Mark's R53 MINI GP

[Marchutch]

I have owned GP0636 for 8 years and in my ownership it has been gradually modified and upgraded to its current spec - a long list of mods centered around a whole new turbo converted engine with switchable maps up to around 450bhp.

Historically I have enjoyed taking it to track days, but there hasn't been a lot of that this year as I want to get used to the car in its current spec before I take it to a track, and I need to take some time off work to get the suspension alignment set up properly!

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Specification:

Turbo conversion:
1320 BVH with enlarged inlet and exhaust ports, single groove G&S valves, titanium collets and retainers, Crower springs and colsibro valve guides
New sleeved block (original engine crated)
Turbo: Owens GBT 5471
Wossner pistons
Tial MVS 38mm Wastegate Black
1320 Pro Alloy Intercooler Radiator & Fan Kit
Vibrant Shorty Air Filter
Link G4 MINILink Plugin ECU
Titan 4 Port Boost Control Solenoid
Dynamics ID1050X Injectors
ATI Super Damper
1320 Mini Con Rods
Canton expansion tank
Forge motorsport PAS tank

Osgiken Clutch & Flywheel
Osgiken Diff

KW Clubsports
KW front camber plates
KND Engineering rear control arms
Alta 22mm rear anti roll bar
Powerflex front wishbone rear bushes
Powerflex front anti roll bar bushes
Powerflex steering rack bush
Powerflex tensioner bush
Vibra Technics engine mount
Vibra Technics engine stabiliser
Vibra Technics gearbox mount
GTT front upper strut brace
Whiteline adjustable droplinks
Brembo 4 pot calipers with 328mm 2 piece cross drilled rotors front
Nitrac cryo treated slotted rotors rear
Carbotech XP8/AX6 pads
Braided lines all round
Motul RBF660 fluid

Cosworth ICD Digidash
Recaro Pole Position seats
CAE Shifter
MOMO Jet Steering wheel with quick release boss
Milltek exhaust customised to fit manifold
Schroth removable ASM harnesses
Partial retrim by SF Car Trimming

OZ Racing Prodrive 17" 7J / Rota Blitz 17" 7.5J - wrapped in Toyo R888 215/45 or Federal 595 RS-R 215/45 or Nankang AR-1 215/45

Edited by Marchutch on Saturday 10th August 07:39

Edited by Marchutch on Tuesday 20th August 07:25

[okenemem]

miss that supercharger sound

[Marchutch]

Not at all. I have constant turbo whistle now.

[Brompty]

Dear lord, that looks awesome.

[frayz]

Still got it then fella, looks like it’s emptied your wallet quite a bit since I last saw it too. Nice to see you’ve finally made thread for it as it’s a seriously high spec road car now, and good to see you’re still enjoying it.

Mines been gone 3 years already, Can’t say i miss it one bit. Lol.

[Darren93]

Wow I bet that's absolutely wind coming on boost from 3.3k to 4.5k, how does it grip? Would love to see how this thing accelerates!

[Marchutch]

It grips amazingly well with reduced boost in gears 1 and 2. Third gear actually pulls better than second for this reason.

A very minor and understandable oversight when bolting the rad and cooler together has meant that the rad was loose and has been holed on the water pump, but it should be back up and running in the next few weeks (the lead time for a new rad) and I’ll try to get some acceleration videos then.

[Matty322]

That looks awesome !

[Leins]

Wow, that’s a serious headline power number. Can only imagine how that shifts the little R53

Have you done much with the interior?

[Marchutch]

Leins said:

Wow, that’s a serious headline power number. Can only imagine how that shifts the little R53

Have you done much with the interior?

I have had a partial interior retrim by SF Trimming - most to get rid of the red interior rear quarter trims which I always hated, and also to cover the mounting points for the harnesses, which are bolted to the floor (which while not ideal, is within MSA blue book guidance, and will have to do until I can get a cage in the car)

[House86]

Sounds mental, thought my Cooper S with 210 BHP was quiet fast, cant imagine what its like with double the power

[G111MDS]

incredible GP you've built Mark.

Jamie (previously owned 0221)

[Marchutch]

G111MDS said:

incredible GP you've built Mark.

Jamie (previously owned 0221)

Thanks Jamie - all work done by clever people - I just pay the bills and try not to stack it :-)

[Marchutch]

House86 said:

Sounds mental, thought my Cooper S with 210 BHP was quiet fast, cant imagine what its like with double the power

Very, very fast up to speeds where aerodynamics become a significant factor, then tails off a fair bit. Still pulls pretty strongly at double motorway speeds though.

As I say, I'll try to get some vids up when it is back on the road.

[Marchutch]

Scott from 1320 drove all the way down to my place from Cambridgeshire to fix the GP right on my driveway. Complete hero stuff.











A little bit of remote mapping by Thomas, and she started right up. Took her out for a test drive and there doesn't seem to have been any obvious damage from getting a little hot a few weeks back. Happy days.

[Marchutch]

Will be taking the GP to the PHSS @ Cowley Plant later in the month. Might need some new tyres first though. Or I'll go retro and bolt the OEM wheels on with 5 year old road tyres and turn them into smoke.....

[Marchutch]

Well in turned out that the overheating had led to damage to the head. It’s all back together now and running nicely. Long may it last.

Also got some Meg RS250 brakes on there that are sharp as f**k

[Marchutch]

Discovered that the oil was getting very hot at a shakedown at Goodwood so got an oil cooler fitted at 1320MINI. Loving the old school thick braided lines with AN fittings - make me think of old race cars 🙂

Initial data logs are encouraging. Time to get booked in at Goodwood again....