Help needed on my M422-A1

Mighty Mite modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial field mods

Post Reply
Sgt Betancourt
G-Civilian
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2021 1:06 pm
Location: Stockton, California

Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by Sgt Betancourt » Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:54 am

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!


User avatar
mspeters
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 169
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:05 am
Location: N. Calif.
Contact:

Re: Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by mspeters » Wed Nov 24, 2021 6:59 pm

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.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by mspeters on Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

Warren Duchesne
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1769
Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2002 4:47 pm
Location: Monroe , La

Re: Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by Warren Duchesne » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:20 am

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

BJBoehm
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:34 am
Location: Delaware

Re: Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by BJBoehm » Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:06 am

Beautiful job!

User avatar
Bill H.
G Moderator
G Moderator
Posts: 6246
Joined: Sun May 31, 1998 8:00 pm
Location: Yonna Valley, Oregon

Re: Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by Bill H. » Mon Dec 20, 2021 4:21 pm

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

Acworks57
G-Civilian
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:33 pm
Location: Florida usa

Re: Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by Acworks57 » Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:44 am

Are you still need help with your M422 ?

first 422
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:34 pm
Location: Modesto, Ca

Re: Help needed on my M422-A1

Post by first 422 » Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:35 am

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.


Post Reply

Return to “Mighty Mite Modifications”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 35 guests