I read somewhere of a company in England that can fit a range of Honda VTEC engines under the bonnet of a Mini (the proper Mini that is, not the oversized mutation from BMW). I believe even the 1.8 Integra engine can be squeezed in.

Any info on this engineering establishment gratefully received.

>>> Edited by Deadly Dog on Thursday 7th February 13:25

I have seen about 4 of these cars and the kits are available, they are a new front subframe to except the VTEC engine, I was considering this conversion, they also do hub conversions allowing different PCD wheels to be fitted. Have look in miniworld, there is a company offering a drive in conversion, it costs around 3500 I think. As I said I did consider this but must admit the 2.0 16v Vauxhall seems a simpler conversion. They will fit in a clubman front but the round nose might need to be extended by an inch or 2.

Sounds like a laugh although I don't really understand how you can put up with the mini in this era. I drove a new cooper a few years back on smooth road surface and it bounced all over the place, over bumps you couldn't even see! You would need to be very dedicated to take it on a long journey! A bit like the loons you see in hat and goggles freezing their nuts off in winter cramped up in a 7!

wouldnt a bike engine be the cheapest and easiest conversion?

Pablo Often thought that myself - don't knowof anyone that's done it though (used to be quite into the mini circuit)

I saw a mini (up close, the owner let me have a poke round the engine bay) at the mini show at Avon park raceway a couple of years back with a 1.6 Vtech, it was a standard round nose, it fitted quite well.

Another option we looked at was the engine out of a renault 5 GT Turbo - it will apparently fit in with no fuss, and is a dead simple engine (compared to the Vtech) that can be tuned to 300 bhp (if you don't mind rebuilding it every 1000 miles ) but will give 170 bhp with no problems (if looked after).

Mcreis - I'm sure a tuned version would be a laugh on a track, although just couldn't drive it all the time is all. How much power can you squeeze in there with these conversions? Doesn't it pull sideways with torquesteer more than it goes forward?!!

I saw in a magazine a mini with a lancia delta engine in it. The radiators had to go in the boot - they were thinking of upgrading the engine to the full Integrale spec as well.

On an even dafter note one of my friends built a Metro with a Saab turbo engine. It filled up the back seat and boot areas and powered the back wheels.

Have seen quite a few minis with engine in the back (Ford RS turbo and Golf GTi), RWD, god knows what they would be like on a track...

Pablo, why not try asking in the bike engined car forum (if you haven't already) for details of conversions, or the locost forum might know people who could do it.

The probs I thought would occur would be the gearbox - couldn't just use the Mini box (gearing would be all wrong), so you'd have to find a way of adding a reverse gear to the bike gearbox (most bike-engined cars have this IIRC), but one of those companies would be the people to speak to...

Of course, if you could get it working, it'd be amazing, bog all weight + loads of power = Big fun

try...
[url]www.saeminivtec.co.uk[/url]
[url]www.16vminiclub.com[/url]

once i get my new house i'll be making one of these rockets!

Or www.plmini.co.uk

EDIT: And why do it Brooke?! This topic is over 4 years old!