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1958 Nash Metropolitan

51 messages,  Last post on Jan 13, 2013 at 9:06 PM

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What is this discussion about? Classic Cars, Coupe

Messages Page 4 of 6

#30 of 51 Re: More of the same [texases] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 02, 2007 (9:26 am)

Replying to: texases (Nov 02, 2007 9:26 am)
I know, but we aren't going to get into Celebrity Barbarianism here. We are not chopping up an MGB, and that's that.

#31 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by alltorque

Nov 02, 2007 (9:40 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 02, 2007 9:26 am)
Agree with the "not an MGB" comment - that would be a travesty. I had in mind, (that's from about 5 minutes ago), using the running gear etc from an old MX-5, (Miata to you guys). No idea if it's feasible; but money's no object so why not ? There are lots of old Miata's about and no-one would miss just one, surely ? And it would drive from the proper end, (that's proper end for the period). BMW Mini swap would be putting super-cute onto cute. Quite like the Volvo suggestion. Is there the basis for a whole new thread here, I wonder ? Hmmmm.
 
I just love the way you guys respond. If I'd posted this on some of the UK Forums it would just have attracted abuse - like it's not got 500bhp, a sequential 'box, 20" rims and does 0-60 in 0.03 seconds so isn't a real car. Airheads.

#32 of 51 Re: More of the same [alltorque] by jaxpop

Apr 09, 2008 (5:09 pm)

Replying to: alltorque (Nov 02, 2007 9:40 am)
Yes! I am considering doing a resto-rod job on a '61 Metro and I was hoping I could find someone who had used a donor Miata. It seems a logical choice in many ways.
 
20 some years ago, I had a '59 Metro convertible, I loved the car, but it spent more time in the shop than it did on the road. After having the engine rebuilt, and doing a lot of brake, transmission and cosmetic work, I sold the car to my dad. He has plans for it, but his other project cars have taken precedence. Along the way, he acquired a '61 hardtop for parts.
 
I may buy the '61 from him, but I can't imagine restoring it to mechanically original condition. As I recall, the suspension was super floaty, the brakes were inadequate for modern driving, and, though my '59 got 40mpg, the acceleration was anemic. So, I'm thinking it needs much more than an engine swap.
 
The M-5 Miata's wheelbase was about 4 inches longer than the Metro. Track was about 10 inches wider at both ends. It had the same general layout (front mount, inline 4, rear mount transmission). I know that this job would exceed my meager talents (I'm good at rebuilding carbs, the odd brake job, and making things shiny) but is it possible that a skillful shop could take all of the Miata mechanicals, suspension and such and graft it on to the Metro's body? How do I even find out if this is feasible? I've tried Google searches for all sorts of Metro Miata combinations and your post is the only thing I have found.
 
I hope you check in on this forum occasionally, alltorque, because I'd like to pursue this line of thought.

#33 of 51 Re: More of the same [jaxpop] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 09, 2008 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: jaxpop (Apr 09, 2008 5:09 pm)
You can't graft a unibody onto a frame on body. So the best you could do is put the Metro on another kind of frame that has conventional suspension and some rigidity, and then add the Miata powertrain to that X or Y frame + the Metro body. The Metro suspension is hopeless so you'll never get a sports car out of that, even if you shove a Miata engine and trans into the Metro.
 
I suppose you could leave the Metro frame on there and install some other front suspension, but wow, that's a lot of work to get right.
 
But really with enough time money and talent you can do anything:
 

#34 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by jaxpop

Apr 11, 2008 (3:37 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 09, 2008 7:55 pm)
I'm pretty sure that both the Metro and the Miata use unibody construction. As I recall, the Metro was one of the first mass produced, unibody cars.
 
I'm also quite sure I've seen hot rod Metros at the Good Guys shows that had attached custom tube frames to the underside to stiffen things up enough to handle the extra power. It would be a shame goose it at a green light and twist your little car into a pretzel...

#35 of 51 Re: More of the same [jaxpop] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 11, 2008 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: jaxpop (Apr 11, 2008 3:37 pm)
well then, no way we're gonna build a super metro on another frame then are we?
 
It's been a long time since I looked underneath a Metro. I'm surprised it is a unibody.
 
Here's an article from Automobile Magazine that has some interesting (and funny) comments:
 
Automobile Magazine on the Metro

#36 of 51 Re: More of the same [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

Apr 11, 2008 (5:15 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 11, 2008 4:41 pm)
It's been a long time since I looked underneath a Metro. I'm surprised it is a unibody.
 
The Metropolitan is actually French in origin, isn't it? The Europeans no doubt went to unitized designs long before "we" did. Although in their defense, Nash went unitized starting in 1949.
 
I don't see why it would be so hard to drop a unitized body down on a frame. After all, most unitized cars have a sub-frame up front and a sub-frame in the back. The only thing keeping them from being body-on-frame is the lack of the center section. And I've seen Chevy II's with subframe connectors and I think they made them for Mustangs as well.
 
The biggest problem with the Metro, I imagine, is that it's such a tiny car that it would be hard to find a suitable donor frame. Unless you were really handy with welding, took a frame, and did the appropriate cutting and re-welding to make something that would more or less fit.

#37 of 51 Re: More of the same [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 11, 2008 (5:34 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Apr 11, 2008 5:15 pm)
Not so easy grasshopper...you'd have to achieve some form of alignment during welding, which means a full body jig.

#38 of 51 nash metro interior by acemechanic1

Dec 16, 2008 (12:06 pm)

I am restoring a 58 metro and ordered a kit for the interior. Does anyone have tips on adapting parts that do not fit exactly? And has anyone else had this problem?

#39 of 51 Re: nash metro interior [acemechanic1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 16, 2008 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: acemechanic1 (Dec 16, 2008 12:06 pm)
Thats' not right. If the kit doesn't fit, send it back. At worst, some kits require snugging up here and there, but certainly not cutting or re-shaping, etc.

Messages Page 4 of 6

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