Mini D16 Swap Project: A Rancher’s Classic Mini Pickup – Little Morris Episode 1


Mini D16 Swap Project: A Rancher’s Classic Mini Pickup – Little Morris Episode 1

This cool little Morris Mini Pickup is getting some cool updates and mods for a guy who really wants to drive it daily. In order to do that reliably, the plan from Steveston Motor Co has been to do a D16 Honda engine swap along with a 5-speed transmission. This is a pretty cool swap because it actually weighs less than the factory subframe, engine, and transmission, and keeps all the factory Mini suspension. It’s not an uncommon swap in the Mini world, but the reason is normally for bigger power for track day events, etc. In this case, the additional power is required so that driving it on today’s freeways isn’t scary. And since the D16 is such a proven and reliable engine combo, that also gets great gas mileage, this little Mini pickup will be like driving a Civic but wrapped in all those great Mini looks. Sounds like a winning combo to me.

In stock trim this Morris Mini would have made around 60 horsepower. The VTEC D16 that is going into this little pickup made 126 horsepower stock and with a tune will be even more. It was rated for about 40 miles per gallon in a Civic that weighed at least 800 lbs more than this Mini. This will be a rocket ship compared to stock and yet be such a nice daily driver. It’s going to be a fun build and in this episode some of the prep work is done and the entire build plan is talked about.

Watch and let us know what you think.


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One thought on “Mini D16 Swap Project: A Rancher’s Classic Mini Pickup – Little Morris Episode 1

  1. Tubbed Pacecar

    Looks like it would be a fun little DD, but I cannot be the only one who spotted the welds on that $2000.00 chromemoly subframe that look like a pidgeon poo’d from above ?? You would think they would be tigging it together being as it’s 4130??

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