LUVTruck.com

got bored and started looking through cars i know i will never be able to afford... (ferrari, lamborhini, saleen, maserati) and they all seem to have a mid-rear engine setup. so that got the gears spinning like always. with the idea of a mid engine truck. mounting the engine behind the cab lowered through the bed floor to sit between the frame rails.
anyone ever seen or heard of that being done??
probably a stupid idea but it opens up so many possibilities mid engine with a front mounted radiator would stay much cooler with the added coolant volume from the longer lines and a bigger radiator could be mounted with the space freed up in the front, a short driveline and a sturdy rear end would tear the road up with a great weight balance and its not something you will see often if ever.

of course it would be a bit of a waste to use anything shy of a V10 or even a V12 (BMW happens to make a quite nice V12 that will pop up on ebay and craigslist from time to time. dang would it roast some tires

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

my dad knew someone in highschool that mounted a Cadillac BB and trans axle in the rear of a toyota pick up. said they could never get enough weight in the front end to keep the tires on the ground under any kind of serious acceleration.

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luv less for the time being

Mickey Thompson built a mid engine LUV with a 454 back in the 70s. There's probably pics of it on the site here somewhere.

I did a 1982 s10 in 1984 with an Olds 455/transaxle combo out of a Toronado. I had to put a 396 I grenaded out of one of my 67 'bus in the front for that very reason...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

i was thinking i would have the same problem with any kind of hard acceleration or with very high speed and air getting under the front end and making the truck sway too much without a big front spoiler.
any ideas on how to make something like that road worthy? like shifting the engine forward more and bringing it partially into the rear end of the cab, stiff rear suspension and a less torque-e geared rear end? not planning on any drag racing. just a unique truck with a completely overkill top speed

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

My best advice is to not do it. Next best would be a turbo charges Subaru powertrain. They are pretty compact, and 250 hp fairly stock...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

since not to do it seems to be the general vibe from the idea i think i will take that advice

i gotta do a bit of research about that keeps the rear engine supercars on the flippin road.. and in the next eh 5 years... doodle up my own design and make something totally one off cant beat complete originality

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

he said they tried filling the engine compartment with lead window weights and scrap iron but that didn't work. eventually put in a huge fuel cell and filling it with water to keep it down.

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luv less for the time being

If you can look in some of the truck magazines in the mid 70's there were several mid engine trucks. Most leaned toward the stock engine modified. You might consider using a corvair type trans axle as this will allow you to get the engine down more and thereby putting more weight on the front. The latter ones are the stronger. Big problem with the Cad / Olds early front wheel drive setup actually will put more of the engine weight to the rear of the rear axle centerline. Sort of like some of the wheel standing vehicles used.

Another trick looking vehicle would be what is called altered wheelbase. Move the rear wheels up behind the cab. Stock bed length. and then extend the front end out about 12 to 15 inches. Also reference the AFX early funny, drag cars of the mid 60's.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

Try a Pontiac Tempest 61-63 trans axle its fairly easy to adapt a engine assy to it and presto. Its just to bad t hey are getting hard to find but there still out th ere as I let one getg away from me last month

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

I am thinking a 914 or 911 trans, plenty of adapters out for those.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

And plenty strong enough to take abuse from a V8 to.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Here is proof it can be done, not exactly mid engine. This was at the Fullerton Car Show today.

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Three Amigos

i thoght mid engine. was like that the engine just in front of the back tires?

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4.3l V6. 5 speed MT 2.55 in the back.

I agree. Behind the driver and in front of the rear wheels, is mid-engine. Think Pontiac Fiero, or Toyota MR2. So that old pickup would be considered mid-engined. Fullerton huh? Too bad I didn't know about it, and had to work.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

That makes sense, I guess you guys are right it is mid-engine. It was a smaller show this year.

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Three Amigos