would you use a belt drive conversion

[pikeyboy]

Hi everyone, i dont have a mini but i do race a frogeye sprite that has the old faithful A series engine in it so i thought you nice people may be able to offer me some pearls of wisdom.

I've just bought a spare engine for the race car, it's a 1380 with a longman gt15 head and a vernier belt drive conversion. I'm planning on giving it a freshen up and am thinking about getting ditching the belt drive, is this a good idea. Personally I dont lke to think about the top of the engine being joined to the bottom by a piece of elastic at 7500rpm.

also what cam would you guys recomend, i use a BP300 in my other enigne but this is very cammy and peaky, i thought something less hairy might give me better pull out of the slower corners, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Pikey.

[fwdracer]

My Mini Se7en race motor revs to 8000+ with its vernier adjustable belt drive. Never had any issues - Change the belt every 2 seasons.

Have a look at the timing figures for Swiftunes SW10 Cam. Might be what you are looking for, either that or go to mapped ignition to make what you've got a bit more tractable.

[pikeyboy]

I've been looking at those swift tune cams, most people seem to rave about them.
unfortuneatley mapped ignition systems are prohibited in my class regs.

thanks for the reply.

pikey

[love machine]

Yes, I'd use all of that which you have. It's a good engine by the sound of it.

If you're worried about the belt snapping, get a slark gear drive!

It would be a sin to put a SW cam in it.

[ferg]

I used a belt drive on all my best mini engines. Mind you that was 1981 and things may have changed since then....

[danwebster]

Best cam my brother ever put in his 5 port 1380 was the crane VP8C, we're going back 10 years or so now but it outperformed anything else that was on the scene at the time. 5 porters love lift!