Uncle Willie, my brain has moments of confusing connections I don't understand. When @Squankum mentioned David Vizard, it rang a bell but not the right one. Then he mentioned Steve and it was ding, ding, ding and I remembered Steve Vizard. In 1990, shortly after we moved to Australia, Tonight Live started airing on the Seven Network, hosted by Steve Vizard. It was a takeoff on the late night shows in the US but more raunchy and more irreverent.
Project Binky is one of my all time favorite builds to follow, very well made and a ton of absolutely amazing problem solving skills.
JB
Philip, I always enjoy seeing engine swaps but two motorcycle engines is over the top. I imagine synchronizing those two is a challenge.Here's a BMC Mini running two Yamaha R1 engines, so if stock displacement, 1,000cc each and probably ~175 HP and 75 ft/lb torque, each.
Mat, those were some of the best late night shows I've ever seen. Watching it made my 5:30 to 6:00 AM departure for work a little tough. The drive from Manly to West Pennant Hills included a lot of stoplights (~35) and the hour drive turned into two hours if I left later than that.Steve Vizard! Wow! Thanks for the flashback
@Squankum, David Vizard shares a lot of experience and knowledge in those talk shows.Not to be confused with David Vizard's Live Saturday Night, an occasional YouTube talk show where he and his friends talk engine building:
Come to think of it, David Vizard is big in Australia! Well, in racing circles. Normally this Brit lives in the United States and builds pushrod V-8 motors, but he got his start with the British Motor Corporation A-series engine, as found in the Sprite and Mini and many other things. Here's a talk he gave to a car club (Mini club?) in Australia, and do not be mislead by the title, it's about all four-stroke motors. Two hours, detailed talk. Thankfully, some guy on the internet in comments has added a table of contents for the talk if you want listen to various topics.
About ten years ago I learned that somebody was putting Integra R motors into the front of classic Minis. I searched today and results are swamped by everybody else doing something like that, some people putting modern Honda motors into modern Minis, and then there's this shop, who will put crazy motors in the front of your classic Mini, electric motors, or a turbocharged V-6 Acura motor into the middle of your Mini:
www.midwest-bayless.com
Tom, I have been following Binky for a long time. Love the show, love the car and I blame them for my addiction to braided stainless and AN fittings. The PCV valve setup on the '87 Corvette is their fault. The plastic one broke so I had to buy a polished aluminum one and rater than using rubber hose I made up a PTFE hose with braided stainless covers. I had some leftover hose from the hydroboost/rack&pinion upgrade on the '72 Corvette.If we're talking about cramming modern(ish) engines into the front of Minis, prepare to have your world rocked:
I think this series in on its 37th episode and ninth year, and the car's still not quite done (but I think the next episode will be the last). They start with a classic mini chassis, a Celica Turbo GT4 running gear, and replacement body panels, then they basically build a car from scratch. If you like watching likeable guys cram the proverbial ten pounds of **** into the five-pound Mini while tell **** jokes and having frequent tea brakes, this series is for you.

JB, mine as well. I like the childish humor but the fabrication really makes it entertaining. They would never have put a store-bought aluminum PCV on their engine. It would have at least involved a mill and lathe.Project Binky is one of my all time favorite builds to follow, very well made and a ton of absolutely amazing problem solving skills.
JB
Rian, I think you could do it and do it well but it would mean giving up your day job. Wait, that's not even a bit funny.The way I should create my YouTube channel and blog.
I heard it is addictive.
Honda engines show up in just about everything. Midwest Bayless X1/9 even sells a kit. I think a 355hp engine in a 1900 lb. mid-engine car would be a lot of fun.
@Squankum, sounds like your friend has a Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine in his Lotus. That puppy was developed by Yamaha for Toyota and is all aluminum with forged internals. Lotus put them in the newer Elise Series 2 models, the Exige Series 2, and even the 2-Eleven track weapon. The latter model, along with the Exige S launched in 2006, got a supercharged and intercooled variant of the 2ZZ-GE, which took power well above 200 hp. While 218 hp isn't that impressive, Lotus builds really lightweight vehicles. The Exige S weighs 2,057 lb so the 218 hp engine propels it from 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds and to 100mph in less than 10 seconds. Later models got even more powerful versions of the engine, getting the car from 0-100 mph in 4.0 seconds.Have a friend with a now-older modern Lotus. Toyota motor with a supercharger kit that he added. Modern suspension and aerodynamics, plus a big wing so the tires can actually have enough traction to put down power (and corner.) I just checked, and he says it should be good for 330 hp at the wheels.
I've not driven or passengered in it, but he says it is a lot of fun.

Andrew, it is my birthday and you didn't screw up -- this time.Is it your birthday Bob?
If so have a good one. If not, I guess I screwed up somehow.
Thank you Russel!Happy birthday Bob!
in case he’s right
@Mr.zippy, indeed I have. It seems like I'm circling much faster these days. The trip took forever when I was little but now it takes no time at all.Bob circled the sun again?

Thank you Dan!Happy birthday Bob!
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Dan, it has been 49 trips around the sun since I turned 29. Saying it that way makes me feel a lot younger so thanks for that.Oh, somehow I missed that it's your birthday! What anniversary of your 29th is it this time?! Lol
Jon, it's going to be a quiet one with a steak, fries and a veggie. Might even have dessert.My friend Bob, I hope you have a great birthday!
Marc, thank you!Happy birthday!
Thank you Lou!Happy Birthday!
Logan, I'm with you - I wanted to beat the US average life expectancy, which was 78.8 years three years ago. It's now down to 76.1 so I've exceeded my goal. New goal is to collect my IBM pension for as long as I collected a paycheck. Based on how little they paid me when I started, I'll also earn more in retirement than I did while working.Happy Birthday sir! May you see many more!
Thank you Kay!Happy hippo day!
Uncle Willie, In April next year I will hit 20 years sober. Sometimes it's hard to tell.Hippy berf Dai
Philip, thanks from a fellow transplant (47 years doesn't make me a native Floridian).Happy birthday to my friend to the north!
Thank you Tom!Happy birthday, Bob!
For the longest time after it was released, the Lotus Elise was my favorite car. Nothing was lighter. I also liked that the chassis was constructed of aluminum pieces bonded together with epoxy instead of traditional stamped/welded construction.
Pat, thanks for that!
Thanks a freakin lot Roger!Well, Happy Freakin' Birthday Mr. Heine!!![]()
Gerry, thank you and thank you for the reminder -- took the Caddy out and forgot to turn off the traction control -- so very little rubber burned. But I did go from 0-45 really really fast.
Rian, I'm with you -- these birthdays are way too close together.Are you serious?
How many birthdays do you have a year Bob?
Happy Birthday, belatedly though it may be Bob, here’s to a fun year ahead.
@bugnut, no worries, I'll stay this age for another 364 days so thanks for stopping by and commenting!Bob, late again, but glad to add Happy Birthday.
Kirk, I too am often a day late and a dollar short so thanks for stopping by and reminding me!I'm a day late, and definitely a dollar short, but congrats.
Thanks, @Squankum!Happy birthday, Bob!
Thank you @zanyad!Happy (belated) birthday!
Thanks Dennis!Happy Birthday to you!!
Hi Lyndon, like you I seem to have less time in retirement than I had when I was working. The day went well and then....Bob
Apologies - I too am a day late (life is more hectic now that I'm not working fulltime, than it was previously - I don't understand that....).
Happy Birthday! Hope you had a relaxing enjoyable day.
Lyndon
Justin, thank you!Cheers, Birthday Bob!
@Squankum, Fiat could have put a more powerful engine in the x1/9, like the 116 hp one in the Spyder and made it competitive but -- Ferrari. Makes no sense to make a $4,167 commuter car even close to the performance of the $14,500 Ferrari Dino 246 GT (180 hp V6 in the US version).Bob, IIRC, the X19 was a bit of an oinker for its time, size, number of seats, I believe the issue was attempts at modern crash safety. Alas, I cannot find my binder of weights of things from my racing years, but IIRC the VW Rabbit was in the high 1,700's... before we got serious. (And this wan't a class where you could yank and discard all sorts of things.) My hazy memory said the Fiat was definitely heavier.
But... sure, he kicked our butts! Center of gravity, polar moment of inertia, rwd... and in those days, sure, talent!
Scott, no worries and thanks for stopping by. I love watching your airplane adventures from afar -- vacuum and air lines as well.Happy (belated) Birthday Bob!
Best regards,
Scott