Request for advice

[Geezer53]

Greetings!

I'm a new member currently looking for a M-II project car. I've been visiting this and other M-II sites for a few weeks now, reading the archived messages and gleaning a lot of good information. Much expertise in evidence here, not only from the messages but also visible in the pics of your cars!

The M-II project I have in mind is an autocross (SOLO 2) car, 2.3 EFI, or possibly a 2.8 V-6 carbureted, that is also streetable (but won't be a daily driver). I've about decided on a coupe (for torsional rigidity purposes), and I want to keep the car very lightweight. My question is, is there any particular year or years of M-II to either avoid or actively look for in my search? I understand there were some changes after 74 that make V-8 conversions easier, but that is not my objective. I'm just not familiar with any year-to-year changes that might affect my choice.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might offer!

Geezer53

 

[manny]

i have a 1976 ghia that i use for solo2 events, it has a healthy 302 in it with a C4 that has all internal parts by B+M. I just installed some 800 lb springs in the front end along with all new bushings and ball joints and also a new rack. she handles GREAT now. its a bit on the firm side but thats what i wanted, when you through it into a turn she really digs in and handles very nice. next will be some fender flairs so that i can run some wider and taller tires. maybe not so much flaired but maybe radius type. good luck and enjoy the building and driving of a II.

 

[THE COBRAMAN]

I would say 75 and up since there are less "one year" parts involved, which should make finding bits and pieces somewhat easier. They'll also already be set up for electronic ignition. Aside from those considerations, there really wouldn't be a whole lot of changesthrough the years, though I have noticed some minor differences here and there. Pass side inner fender at the rear bottom had a design change somewhere along the line, presumably to alleviate a stress point.

74s will be more likely to have a dual hump trans crossmember, and many had 8"rears (3.40 or 3.55 geared), even under some of the 2.3 cars. Later years made more use of the 6.75" rear in light duty applications, and usually had 3.00 or 2.79 gearsets in the 8" versions.

 

[cobra_2_76]

How far into autocrossing are you going. Street prepared, race prepared, modified?

I agree 75 to 78 would be better than the 74.

I had a lot of success with mine being fully race prepared. After market parts are a lot more common now as well.

Dave

 

[Geezer53]

Manny, Cobraman, and Dave,

Thanks for your input. I do plan to heavily modify the car, but not to make it "unstreetable." I don't mind a stiff suspension on the street.

I have my "hot rodding" friends all keeping an eye out for likely candidates. Lots of shade trees and junk yards to check for cars here in SE Tennessee! Never know what you might find. My last project, a 74 BMW 3.0, was literally setting under a pine tree for three years before I ran across it. I thought it was green, but that was just the pine pollen. Had to pressure-wash it off!

Thanks again,
Geezer53