth power with minimal
mods - just a mild cam, Performer intake and
small 4bbl (or Holley throttle body efi) hooked to a
4spd auto 2004R makes a real nice running package.

If you're a little more ambitious in the wiring dept,
you could use a later version 3.8 that came with efi.

[tuneup350]

i'd like to know where that nash metropolitan article was, i want to copy that car real bad! i just happen to have a rolled 2003 ranger duratec!

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by macx

The Buick 3.8 (older, carb'd version)(or 4.2 version)
is also a small, compact and lightweight engine that puts out a surprising amount of smooth power with minimal
mods - just a mild cam, Performer intake and
small 4bbl (or Holley throttle body efi) hooked to a
4spd auto 2004R makes a real nice running package.

If you're a little more ambitious in the wiring dept,
you could use a later version 3.8 that came with efi.

The Buick is a 90 deg V6 and is as wide as a V8. A better choice would be the 2.8/3.1/3.4 liter 60 deg V6. These can bolt to an S10 or F-body 700R4 with the narrow bellhousing. I'd go with an aftermarket computer (Megasquirt). There used to be an aftermarket carb intake available for the 2.8.

[oldbogie]

Originally Posted by AngliaBob

I just acquired a 57 Metropolitan.
What would be a fairly easy engine/trans swap?
I saw an article 2 mo's ago in R&C , where they put a, 02 Ranger Engine and 5 speed in a Metro.
Would this be a difficult swap?
I would think the wiring harness/computer would be difficult.

I have above average skill, and a friend with much more skills than myself.

Is there an easier swap. Maybe a V6/auto combo. Make/C.I/Yr?
I don't have to pass any emissions test. If it was going to be my car, I would go for a SBC and 700r4, but it will be for my wife, so a 4/6 cyl with a 3/4 speed auto will be okay.

Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob

Used to be a guy in Grants Pass, Oregon had one of these on 4x4 Jeep frame and running gear with a small block Chevy for power. Seems like a reasonable swap to me.

Bogie

[woodz428]

To be a little different let me suggest a Mazda rotary. Very compact and very good power makers. Might be worth looking into.

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Mazda rotary Also a 3800 Supercharged engine from a ss monte or a rivera or regal,
Shane

[Kermitt47]

or you could just go crazy like this one. I think Art Morrison has a chassis for them also.

[timothale]

I helped my son put in a 1.6 pinto and 4 speed ...easy fit but the gear shift was too far back so we cut the housing top and rail and moved it foreward... a ford engineer i knew put in a Ford v6 and narrowed 8 inch and mustang II front. I have seen some on a t bucket style chassis... It is very easy to suicide the doors ... they are symetrical... cut the spot welds.. just switch sides and move the lock pillar and hinge pillars... the factory prototype had a regular door on one side and a suicide on the other. the door would fit either side. S 10's sticks have the shifter in a good location for the swap ....stock metro brakes suck !!!!

[timothale]

If you are carefull and have a good sharp thin chisel you can cut off the top. earlu corvette or thunderbird style. find some sports car convertible or T top latches