LS Swapped V8 Mini Cooper Prerunner Off-road Build
It’s hard to believe that the words “MINI” and “prerunner” can stand in the same sentence and make sense, but the build we’re about to showcase today proves it’s possible.
A few months back, while scrolling through my Instagram feed, I stumbled upon a pretty sick custom off-road build which reminded me of a jacked-up Baja Bug. To my surprise, it was nothing other than a lifted Mini Cooper R53 with some insane suspension work and an LS V8 swap. This was the moment I realized that we absolutely must feature it on Offroadium.com. Luckily, the owner was excited about this idea and gladly provided all the details about his awesome Mini Cooper off-road prerunner build.
Pre Runner Off-road Build
The project started back in 2015 with a semi-stock 2004 Mini Cooper R53 and very ambitious (nearly impossible) plans to outfit it with a 5.3L Chevy LS V8 engine and race-worthy long travel prerunner suspension. But for an experienced engineer and fabricator Scott Spencer, it looked like a creative challenge and an interesting DIY project to work on.
Subframe
The build started with removing the stock engine and transmission and matching the T56 transmission with the interior opening for the stick. Lots of hours and tube bending later, Scott fabricated a massive subframe designed to hold the transmission with the engine and be the anchoring point for the front long travel suspension setup.
In some ways, this whole construction reminds us of the setups we’ve seen on Baja Bugs, with the difference that it’s mounted backwards (since the Beetles have the rear-mounted engine).
Due to the Mini’s short hood, the LS sticks out a bit further with all the front engine components and radiator being exposed, but lower subframe tubing wraps it around from underneath creating a solid steel bumper protection guard.
Suspension
The front long travel suspension setup utilizes FOA Shock Absorbers with rebuildable coilovers and provides 12″ of wheel travel. Not crazy (according to Pre-runner truck standards) but with very little camber and toe change through the full range.
All of the brakes and rear axle (9.75″) are Ford pieces. The rear axle got some triangulated 4-link action with a fully custom long travel setup. Beefy chromoly anti-roll bars keep it flat in the corners.
1″ I.d chromoly uniballs made to mount where the stock arms mount, but with a drop to account for the rear end geometry.
Geometry!!! Again, using some tricks from road racing for improved handling characteristics. Note the rack and pinion snuggled nicely between the radiator and crank pulley.
Added space in the wheel-wells and giant ground clearance allowed Scott to install beefy 33″ tires wrapped around black steely off-road wheels, topping off the aggressive stance of this Mini Cooper pre-runner build.
Another cool solution on the back is the high clearance full-size spare tire carrier, which balances the weight distribution and serves as a practical solution to make recovery possible when blasting through the dunes. We bet this Mini can do that better than many trucks!
The Honey badger
Mini’s signature dual color scheme with black bodywork and white roof brings up similarities with a cute, yet furious animal – the honey badger, that’s called the most fearless creature in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Funny enough, this nickname suits this one-of-a-kind off-road build incredibly well both exterior and performance-wise.
List of Modifications
Suspension & Drivetrain
- Custom front long travel suspension with FOA Shock Absorbers and rebuildable coilovers (12″ wheel travel)
- Ford 9.75″ rear axle
- Triangulated 4-link rear suspension setup
- Chromoly anti-roll bars
- Custom fabricated massive subframe
- 33″ tires on black steel off-road wheels
- High clearance full-size spare tire carrier
- 1″ I.D. chromoly uniballs mounted at stock arm locations
- Custom rack and pinion setup between radiator and crank pulley
Performance Modifications
- 5.3L Chevy LS V8 engine swap
- T56 transmission
- Custom fabricated front engine mounting system
- Ford brake system
- Custom steel front bumper/protection guard integrated with subframe
Conclusion
With the small size of a compact car and the extensive upgrades in the engine and suspension departments, it’s hard not build parallels with baja bug builds of the past. This Mini Cooper prerunner build proves that with enough engineering creativity and fabrication skills, even the most unlikely platform can be transformed into an off-road beast.
Nobody saw this one coming – a MINI Cooper that can hang with pre runner trucks in the desert. The LS-swapped, long-travel MINI doesn’t just work, it works brilliantly, turning heads and crushing dunes with equal enthusiasm. This is the kind of build that reminds us why we love car culture – because sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the best ones.
