Engine swaps in Classic Mini's
Discussion
Can anyone please tell me what engines are relatively easy to fit into a Mini, and maybe point me in the direction of any threads where this has been done? I know V8's etc are theoretically possible but I want more realistic options, with possible future additions such as turbo's/superchargers too. I am considering things like the Fiat 1.4 turbo unit, or maybe a focus 1.6 duratec.
The last thing is being useless with a spanner I would be after a drive in-drive out conversion, so I guess I'd be getting it de-rusted at the same time
Say the Mini is in average condition, can anyone recommend a place to use and a ballpark figure for such a task? I appreciate this is going to be in no way accurate but at least it will give me an idea of what to save for roughly.
Any thoughts or opinions much appreciated.
Joe
The last thing is being useless with a spanner I would be after a drive in-drive out conversion, so I guess I'd be getting it de-rusted at the same time
Say the Mini is in average condition, can anyone recommend a place to use and a ballpark figure for such a task? I appreciate this is going to be in no way accurate but at least it will give me an idea of what to save for roughly.Any thoughts or opinions much appreciated.
Joe
Have a read of mine
The conversion was pretty easy but to make it into a Standard round nose etc etc was where the fun started
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
The conversion was pretty easy but to make it into a Standard round nose etc etc was where the fun started
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Thanks Dougie, I'll have a read of that later as I'm at work now. May I ask quickly now, does it have a rough outline of the cost, and what engine was used? Feel free to ignore the first question if you so wish
Rob, thanks for the link. I've been in a Vtec Mini, a 1.6 I believe which is why I am asking the question as to what other engines would fit in there. I have always preferred turbocharged cars for the road, NA for the track and as this would be a road car for London, I like the turbo idea. There's nowhere to rev out a Vtec properly in Notting Hill!
Thanks guys.
Rob, thanks for the link. I've been in a Vtec Mini, a 1.6 I believe which is why I am asking the question as to what other engines would fit in there. I have always preferred turbocharged cars for the road, NA for the track and as this would be a road car for London, I like the turbo idea. There's nowhere to rev out a Vtec properly in Notting Hill!
Thanks guys.
annodomini2 said:
You can always fit a turbo'd A-series?
Agreed loads easier But if your wanting any BHP with reliabilty then you have to go bigger
With the RedTop 150BHP standard and easily tuneable to 200+ and still reliable then it was the best way for us.
Although a A Seried Turbo is Awesome fun its just not reliable when you go chasing power
Lil Joe you could always buy mine http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2499669.htm
Not a patch on Dougies motor but a solid clean car and i gauarantee you would spend a lot lot more doing a conversion from scratch.
Not a patch on Dougies motor but a solid clean car and i gauarantee you would spend a lot lot more doing a conversion from scratch.
XE mini - Damn, that is one sweet lovely looking car and I would very much be interested unfortunately 5 don't have the funds right now. These questions are the beginnings of my research into whats possible/feasible while i do the appropriate saving. Thank you for the offer though, I can imagine you may well be losing a fair chunk of money in the cost to build vs. sale price area. I just wish I had the funds now. 
I notice that your mini seems to have been extended a little at the front, is this to fit the 2 litre engine in? How does the heavier engine affect the handling characteristics? I guess this is why I was thinking of a smaller, turbocharged unit although having only experienced a VTEC I would be interested to compare a more torquey engine such as the one in yours and a forced induction unit to see which one I prefer. Yours certainly seems to shift, its a shame the video isn't better quality. Great noise too.
I looked at Watsons, they only seem to offer a VTEC conversion for a drive in-drive out price of £7k plus the car, which seems fair I suppose.
For some reason I feel a 1.6litre turbo unit would be ideal for a Mini, I don't know why?? Maybe a turbocharged Ford Duratec? Does anyone know where I can get figures on what various engines weigh ( don't say Google please, I was hoping for some kind of comparison chart or something nice andeasy lazy)
Thanks for all the help guys.
I notice that your mini seems to have been extended a little at the front, is this to fit the 2 litre engine in? How does the heavier engine affect the handling characteristics? I guess this is why I was thinking of a smaller, turbocharged unit although having only experienced a VTEC I would be interested to compare a more torquey engine such as the one in yours and a forced induction unit to see which one I prefer. Yours certainly seems to shift, its a shame the video isn't better quality. Great noise too.
I looked at Watsons, they only seem to offer a VTEC conversion for a drive in-drive out price of £7k plus the car, which seems fair I suppose.
For some reason I feel a 1.6litre turbo unit would be ideal for a Mini, I don't know why?? Maybe a turbocharged Ford Duratec? Does anyone know where I can get figures on what various engines weigh ( don't say Google please, I was hoping for some kind of comparison chart or something nice and
Thanks for all the help guys.
Just read the full build, just astonishing what you have achieved. I too am not keen on the extended VTEC Mini's look so to fit that 2 litre in is amazing work. As for all the carbon, the hours you must have put in to have such a clean look beggar belief.
Still, at least I'll know who to ask for advice when I get underway with my little effort.
One question, at the point where you originally stripped it and had it sandblasted etc, was it in good/bad/average condition? What I most fear you see is buying a Mini and having it stripped to see that it is basically worthless. I expect some welding and replacing of parts but I've heard some real horror stories of people paying £5k for what looked like a minter only to strip it and find it was barely being held together.
Once again, top work and congratulations on car of the year.
Still, at least I'll know who to ask for advice when I get underway with my little effort.
One question, at the point where you originally stripped it and had it sandblasted etc, was it in good/bad/average condition? What I most fear you see is buying a Mini and having it stripped to see that it is basically worthless. I expect some welding and replacing of parts but I've heard some real horror stories of people paying £5k for what looked like a minter only to strip it and find it was barely being held together.
Once again, top work and congratulations on car of the year.
Cheers
The thing with this car was we knew the history we knew the floor was sold so that was 1/2 the battle
I then got my mate who runs a bodyshop and another that does the Blasting to pop over and have a look and they say yep no probs thats worth doing
As my original plan was to buy a heritage shell and reshell it but when the guys said the original shell was good as a base then I would rather use it
Dougie
The thing with this car was we knew the history we knew the floor was sold so that was 1/2 the battle
I then got my mate who runs a bodyshop and another that does the Blasting to pop over and have a look and they say yep no probs thats worth doing
As my original plan was to buy a heritage shell and reshell it but when the guys said the original shell was good as a base then I would rather use it
Dougie
t engine?TheAlastair34 said:
i think the new 1.0 ecoboost 3 cylinder would be a cracking engine or any of the modern 3 cylinder turbo engines to be fair small and pack a good punch, only problem is the management system for them are expensive
The main issue is if they fit between the inner wings, technically if you cut the inner wings off for a flip front = IVA test.Enforcing it could be difficult.
annodomini2 said:
The main issue is if they fit between the inner wings, technically if you cut the inner wings off for a flip front = IVA test.
Enforcing it could be difficult.
Do the other conversions fit witin the OE wings? i would think another three cylinder engine might be a good chance of fittingEnforcing it could be difficult.
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