'Black Betty' Supercharged Classic Mini
Discussion
I've been here a while and never got round to do this, but i figured nows the time.
I have owned 'Black Betty' since i was 17 almost 10 years now, she was my daily driver for the whole time right up until 6 months ago, when i took her off the road.
'Black Betty' got her name from the song by RamJam. I find the lyrics suit my experience of the car too
I am going to do a nut and bolt from the ground up rebuild on her and i hope this thread will keep me going, and i will keep anyone interested updated on the progress with pics etc.
Currently shes a supercharged A series producing 140bhp so shes already quick.
she will need work on the shell, yes its getting rustythe back is already stripped out, and it has a half cage. my intentions are to fit a full weld in cage and a new carbon fibre dashboard. Get the body up to scratch, and im considering my options for squeezing more power out of her, im aiming at 160bhp minimum. considering switching from the hif44 to a weber 45 dcoe.
anyway heres a pic of her at Le Mans.
Edited to Include a piccy of the Engine and Charger
I have owned 'Black Betty' since i was 17 almost 10 years now, she was my daily driver for the whole time right up until 6 months ago, when i took her off the road.
'Black Betty' got her name from the song by RamJam. I find the lyrics suit my experience of the car too
I am going to do a nut and bolt from the ground up rebuild on her and i hope this thread will keep me going, and i will keep anyone interested updated on the progress with pics etc.
Currently shes a supercharged A series producing 140bhp so shes already quick.
she will need work on the shell, yes its getting rusty
the back is already stripped out, and it has a half cage. my intentions are to fit a full weld in cage and a new carbon fibre dashboard. Get the body up to scratch, and im considering my options for squeezing more power out of her, im aiming at 160bhp minimum. considering switching from the hif44 to a weber 45 dcoe.anyway heres a pic of her at Le Mans.
Edited to Include a piccy of the Engine and Charger
Edited by AlleyCat on Wednesday 13th March 10:03
Thanks guys,
One of the most important things for me was sticking with the A Series, I have nothing against the other common conversions to Honda Vtec and Vauxhall Red Tops, but for me it had to be A series. Also it keeps the weight distribution correct.
And yes its immense fun to drive and so responsive! the geometry and set up was done by Bill Richards who races classic Mini's so he know his stuff, I'm seriously suffering from withdrawal symptons since not driving it.
I hope to properly start the project when the wheather cheers up a bit, as this will mostly be done on a drive.
One of the most important things for me was sticking with the A Series, I have nothing against the other common conversions to Honda Vtec and Vauxhall Red Tops, but for me it had to be A series. Also it keeps the weight distribution correct.
And yes its immense fun to drive and so responsive! the geometry and set up was done by Bill Richards who races classic Mini's so he know his stuff, I'm seriously suffering from withdrawal symptons since not driving it.
I hope to properly start the project when the wheather cheers up a bit, as this will mostly be done on a drive.
Looking good considering how long it's been your daily drive.
Four years daily in mine and it needs a lot of bodywork doing!
Have you any more detail on the engine spec?
Also what brand camber brackets are tour using for the rear? I've got minispares adjustable but not finding them to be of great quality
Four years daily in mine and it needs a lot of bodywork doing!
Have you any more detail on the engine spec?
Also what brand camber brackets are tour using for the rear? I've got minispares adjustable but not finding them to be of great quality
Love this!
When I was 17 I learnt in my Mums Mini Checkmate (Cooper replica) 998cc. Drove it for a few months after and met my current girlfriend while I had it; she tells me now she hated it though.
Wish my parents never sold it and if I saw it for sale would try and get it back in a heartbeat.
Anyway, got any more pics??
When I was 17 I learnt in my Mums Mini Checkmate (Cooper replica) 998cc. Drove it for a few months after and met my current girlfriend while I had it; she tells me now she hated it though.
Wish my parents never sold it and if I saw it for sale would try and get it back in a heartbeat.
Anyway, got any more pics??
GTIAlex said:
Looking good considering how long it's been your daily drive.
Four years daily in mine and it needs a lot of bodywork doing!
Have you any more detail on the engine spec?
Also what brand camber brackets are tour using for the rear? I've got minispares adjustable but not finding them to be of great quality
Yeah about a year after I bought it, it underwent a light body restoration and respray. So its held up ok, but the rust is back! more visible up close in the obvious spots.Four years daily in mine and it needs a lot of bodywork doing!
Have you any more detail on the engine spec?
Also what brand camber brackets are tour using for the rear? I've got minispares adjustable but not finding them to be of great quality
chrisj_abz said:
lovely, may i ask did you get the supercharger as a kit or is it a homebuilt one? what spec is the engine?
planning to supercharge mine while im doing a resto so always keen to hear current owners tips and opinions!
With Regards engine spec, planning to supercharge mine while im doing a resto so always keen to hear current owners tips and opinions!
Its a 1293cc with custom piper cam and forged pistons
Straight cut gearbox with tran-x cross pin diff.
The Supercharger is a kit from Vmaxscart and it is the best one you can get! its also chargecooled.
As for what its like to live with in this spec, I will say it doesn't like it when the wheather gets to 4c or lower.
Fueling (with the carb being low and at the front) can be tricky to get right, but a couple of rolling road set ups, by people who know minis! will sort this, however it will need adjusting reasonably regular (depends on usage of car). one of the reason im looking at a webber 45 dcoe is because it puts the carb on the side rather than down at the front, so i'm hoping when set up properly will help with fueling.
Edit:
Lastly and most importantly Cooling! you need to put extra effort into keeping it running cool, as with the charger it gets extra hot and does not like traffic on nice summer days, just watch the water temp creep up and before you know it you have the heater on full blast to try and bring it back down.
I will put more photos up of the car as it is, a bit later tonight hopefully. But thanks for looking, and its nice to have the appreciation.
Im sure at some point I will post a more detailed message on what its like to live with and the experiences I have had over the years with it, the highs and the lows
Edited by AlleyCat on Wednesday 13th March 13:05
FWDRacer said:
Consider a front mounted heater matrix as an extra mini rad as an auxiliary cooler? Lovely Car BTW. Bookmarked.
Yeah I have considered that, but I have a front mounted 13 row rad for the charge cooling system, plus all the bits that go with the charger which make space even more restricted in what is a very small engine bay. to try and tackle cooling, i'm putting the larger metro water pump pulley in and converting the system to Evans waterless coolant (going to give it a go, I haven't heard from the mini scene much on this, but I have from other classic car enthusiasts). failing that I will also switch to an electric fan.
we will see what happens
AlleyCat said:
Thanks guys,
One of the most important things for me was sticking with the A Series, I have nothing against the other common conversions to Honda Vtec and Vauxhall Red Tops, but for me it had to be A series. Also it keeps the weight distribution correct.
And yes its immense fun to drive and so responsive! the geometry and set up was done by Bill Richards who races classic Mini's so he know his stuff, I'm seriously suffering from withdrawal symptons since not driving it.
I hope to properly start the project when the wheather cheers up a bit, as this will mostly be done on a drive.
You said "it had to be A series. Also it keeps the weight distribution correct, it will also keep the soundtrack on key too!! That wonderful and unmistakeable 'A' series scream when tuned.One of the most important things for me was sticking with the A Series, I have nothing against the other common conversions to Honda Vtec and Vauxhall Red Tops, but for me it had to be A series. Also it keeps the weight distribution correct.
And yes its immense fun to drive and so responsive! the geometry and set up was done by Bill Richards who races classic Mini's so he know his stuff, I'm seriously suffering from withdrawal symptons since not driving it.
I hope to properly start the project when the wheather cheers up a bit, as this will mostly be done on a drive.
.thanks for the info, luckily up here in Aberdeen hot summers days are pretty rare....
i did look into the vmaxscart one before, ive got a turbo block im going to use but will need to choose a different cam.
worst problem is getting things set up, very few rolling roads close by and even less that know mini's!
i did look into the vmaxscart one before, ive got a turbo block im going to use but will need to choose a different cam.
worst problem is getting things set up, very few rolling roads close by and even less that know mini's!
chrisj_abz said:
thanks for the info, luckily up here in Aberdeen hot summers days are pretty rare....
i did look into the vmaxscart one before, ive got a turbo block im going to use but will need to choose a different cam.
worst problem is getting things set up, very few rolling roads close by and even less that know mini's!
Wallace Performance? They do my lads car an seem pretty good or have you had or heard of any bad news stories?i did look into the vmaxscart one before, ive got a turbo block im going to use but will need to choose a different cam.
worst problem is getting things set up, very few rolling roads close by and even less that know mini's!
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