1989 Mini Racing Green [picture heavy]

1989 Mini Racing Green [picture heavy]

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Discussion

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Deary me - teach me to use facebook links for photos.

Interestingly the mini has developed a different fuel leak over the winter. Time to replace a few hoses and get MoT'd!

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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So it didn't get MoT'd and here's why

Closure panel by blayney1989, on Flickr

Rear Valence by blayney1989, on Flickr

Closure Panel by blayney1989, on Flickr

And here she is now with a new arse welded on.

Post Rust Relief by blayney1989, on Flickr

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
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Took the mini to work today. Went out for a drive with a mate in his 350z and another mate in his 205 1.9GTi.

Early morning wake-up by blayney1989, on Flickr

Early morning wake up by blayney1989, on Flickr

Out with the zed by blayney1989, on Flickr

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
Mini has gone away for more surgery on the front this time. Whilst it's away we have decided to make a start on the 1275 motor. So far we have just turned it over by hand (remember we got it from a scrap yard for it's gearbox bits) and it was a little difficult but loosened up and turned over okay. So we've taken the head off now and on a brief initial inspection it seems to be okay at the moment.

Provided everything is okay we plan to convert it to run our twin carbs (it was an MPI). So far we've worked out we are going to have to go to electronic ignition and electric fuel pump, not sure what else yet. Most common solution seems to be to use a megajolt system. More research required!

Crosswise

410 posts

185 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
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I've had a Flame Red since 2005, it's currently in many pieces and the only way it'll see the road again is with a heritage shell which really isn't financially viable. I also own a 69 Austin Cooper and a 63 Austin Super Deluxe which are much easier to justify the required investment.

Yours looks a lot more solid than mine which is good! I'd be interested to see your engine build, do you mean you're starting with an MPI block? That's giving yourself a lot of problems as there are so many differences. It would be far cheaper and easier to source a pre MPI A+ block, even an SPI is pretty straightforward. I don't know what you pay for a 1275 these days, I stockpiled them while they were £100 for high compression A+ with gearboxes along with many Mk1 & 2 Cooper S parts. Megajolt is very easy to fit, trigger wheels even do a complete kit, for a new build it's a simple solution and probably no more expensive than a custom dizzy. Don't use twin HS2s on anything other than a very mild road tune 1275, even then you'd get better results with a HIF44 and the set up would be much easier. If you really want twin carbs HS4s would be more suitable, works minis only used H4s as they could be fitted without modification to the standard manifold which was required for them to compete under group 2 app K, not because they are a better carb! I think you'll just be in the lower emission specs with an 89 car so you'll have to be careful about what cam you use and you'd benefit from having HS carbs with waxstat jets or a HIF with bi-metalic jet holder. My 1293 A+ is running over 150hp with a single HIF44 and a cam under 170 degrees, you don't have to build a high revving pig of an engine to get big power, you just need a turbo! Don't make the mistake I did with my first 1275 build and fit a rally cam, you'll hate it 90% of the time and it'll be slower than the 998 below 4500rpm!

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
Crosswise said:
I've had a Flame Red since 2005, it's currently in many pieces and the only way it'll see the road again is with a heritage shell which really isn't financially viable. I also own a 69 Austin Cooper and a 63 Austin Super Deluxe which are much easier to justify the required investment.

Yours looks a lot more solid than mine which is good! I'd be interested to see your engine build, do you mean you're starting with an MPI block? That's giving yourself a lot of problems as there are so many differences. It would be far cheaper and easier to source a pre MPI A+ block, even an SPI is pretty straightforward. I don't know what you pay for a 1275 these days, I stockpiled them while they were £100 for high compression A+ with gearboxes along with many Mk1 & 2 Cooper S parts. Megajolt is very easy to fit, trigger wheels even do a complete kit, for a new build it's a simple solution and probably no more expensive than a custom dizzy. Don't use twin HS2s on anything other than a very mild road tune 1275, even then you'd get better results with a HIF44 and the set up would be much easier. If you really want twin carbs HS4s would be more suitable, works minis only used H4s as they could be fitted without modification to the standard manifold which was required for them to compete under group 2 app K, not because they are a better carb! I think you'll just be in the lower emission specs with an 89 car so you'll have to be careful about what cam you use and you'd benefit from having HS carbs with waxstat jets or a HIF with bi-metalic jet holder. My 1293 A+ is running over 150hp with a single HIF44 and a cam under 170 degrees, you don't have to build a high revving pig of an engine to get big power, you just need a turbo! Don't make the mistake I did with my first 1275 build and fit a rally cam, you'll hate it 90% of the time and it'll be slower than the 998 below 4500rpm!
Lots of information in there!

This 1275 is just what we had here (it was bought for the gearbox, the engine is just a bonus). We are only going for a very mildly warmed over build. Haven't decided on anything yet as we are just stripping it down to find out what it's like. Could you expand on the difficulties using the MPI block? It doesn't have anything to run the dizzy or the fuel pump, that much we can see. What other issues are there converting them to run carbs?

Everyone tells us not to fun twin carbs and I get why, but they've never been that difficult to balance (Dads been doing it for years...), I love the way they look and sound and I really don't care about chasing power!! All I'm interested in is having a nice to drive mini that finally has a bit more grunt than before. We could just drop the standard 1275 in and it's an increase of ~80% peak bhp!

If it ends up making 80bhp I'll be more than happy wink

I've seen the megajolt kit and can't help but think that you're paying £350 for not very much! My head is telling me there must be a cheaper way. Still it does seem to be a common conversion with plenty of success and know how so it might be the best option.

Oh I forgot pictures somehow...

1275 by blayney1989, on Flickr

1275 by blayney1989, on Flickr

I've updated the OP with unbroken image links!

Edited by Blayney on Wednesday 15th June 22:32

Crosswise

410 posts

185 months

Thursday 16th June 2016
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You'd have to run all the MPI ancillaries as the alternator mounting is completely different, if you don't already have them that'll cost you more than an earlier block. I'm not sure if it's possible to still run a side mount radiator with that arrangement as I've never seen it done.

Around 80hp is a good figure for a nice drivable engine with plenty of torque which will be perfect on the road. Something like a Kent 256 cam would be a good choice and you'll probably only restrict the top end power very slightly by using the twin HS2s.

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Sunday 11th September 2016
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Waking The Beast by blayney1989, on Flickr

Back from some more rust treatment.

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Friday 14th October 2016
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A few pics from today's drive...







Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcG_uhCLx14

Been wanting to make this video for a long time.

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020
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Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Monday 1st August 2022
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Well that didn't go to plan. COVID didn't treat us that well. Had other priorities through 2020/21. This happened this year though...

Mini 1275 by blayney1989, on Flickr

Not on the road just yet, but hopefully before the year is out.