My MCS is coming off the road soon for winter.
Got to thinkin about what it might handle like id RWD.

First of all no need to jump on the cant be done bandwagon, it can be done, lol.

I was thinking RX7 FC independant rear suspenion.
RX7 trans with custom bellhousing.

My concern is how would it handle being so short ?
Would it spin out to easy do ya think ?
Or would it actually handle ?

Im not talking about some crazy 600 hp monster, no more than 200-250 ?
Common bolt on mods to our MCS engine.

 

The cost would be crazy, why bother anyways they already handle excellent.

 

I think it'd be a hoot to drive, I don't see why it wouldn't handle as well if not better than front wheel drive.

 

Miata MX-5 has an even shorter wheelbase and is well regarded for its handling. However, weight distribution is much more balanced and it's hard to compare with a hypothetical RWD MINI.

I haven't heard of anyone doing a bolt on conversion as you propose, only more extreme examples.

From 2003, a RWD R53 race car with M3 engine:
http://www.ddurrelltech.com/bmw/mini-belcar-s3.pdf

Getrag created an AWD R53:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/06/...mini_in-depth/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...-MINI-4x4.html

TWINI R53 twin engine race car:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YL7pURth3o

 

I once saw a "monster"YUGO, that was jacked up on 22.5 tires....
Just cause it can be done....does not mean it SHOULD be....or even worth it!!

 

The design of the car would not have the same proportion if it were RWD. I don't think you wouldn't want that. Front & rear over hang would be long.

 

Id say why not try if you have some spare time, as long as you can find the tranny to be able send to the rear and change out the suspension or modify it for some axles. it might be a lot of work to do. the RWD would be a lot of fun. biggest thing would be youd be changing a lot of the understeer into potential oversteer. the front wheels will have less to do. although the weight distribution should swing back to closer to 50/50 when you throw a diff in the back. since we are a bit nose heavy

 

Hi guys. Ran across this old post as I've been thinking of doing something similar with a friend who has crazy fab skills - old hot rodder, late into sport cars. Have a rolling r50 shell I want to do something interesting with. I was thinking of using/modding the frt and rear r 50 suspension to keep mods at a minimum - like moving a rack to the frt with a frt steering arm for oil pan clearance and modding the rear hub for RWD, keeping the suspension stock. Probably use a Miata trans and diff. Wondering how the r50 rear sus would work with RWD. Not planning to race it. Thoughts other than why do it, lol? Thx, Ron

 

https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/06...mini_in-depth/

Read here, folks. Getrag already did all the hard work for ya.

Edit: Specifically, here: http://www.motoringfile.com/files/getrag_awd.pdf on page 14 of the Powerpoint.

 

I wanna see a awd swapped r53.. man, fwd is bad enough I couldn't imagine this car rwd. Though it could be a drift missile rwd

 

If you want to be entertained for hours... check Bad Obsession Motorsport on Youtube, not an R53, but they're putting a Celica GT-Four drivetrain in a classic Mini. With time and money, you could make a MINI awd or rwd, but it's a lot of time and money. Might as well just buy something else unless you really love challenges.

 

why not take the entire drivetrain and put it in the back seat; fix the spindles so they don't steer, and have mid-engine, rear-drive? The engine bay becomes the trunk. (I was planning something very similar for a Honda Z600 a few years ago with a B16.)

 

AWD, twin engine R53: https://www.motoringfile.com/2013/07...-thunder-hill/

Not sure if the pics still work