1800% more horsepower than stock……...Hellcat Killer

[Ben Modified]

In a straight line, at least!
This is an engine/chassis swap on my 1970 Daihatsu HiJet Micro Truck. The truck measures 4 ft wide by 9 ft long and will fit in the bed of a Ford F150

Before:
It was originally powered by a 22 hp 360cc two stroke water cooled two cylinder engine.

After:
It is now powered by a 400 hp ZZ5 crate V8.

I swapped the chassis with one from a Jeep Dj5 (postal). It is two wheel drive with a limited slip Dana 44 rear axle. The frame is shortened and the back half is narrowed. Both the front and rear axles are also narrowed.

Both frame rails were full of acorns when I separated the two halves!

Here is the narrowed shortened frame, now fully boxed as well

The truck is being built up using an old low-perf 307 2bbl that I keep around the shop for builds. It is immune to the sparks and grit. The motor is mid-mounted and utilizes only a clutch, there is no transmission. I want this to be a sleeper, so I am maintaining the stock wheelbase and overall dimensions. That said, with a 66" wheelbase, there just isn't room for a whole lot. The engine is too tall to fit under the cab. With a power to weight ratio of less than 5 lbs per horsepower, a transmission isn't necessary. The truck will use an electric reverse, photos to come.

The One Speed is made up of a bell housing and a slice from a saginaw transmission.

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[smallfoot]

Holy cow!!!

 

[Country Misfit]

Has it got a clutch?

 

[rex1927]

WOW that`s a short wheelbase.
Cool project,I like it[dr

 

[I-R-POPS]

That's scarey.....

Go for it!

 

[Ben Modified]

The engine, clutch and rear axle are used as a unit and all ride in this cradle which also acts as a ladder bar setup. The front pivot mounts to the frame directly above the front axle. The rear leaf springs attach to the rear axle in their normal position.

The electric reverse consists of a late model Ford Taurus flex plate and starter. It will mount in this area

The mule motor and exhaust are in place

Built a custom aluminum gas tank. My friend William tig'd it together for me.

Had to move the steering column to the right so that I could get my leg in enough to close the door!

Fitted some gauges. No transmission means no speedometer output. Being direct drive, there is a correlation between the rpm and the mph. As it turns out, the speed is exactly double the rpm. When the tach reads 20 the speed of the truck is 40 mph

Running with the 307

At this point, the 307 is out and the 350 is going in. Hope to fire it up this weekend!

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[Sam_Fear]

Hope that steering wheel is bolted down good cause you're gonna be holdin on to it real tight.

 

[Bamamav]

I hope you own a tire store because those ain't gonna last very long! Probably need a bunch of lead ballast just to get it rolling!

 

[kenny c]

Very neat.

 

[dowoplover]

this is f'in ridiculous!! I used to drive one of those around campus when I worked for UTD....(with original power)

 

[billy]

this is f'in ridiculous!! I used to drive one of those around campus when I worked for UTD....(with original power)

Me too
It felt like I could roll it going 20mph

 

[NickFish]

amazing. i want one[cl[cl[cl[cl

 

[hansgoudzwaard]

Waiting

For the Hellcat bruisin burnout video.

 

[Ben Modified]

Electric Reverse is done!


Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhTPazm9AI4

http://www.BenModified.com

 

[Ben Modified]

this is f'in ridiculous!!

Cool, mission accomplished!

 

[Ben Modified]

Me too
It felt like I could roll it going 20mph

I have put 500 or so miles on it with the lo-perf 307 and it felt stable, so not too concerned. I'm sure, that with the motor upgrade, it will be a handful.

I have been driving my Reverse Trike for a couple of years now and even with only 3 wheels it has been well behaved. Sadly, I will need bigger brakes to do a stoppie.

The difference is probably the fact that both of these have a stiffer suspension than stock.

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[Ben Modified]

For the Hellcat bruisin burnout video.

As soon as humanly possible!

 

[05snopro440]

I have put 500 or so miles on it with the lo-perf 307 and it felt stable, so not too concerned. I'm sure, that with the motor upgrade, it will be a handful.

I have been driving my Reverse Trike for a couple of years now and even with only 3 wheels it has been well behaved. Sadly, I will need bigger brakes to do a stoppie.

The difference is probably the fact that both of these have a stiffer suspension than stock.

http://www.BenModified.com
http://www.facebook.com/BenModified

I'm surprised it weighs 1750. Your V8 pickup is cool!

How well does it work with no transmission? I've never seen that setup before. Do you notice it off the line?

I'm curious, can you keep it running if you're not in the cab, since there's just a clutch and no neutral? And do you just have to hold the clutch in to use that electric reverse?

 

[Ben Modified]

I'm surprised it weighs 1750. Your V8 pickup is cool!

How well does it work with no transmission? I've never seen that setup before. Do you notice it off the line?

I'm curious, can you keep it running if you're not in the cab, since there's just a clutch and no neutral? And do you just have to hold the clutch in to use that electric reverse?

Thanks! Even with the low-perf 307, there was no problem getting off the line even if it was uphill.
I incorporated a hydraulic parking brake valve into the clutch, so you just depress the clutch and push the button. I have left it holding the clutch for hours just to see if it would leak, but no problems. If I were to do some tuning etc, I would put the rear axle on on jackstands just to be safe.

 

[Ben Modified]

Todays progress

Still need to fill the radiator, make up a throttle cable bracket and secure some wiring.

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