If the Hemi won't fit in your Metro.....

[electra225]

....just stretch it!

Can your Metro run the quarter in 12 seconds at 104 mph?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vqmnB_W9Wg

[Conelrad]

Ha! Gordie's Speed Shop. Next to Delf's Electric Motor Repair (his dad).

On Arizona Ave in Yuma where I grew up. I bought some parts from him over the years.

Small world.

DG

[William]

That's not the first Metro I have seen where some made it go fast. There is one in GR that was stretched so that it could accommodate a Chevy 454 with a blower sticking out of the hood. It didn't idle, it galloped as it rolled along. There was also one at BOP that a guy that had a body shop business built. It too was stretched and had a V8, auto, disk brakes, A/C, power windows and locks, and all kinds of other stuff added. He let Mr. Goodwrench sit in it and was very kind in answering all of Mr. Goodwrench's questions. He also did an AMC Gremlin in like manner. Do you remember seeing either of those cars, Greg.

Bill

[electra225]

I didn't remember that car having an altered wheelbase. I remember one that had the 454 and TH400 linked to the rear end via a single u-joint. I believe the Metro you are referring to was at the cruise-in a the Pavillions during Barrett-Jackson week. There shouldn't have been a Metro at BOP.

[William]

You are correct, I was thinking it was during BOP, which would not make any sense, because it was at the Pavillions. The only time I have ever been to Barrett Jackson was 40 years ago, but I have been to the Pavillions a lot during my more recent visits to AZ. The Metro in question was a sunshine yellow color and by all accounts you would never know it had the V8 and all the other stuff done to it unless you looked closely or asked the owner about the car. I thought for sure I had a photo of the Metro but right now I can't find it. If I come across it will post it.

Bill

[electra225]

If I were to repower a Metro, I'd find a supercharged Buick 3800 V-6, mount it longitudinally with a 7004R behind it. That short power plant would fit under the Metro hood and you could leave the body dead stock. Use a Mustang II front end and either a shortened GM 12-bolt rear end or a Ford 9-inch. That would give you power steering and disc brakes. That setup would be a lot tamer and not as much work as using some exotic power plant. You could also use a Powerglide behind the Buick V-6 if the drivetrain needed to be shorter.

[walyfd]

Gotta ask...

WHY???

[electra225]

Well, lots of people (actually MOST people) don't know about the care and feeding of a British engine powered car. The drivetrain was an antique when those cars were new. But, they take cute to a whole other level. Since people won't spend the money on overhauling Chevy V-8's anymore in favor of an LS crate motor, it stands to reason anybody with a Metro with an ailing engine might consider an American repower. Big block Chevy engines and Hemis might be a tad extreme to most people. So, the smaller, lighter and tamer Buick V-6 might be a sensible alternative. Parts and repair expertise are readily available, parts are not prohibitively expensive yet. There were few engines ever built as reliable as the 3800 series 2 Buick V-6. The Ultra models and some of the Regal GS models had factory supercharged versions of this engine. Those cars are 30 years old now, so they can be had reasonably. I don't know whether the stock Metro rear end would work with a hotter engine, but you can always buy a shortened rear end that would handle the extra power. A Mustang front end would give you disc brakes at least on the front axle. You'd have enough power to add AC if you want. I saw a Rambler American at a cruise-in recently that looked like a larger version of a Metro. That would have made a good platform for a Buick V-6 swap as well.....

[walyfd]

The absolute best car I owned was my 98 lesabre custom. I loved that car. So I get the affection for the engine. Mine did hydrolock so I had that to deal with.

[electra225]

And that engine powered cars at Indy for a time, and were contenders. If an overly aggressive driver hadn't crashed on the pace lap in 1992 a Buick V6 may have well won Indy that year. The only bad feature of that engine was the timing chain. In AZ, you could count on the timing chain to fall into the oil pan when the engine was shut off at 120,000 miles. It wasn't a bad job to replace the timing chain and the tensioner that broke causing the chain to come off. I know many of those engines that ran over 300,000 miles before the car was retired.

There is a rat rod locally powered by a supercharged Buick V6. It's mated to a 700-4R transmission.