Help needed on my M422-A1
-
- G-Civilian
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2021 1:06 pm
- Location: Stockton, California
Help needed on my M422-A1
Hi everyone, I could really use some help/suggestions. I recently acquired a M422-A1 Mighty Mite and it’s in really rough shape. Being previously in the Marine Corps Infantry I would love to restore it but it might be a little to gone for that. However I would like to get it running again but I have an issue as it didn’t have an engine. However I do have the transmission as was wondering if anyone would know where I could find an engine for it. If not, what would be a good replacement engine/ transmission for it. I’ve never worked on one before so I thought I would reach out to folks that have. I have a 13 and 11 year old boys that would love to drive this one day so I appreciate anyone’s help. Thanks and Semper Fi!
- mspeters
- G-Sergeant Major
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:05 am
- Location: N. Calif.
- Contact:
Re: Help needed on my M422-A1
Originality is the best, provided you can locate a rebuildable Mite motor and tolerate the cost to rebuild including the modern longevity fix; namely nickel-silicon plated cylinders instead of pure-chrome.
I’ve repowered two basket-case Mites whose motors had long departed.
The 1.3L Samurai or the 1.6L Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick (8-valve) all-aluminum engines fit quite well with a moderate level of fabrication. Good parts supply, lighter than the original motor and more powerful. I still have the drilling template used to mate the Geo Tracker bell housing to the mite transmission/transfer-case.
Adapting an entire engine/trans/transfer-case power-pack combination such as a Samurai, Tracker, Jeep or M151 is significantly more fab work as crossmembers are needed to suspend the both the front differential and the new drivetrain. The front driveshaft angles are horrible unless a transfer-case is clocked near-vertical, like the stock Mite design.
Here is a collage of photos to give a snapshot of the adaptations involved. This Mite has a Sidekick/Tracker 1.6L motor, with an aftermarket side-draft carb/manifold conversion. It’s all connected to the diff in a unified package & uses a single front motor mount point, same as stock.
I’ve repowered two basket-case Mites whose motors had long departed.
The 1.3L Samurai or the 1.6L Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick (8-valve) all-aluminum engines fit quite well with a moderate level of fabrication. Good parts supply, lighter than the original motor and more powerful. I still have the drilling template used to mate the Geo Tracker bell housing to the mite transmission/transfer-case.
Adapting an entire engine/trans/transfer-case power-pack combination such as a Samurai, Tracker, Jeep or M151 is significantly more fab work as crossmembers are needed to suspend the both the front differential and the new drivetrain. The front driveshaft angles are horrible unless a transfer-case is clocked near-vertical, like the stock Mite design.
Here is a collage of photos to give a snapshot of the adaptations involved. This Mite has a Sidekick/Tracker 1.6L motor, with an aftermarket side-draft carb/manifold conversion. It’s all connected to the diff in a unified package & uses a single front motor mount point, same as stock.
Last edited by mspeters on Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1769
- Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2002 4:47 pm
- Location: Monroe , La
Re: Help needed on my M422-A1
I’m very impressed with the motor conversion!! Very professional job. I also would like to find a rebuildable motor but after Sgt Bethancourt finds one first. Warren Duchesne
-
- G-Sergeant
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:34 am
- Location: Delaware
Re: Help needed on my M422-A1
Beautiful job!
- Bill H.
- G Moderator
- Posts: 6246
- Joined: Sun May 31, 1998 8:00 pm
- Location: Yonna Valley, Oregon
Re: Help needed on my M422-A1
Absolutely beautiful!
Bill H.
"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof
1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof
1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715
2 Timothy 3:1-5
-
- G-Civilian
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:33 pm
- Location: Florida usa
Re: Help needed on my M422-A1
Are you still need help with your M422 ?
-
- G-Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:34 pm
- Location: Modesto, Ca
Re: Help needed on my M422-A1
I have rebuilt my Mite motor, transmission, transfer case and both differentials and I am fairly close to you(Modesto).
PM me if you would like to talk.
Regards, Ed H.
PM me if you would like to talk.
Regards, Ed H.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 35 guests