metro mg turbo in a mini

[oldboyracer64]

hi i have but a lot of metro engines into minis but never a turbo engine. i would like to run with out the turbo would this rise any problems. also i have been told that if you change the final drive the speedo will be ok if this is so what and where is the final drive

[wildoliver]

I find it astounding that you have managed to "but" loads of metro engines in mini's without being able to answer those very simple questions yourself?

The mg metro turbo lump will fit, however without the turbo will produce far less power than an mg metro engine due to having very low comp pistons, and smaller valves. Also the cam will not be as wild as the mg metro cam.

The final drive is the component that takes the drive from the gearbox and transmits it to the wheels, if you like it is the differential, or the big lump on the back of the gearbox with drive shafts coming out of it.

[tim-d]

If you've got a serviceable turbo & associated lump why not use it? It's fun - avonbar will supply you with a bulkhead recessed box to accomodate....
not my best subject this as have forever been unable to fathom out excatly whats going on but fit the best final drive to suit your preference / driving style, then phone speedy cables in swansea, tell them what you've got i.e engine number, FD ratio, what speedo you're using and wheel /tyre sizes etc and they'll be able to sort you out in short order (either by supplying suitable cable or recalibrating your speedo) - there's always cheapo plan b though - mini & a n other car , 2 mobiles (handsfree obviously...) and some nail varnish, enamel dayglo paint or letraset.....

[love machine]

3.2 Final Drive, 9.4:1 compression ratio, 232/252 cam (same as bog standard metro), you're looking at basically a bog standard metro van engine with a not 3.7FD and normal size inlet valves. A bit poo really. Put a bini supercharger on one and go for it, about 6PSI on 95 octane fuel.

see www.turbominis.co.uk for the lowdown.

I'm running a fun engine

[oldboyracer64]

hi i dont have the turbo just the block and gearbox unit so basicly ti should run like a standard 1275 metro?
if so that will be fine as the 1293 that is in at the mo. is so lumpy at tick over due to having a fast road cam in it and because it is for my son (new driver) i need a soomth runner.
as soon as the engine is out it will be up for sale
it is a 1293cc
recon. gearbox
en40r crank 40/40
fast road cam
s head
new oil pump
and has just past an mot how much should i be asking for the engine gearbox unit

[annodomini2]

oldboyracer64 said:

hi i dont have the turbo just the block and gearbox unit so basicly ti should run like a standard 1275 metro?
if so that will be fine as the 1293 that is in at the mo. is so lumpy at tick over due to having a fast road cam in it and because it is for my son (new driver) i need a soomth runner.
as soon as the engine is out it will be up for sale
it is a 1293cc
recon. gearbox
en40r crank 40/40
fast road cam
s head
new oil pump
and has just past an mot how much should i be asking for the engine gearbox unit

No the compression ratio is lower, but most of the 'special' modifications are in the head, unique port area, Sodium filled exhaust valves, extra oil flow.

In the block there are oil jets under the pistons to cool them due to the heat.

Although with a different head.

Would have thought it would be easier to just fit a standard MG lump.

[love machine]

Ahhh Gedon! My first car was a 1968 Morris Minor with a full race midget engine He'll get used to it. Seriously, a mini is light, it's just a matter of control. 649 cam? Possibly a bit much for around town but it's do-able still. Keep the 1293 engine as he will kick your ass for selling it in the future TRUST ME!!!!

[tim-d]

All may not be gloom & doom on a deturboed turbo lump - it's not quite as bad as may be thought - the cheapo 1275 metro had CR of 8.8:1, the MG 10:1 but the turbo had better pistons and CR of 9.4:1 - although there may be the odd negative in that the head despite benefitting from sodium filled valves (have I got that right?) had smaller inlets than the MG - and the gearboxes weren't really up to the job and broke with depressing regularity.....

[love machine]

Metro's varied a lot. The vans were 8.8, the leaded MG (12HD24) were 10.5 and a lot of others 9.4. Unleaded 12HF01 engines were the 10.1 ones

The gearbox was slightly different, the pistons a weeny bit better. Some allegedly had En40b cranks, but no-one has ever seen one. Vizards bible explains why they are flawed. Something to do with those bloody diff pins and idler gear bearings. the T3 turbo was too big and if boosted a bit more would produce enough mid range torque to tear the whole thing to bits. The turbo boys use T2 turbos of R5 GT Turbos, with an adaptor, far more user friendly..........

Just get a blower on it.

I think stevieturbo got about 190hp out of a pretty standard MG Turbo engine

[NDT]

wildoliver said:

, however without the turbo will produce far less power than an mg metro engine due to having very low comp pistons, and smaller valves. Also the cam will not be as wild as the mg metro cam.

I don't believe the CR is that different to a standard A+. Refer to Vizard. It certainly isn't 'very low' compression.

Nick

edited to say: doh! tim-d said that... should've read the whole thread....

Edited by NDT on Tuesday 11th July 09:44

[NDT]

tim-d said:

If you've got a serviceable turbo & associated lump why not use it? It's fun - avonbar will supply you with a bulkhead recessed box to accomodate....

I fitted the avonbar box to a mk1 mini years ago... never finished the project but that's another (sad) story.
Personally I thought that cutting a big hole out of the bulkhead crossmember then just welding in the Avonbar box was completely inadequate in terms of lateral strength. It needs a lot more reinforcement than that.