Minis - Who's got/had one?

[R6_kid]

I'm looking at getting a mini clubman as a project once i sort my finances out. Who's got or had a mini of any type? Post pics if you have them.

[James Deuce]

PM Mooch...

[Mr. Peanut]

NSR-Dan is turbocharging his. :yes:

[NSR-Dan]

sweet if you wana trade ideas etc that would be good, im rebuilding a round nose.

got a ex 1275 GT race engine to be turbo'd. i got some good websites for parts too.

my msn is realsnazy@hotmail.com. email daniel@dsracing.co.nz

pics is what i want it to look like and a similar engine im looking at putting in it

as you see i have alot of work

[Motu]

:gob: :nono: :nono: :angry:

Pity Graham Gordon isn't opperating anymore - he was a real eye opener on all things BMC.

[SlowHand]

Sweet! stoppies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SPfJXYk3Vw&search=stoppie

[slowpoke]

Been down the whole "turbo'd mini" road, and it was a hell of a ride, windy as hell, with plenty of ups and downs not to mention potholes a plenty! Looking back it wasn't the smartest thing to do given my limited time at home but it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately we had to sell the poor wee abused lil' bugger when we came back to NZ.
I'm stuck in another stinkin' airport as I type this so unfortunately I can't post pic's at the mo'.
Hmmmm, how serious are you about the whole turbo thang? Just for a giggle or are you after SERIOUS horsepower? You need to make the decision NOW.
If you are after serious mumbo the race donk you've got may not be the best starting point, however attractive it may sound.
Turbo's need short duration high lift cams and lower compression which is kind of the opposite of your normally aspirated donk. Your turbo'd engine will also make huge torque which will kill a standard-ish gearbox. You'll also have to find a sealed carburettor so you can have a blow-through turbo setup rather than a suck-through, 'cos otherwise you won't be able to run an intercooler.
If you are serious then my advice is to source an MG Metro Turbo engine/gearbox unit. Then you'll have a stronger gearbox (stronger idler gears), sodium filled exhaust valves, sealed carb, lube and scavenge lines to the turbo, T3 turbo, stronger block, better head cooling etc. Then all you've got to do is lower the compression ratio (they ran fairly high standard with low boost), fit an intercooler and crank up the boost.
Yep, mine was awesome fun but the lil' bugger sorely tried my patience as I struggled to get it setup right.
Like I said decide NOW how serious you are about it otherwise you'll just end up repeating work you should have only had to do once.

[TonyB]

I had a Clubman 1000- nothing fancy tho. Still heaps of fun. We had to drive it to Nelson once- the car had a great stereo... but we switched it off cause the bloody car made so much noise on its own LOL The real crackup was being able to pass much more powerful cars while going UP HILL simply because we carried so much more corner speed- the looks we got were priceless. My Mini had a quirky habit tho, every now and again for no apparent reason the brake bias would go bizerk and spin the thing side on. It happened maybe 5 times in 6 months, always in the wet- just as well Minis are so bloody short, side on it still fitted in my lane.

I went for a ride with Pete from Superchips when he was chipping a new Cooper S Turbo for Archibalds(?). The chip that gave it maximum go without needing engine work had it spinning in the first two gears.

[Biohazard]

DO IT DO IT

Wifey wants a mini aswell, Mmmmm project car:blip:

Get one and have fun....



You know hyou'll regret it, i still remember my first one...

Ah a 998cc Mayfair (then got moded a bit:innocent: ).

[Devil]

Or you could put the money towards the race bike :P

But I do know you can fit a a Honda 1600cc Vtec engine in that engine bay, and can put you in touch with someone who's done it...
They'll be able to tell you how they got over 200hp out of it too, while still being n/a.

[skelstar]

Had a 1275GT with big bore exhaust, twin 1 1/4 SU carbs. 12" mini-lites and it was metalic brown with met-gold stickers. Coolest car Ive ever owned and was thinking about it yesterday.

[kiwifruit]

my first car was a mini leyland
great fun! blew up the standard 1000 engine, replaced it with a worked 1275
:woohoo:
You will love it Gareth, it will be a bloody squeeze tho.... arent u like 6 foot 3 or something? :lol:

[Motu]

I've worked on a shit load of Mini's,and absolute shit load.They used to be one of the most popular cars on the road,along with their 1100/1300 clones.We had a 1962 as our family car in the mid '60's,my father was intrigued with them,and just had to have one to see how they ticked.My mother had a couple...I've only had one,still had it in 2000 I think.

You name it,and I've pulled it apart and put it back together.We were always doing head gaskets and burnt valves - I could get a head off a Mini in 3/4 hr,the insides of my forearms nearly always had a burn mark where I did an exhaust flange on a hot engine.I used to do rubber cross joints in 20 mins,no air tools,no ratchets,just twirling spanners.There was a special tool to remove and replace the engine - it lifted the engine out on a tilt to clear the final drive and firewall,then you moved the chain to a different position to lift it level,so you could pull the engine off the trans.My boss borrowed one off the local dealer....and made a copy before he gave it back.Now you can buy them anywhere.Clutches were a 2 hr job (no air tools again) I still have the tool I made that I dropped into the flywheel teeth and jammed in the starter hole so I could get the big flywheel nut undone.Often we would find a gear tooth on the magnetic drain plug....then we'd pull the engine,split it and do a final drive pinion and put it back in.No worries.Filthy,filthy work.

Don't ever want another one,don't ever want to work on another one....

[avgas]

Old man had a 1275 (with the 1318 kit), twin dellortos (that were big enough to mean the firewall had to move, fully drop forged kit, mild cam that only went stable above 3K (drove the neighbours nuts), twin side-by-side coby setups and standard wheels widend to 7in front 8in rears. Was fantastic, untill my sis was on the way and the old man joined the mod squad and bought the Ford Thames.

[ZeroIndex]

I used to have a purple/white roof mini stationwagon.. was mint as (back in south africa).. lots of fun..

[ZeroIndex]

check this out for some good ideas: VTEC Mini (http://www.gomini.com/fs/vtec/vtec.htm)

[R6_kid]

know about the vtec thing, but something in me just screams WRONG!!! Its jappa in british skin... That kinda half japanese just doesnt do it for me unfortunately.

Its the one of few mechanical contraptions the brits got right so why ruin it.

The plan in my head is get the car looking good, then handling and stopping good, then get more juice. Probably go in the form of an overbore and eventually a turbo.

Dont worry devil, the only money im gonna be spending on a mini (if i get one) is on night school courses so i can do the work myself, or on beer/smokes to get someone to show me how.

[ZeroIndex]

know about the vtec thing, but something in me just screams WRONG!!! Its jappa in british skin... That kinda half japanese just doesnt do it for me unfortunately.

Its the one of few mechanical contraptions the brits got right so why ruin it.

The plan in my head is get the car looking good, then handling and stopping good, then get more juice. Probably go in the form of an overbore and eventually a turbo.

Dont worry devil, the only money im gonna be spending on a mini (if i get one) is on night school courses so i can do the work myself, or on beer/smokes to get someone to show me how.
and then there's the one mini station wagon that i wished i owned.. behind the front seats was sealed off, and for the first time in history, a harley davidson engine was used for a 'good' purpose......

Q: ever seen a mini stationwagon with a harley engine in the back do a burnout [Mid-Engine/RWD]?
A: OMG YES!!!! GIMME GIMME GIMME

[James Deuce]

Every Japanese car firm owes its origins to BMC in some way. Nissan took O and M series engines and made them work and work reliably. With twice the horsepower.

[Motu]

Or more correctly Sir Alec Isognosis - he was responsable for the Morris Minor,The Series II Oxford,the Mini and 1800,and a whole lot more.His designs put function over form and always gave maximun interior space - it's always a surprise when you get into one of his cars and see how huge they are inside.I wonder what he could of done if he hadn't been curbed in all his work by BMC?

The A and B series motors were Austin designs were very advanced for their time,over head valve and all that tricky stuff.But lots of problems from the Weslake designed cylinder head,with it's heart shaped combustion chamber and siamesed ports.I've got a lot of time for the B block,having had several.I fitted a 1622cc out of an A60 into my 1954 A40 pick up,then later put the same motor into our Series II Oxford.I'd also fitted the A60 brakes,wheels and diff into the A40,going from 17in wheels to ''fat'' 14in.It was a bit of a sleeper,I'll see if I can find a photo.I've also had a couple of MkI 1800's,and had a couple of wrecks to keep on my lawn too.They may be ugly but were a super impressive car - huge interior space,and exceptional handling on the open road and gravel.Landcrabs were a family tradition,and my daughters cried when we got rid of our 1967.

[Dooly]

I've worked on a shit load of Mini's,and absolute shit load.They used to be one of the most popular cars on the road,along with their 1100/1300 clones.We had a 1962 as our family car in the mid '60's,my father was intrigued with them,and just had to have one to see how they ticked.My mother had a couple...I've only had one,still had it in 2000 I think.

You name it,and I've pulled it apart and put it back together.We were always doing head gaskets and burnt valves - I could get a head off a Mini in 3/4 hr,the insides of my forearms nearly always had a burn mark where I did an exhaust flange on a hot engine.I used to do rubber cross joints in 20 mins,no air tools,no ratchets,just twirling spanners.There was a special tool to remove and replace the engine - it lifted the engine out on a tilt to clear the final drive and firewall,then you moved the chain to a different position to lift it level,so you could pull the engine off the trans.My boss borrowed one off the local dealer....and made a copy before he gave it back.Now you can buy them anywhere.Clutches were a 2 hr job (no air tools again) I still have the tool I made that I dropped into the flywheel teeth and jammed in the starter hole so I could get the big flywheel nut undone.Often we would find a gear tooth on the magnetic drain plug....then we'd pull the engine,split it and do a final drive pinion and put it back in.No worries.Filthy,filthy work.

Don't ever want another one,don't ever want to work on another one....

Oh how I echo all that.

My old man was the top BMC mechanic in the area and when he started our business 35 yrs ago after leaving the BMC dealer half their clients came with him.
I did my time working on all those BMC shitters. Sometimes we could have 6 or more Minis in at once plus the usual crap like 1100s, Allegros etc etc.
Was soul destroying.
Fortunately most are off the road now.
Alas we possess the only hydrolastic suspension pump up machine in the bay so we tend to still get a lot of the shitters in, plus the later model MGs etc.

Character building I used to say.

Used to be a bloke around here had a 350 Chev in a Mini, had big rear tyres, everything under the guards, no bonnet bulge or anything.
Quite impressive for one of them.

[Kickaha]

I did my time working on all those BMC shitters. Sometimes we could have 6 or more Minis in at once plus the usual crap like 1100s, Allegros etc etc.


Same here

I worked for a BMC dealer for 5 years (as the boy) and I grew to loathe those things, I got the crap jobs pulling them apart so the mechanics didn't have to

got a mate who has one out to around 1300cc with a whole bunch of mods and nitrous

[Motu]

So you guys have the dent in the back of your head where the bonnet catch hit too? We had our own home made pump.A contractor came in one day and said he used that same pump to grease his bully about 20 yrs before.It was a little steel drum with a hand pump - we would clip the valve on and hand pump next to the wheel with a tape measure in our other hand.Ah,the smell of hydrolastic fluid - how many people could pick that one out in a smell test?

[Dooly]

So you guys have the dent in the back of your head where the bonnet catch hit too? We had our own home made pump.A contractor came in one day and said he used that same pump to grease his bully about 20 yrs before.It was a little steel drum with a hand pump - we would clip the valve on and hand pump next to the wheel with a tape measure in our other hand.Ah,the smell of hydrolastic fluid - how many people could pick that one out in a smell test?

Fuckin bonnets!

We have been using antifeeze in the hydro machine for years to pump them up.
Works fine.

[James Deuce]

Ah,the smell of hydrolastic fluid - how many people could pick that one out in a smell test?

You spelled hydrolastic wrong - hydrospastic thanks.

[_Gina_]

Had a yellow & black Clubman 1275, was such a cool car, something about being so close to the ground I'd guess. Had a momo steering wheel and mags, also those silly pedal overlays which were shaped like feet!!

Sold it for a Skyline Turbo, which I kept for 6 months then sold 'cause I was going to kill myself if I didn't.

To buy a decent one would be an investment I'd say!


Gg

[Motu]

You spelled hydrolastic wrong - hydrospastic thanks.

But most Mini's had Molten rubber suspension....




Ok,Moulton.

[Kickaha]

So you guys have the dent in the back of your head where the bonnet catch hit too?

Biggest dent in my head came from the collapsing land rover bonnet complete with spare tyre on it

[James Deuce]

Austin A40 Countryman bonnet. If both sides didn't click then you were doomed. I'm rubbing the dent on my head as I type.

[Dadpole]

Biggest dent in my head came from the collapsing land rover bonnet complete with spare tyre on it

I share your pain, and have that dent too.
Great to watch it happening to others but.

[R6_kid]

i've heard of an 850cc mini pickup with a 3.5L V8 in the tray under a cover. Story went that he pulled up next to a 'sacked out RX3' and challenged the guy to a race. The cocky fellow in the Rx3 thinking he was the man said yeh ok, at which point the guy in the mini turned the 850 off and started the V8 in the back... much to the dispise of the Rx3 who was then blown away from the lights by a mini pickup on only the two back wheels.

[marty]

i've got a supercharged 6 speed cooper s in jaguar blue, with 17's, minilites and stripes over the bonnet. it's pretty cool

[NSR-Dan]

Been down the whole "turbo'd mini" road, and it was a hell of a ride, windy as hell, with plenty of ups and downs not to mention potholes a plenty! Looking back it wasn't the smartest thing to do given my limited time at home but it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately we had to sell the poor wee abused lil' bugger when we came back to NZ.
I'm stuck in another stinkin' airport as I type this so unfortunately I can't post pic's at the mo'.
Hmmmm, how serious are you about the whole turbo thang? Just for a giggle or are you after SERIOUS horsepower? You need to make the decision NOW.
If you are after serious mumbo the race donk you've got may not be the best starting point, however attractive it may sound.
Turbo's need short duration high lift cams and lower compression which is kind of the opposite of your normally aspirated donk. Your turbo'd engine will also make huge torque which will kill a standard-ish gearbox. You'll also have to find a sealed carburettor so you can have a blow-through turbo setup rather than a suck-through, 'cos otherwise you won't be able to run an intercooler.
If you are serious then my advice is to source an MG Metro Turbo engine/gearbox unit. Then you'll have a stronger gearbox (stronger idler gears), sodium filled exhaust valves, sealed carb, lube and scavenge lines to the turbo, T3 turbo, stronger block, better head cooling etc. Then all you've got to do is lower the compression ratio (they ran fairly high standard with low boost), fit an intercooler and crank up the boost.
Yep, mine was awesome fun but the lil' bugger sorely tried my patience as I struggled to get it setup right.
Like I said decide NOW how serious you are about it otherwise you'll just end up repeating work you should have only had to do once.

Yeah dont worry mate i have done the research, Avonbar supply most parts for turbo mini's

Stronger cons and crank with 18cc pistons to lower compression. the block will have undercrown cooling jets fitted
Longman head modified for hi-boost applications, with high lift rockers an special valves etc
avonbar phase 2 turbo camshaft
The HIF44 carb can be blocked off and is the same carb used on the A+ turbo metro block.
high flow turbo oil pump with 10fan 15 row oil cooler,
uprated water pump with electric fan
gearbox is a rod change with jack night straightcut gears and drop gears.
custom tourque steer diff with uprates driveshafts.
Garret hybrid T25 Turbo with intercooler to run about 12psi of boost

i have bought a custom exhaust manifold and down pipe from mirage motorsport thats designed so you dont have to cut and weild a box in the firewall but i have done it anyway to allow more space between turbo and firewall to allow for better cooling.

[NSR-Dan]

ive got a few movies of a mini with a busa engine in the back seat.

[Mooch]

PM Mooch...



Did someone say "Mini" :blip:

Got one of these "Mini Projects"

It's a old 64 Mark 1 , Painted BRG with white roof and been converted to dry suspensionwhit is lower off course. Front end has adjustable Camber / Caster and that kind of thing with a quick rack steering. I've been collecting bits for it over the last 12 years or so . The plan is for a period style club car in line with what used to be done in the seventies. I'm staying with the orginal 10 inch wheels (ward mags) so will need to find some Cooper S Brakes.
Engine wise will either go down the 1000 cc with 1275 head with twin 45's (Like current Mini 7's) or down the 1380 , overbored offset crank path (Hopefully it will hold together).

I agree with most of the comments here regarding working on the buggers , included that bl**dy bonnet catch , and the lack of room for tools (Read skin ripped off hands).
Good to see people here really know there stuff as well.

Been around minis for a while , Brother had a club car powered by a 1071s engine with all the race components & mods of the time. Engine backfires with 45's could be interesting in the cabin. Pitting the engine isn't around anymore , rearer than hens teeth. Later the engine ended up in Mums 850 mini van. Used to suprise the odd person or two.

[myvice]

Ya all sick!
I had a mini as my first car, abused it so much I was rebuilding it every other week!
That’s how I got started as a mechanic, them and V.W's haunt my dreams and I wake up screaming in a cold sweat!
My poor wife has to pacify me and tell me its ok, as they’re mostly Japanese now...
They be cursed they be!

Good luck, and have fun!

P.S. I own no Imperial tools anymore so don’t ask me for a 3456/3847568th's Whitworth dogleg spanner!

[Motu]

Have a draw for SAE,have a draw for whitworth - I never throw anything out,specialy not tools! Some little tricks were used to do,much easier when we got a MIG - weld the bolts onto the exhaust flange,then you only need three hands when fitting it.Weld the bolts to the engine mounts,then you don't need extentions in your arms to reach over the guard to hold the bolt while you fit the nut.Leave the lower rear bolt off the bell housing,you can't reach it anyway - and the next guy to do a clutch will be singing your praises to heaven.

[NSR-Dan]

I agree with most of the comments here regarding working on the buggers , included that bl**dy bonnet catch , and the lack of room for tools (Read skin ripped off hands).
.

do what i did and cut the front back and fit a pivoting front end. i got a carbon fiber one. no bonet catch and alot more room to work with. still hard at the back where the exhaust manifold sits though.

[Dooly]

Have a draw for SAE,have a draw for whitworth - I never throw anything out,specialy not tools!

Yep, me too, got pies and piles of those tools.
Mine are all for decoritive use now and reminicising.
Not that I do much workshop time now.
And that suits me fine.

[Mooch]

do what i did and cut the front back and fit a pivoting front end. i got a carbon fiber one. no bonet catch and alot more room to work with. still hard at the back where the exhaust manifold sits though.

Would sort out the bonnet issue ! but I suspect my bugget is somewhat smaller than yours. What has that engine / gearbox cost so far if you don't mind me asking.

I suspect you won't have much change left from 30 -40 k building the car when you've finished.

[NSR-Dan]

Would sort out the bonnet issue ! but I suspect my bugget is somewhat smaller than yours. What has that engine / gearbox cost so far if you don't mind me asking.

I suspect you won't have much change left from 30 -40 k building the car when you've finished.

bonnet catch jamming, i had the same issue with mine befre i cut the front enf back.

engine block cost me $300nz, getting it bored out and undercrown oil jets fitted was $400.

but estimated the engine will cost around 12k. the body and interior of the car will be about 10k.

[babyB]

Minis wahooo
yep had 3 of them (1 a van) rebult 2 of them, went through way too many gearboxes:innocent: gotta love em

[slowpoke]

Finally got around to organising a couple of pic's. Started as a wee 1100 with some good gear, just for the missus to tootle off to work in. Then things kind of....er....mutated.....

1963 Deluxe
13 x 7" Minilites
Cooper disc's
Metro turbo motor and 'box (rebuilt, decompression plate, modded head etc))
T3 Turbo running 12psi boost
TX3 intercooler
Fibreglass bonnet and boot lids
Twin tanks
yada yada

A lot of trials and tribulations, working to a small budget but awesome fun....until it rained, then it was just absolutely mental. When it rained traction was just a theory, not something you were ever likely to experience....

[R6_kid]

Thats a nice looking setup! Well presented and very tidy engine bay too.

So what sort of money did the discs and engine setup end up costing you?

[skelstar]

Man thats a pretty cool looking Mini slowpoke. Might have to have a look some day... :niceone:

[SimJen]

I had a 74 round nose when I was at school. White with black bonnet stripes.
I fitted dual tanks, Dual SU's just the standard Cooper type stuff. Rear cage etc. Angus Fogg did a heap of work to the suspension and got it pretty much the same as a Mini7 racer of the time (this was while he was working at Honda in Cambridge). He did so much work and lots of it for nothing, really helped me out at the time. I still got his old race suit which I got cheap as with a burn on the side from where something ignited, lucky they were flame proof.
Belonged to the Mini Cooper club for years, lots of fun doing sprints, gymkhana type stuff.
I was in the process of having Angus build me a full race 1380+ motor, but priorities changed (women) and bought a Jappa coupe.
So many young guys do them up craply....really narks me that they add a ricer look to them.
I prefer the original race/rally look with a slightly modern twist ie big wheels, or smoothed arches etc.
Still miss it :(

[SPman]

Got my licence in an 850 Mini in "63 - geez they were slow - fun though.
The 1293 in Sydney in '70 was better though, Had a full race Peter Malloy worked engine, my brother and I worked for Neil Allen and Peter was his race mechanic - 45 DCOE Weber and all the good bits - 114mph on the Freeway to Newcastle - doesnt sound like much now, but the top ones at Puke at the time were pulling about the same speeds on the back straight.
I'd still love a Mk1 Cooper S 970.

[Motu]

I remember my brother giving me a few driving lessons as a 15 year old in his Mini,in about 1969.It was only an 850,but he was only a 17 yr old apprentice,so not a lot he could do to it.It had a Weber and cam - E3134 ?....no,that's something else....649 and 831,were they the BMC cams? Anyway he had the lumpiest one of course.Learning how to take off with a savage Mini clutch and a hot cam was a bit of a learning curve....and we had a few heated brotherly discusions about the results.So I learned in Mum's Mini.He painted it black with a gold roof and two gold stripes front and rear - that'd still look nice today.

I used to have a customer who retired the year I started work - he bought a house on the beach and sold his car...now he could spend his retirement playing around in boats.Then his wife won a Mini For Mum! He wasn't impressed.He used to bring it in for a WoF and for me to ''fix'' his clutch,I was the only mechanic allowed to work on his Mini.I'd found a lot of elderly people don't work the clutch hard enough (I know,I know,there are those who melted them!) and it would glaze and get juddery and snatchy - so I'd give it a burn on a road test.One happy customer.

Actualy I still have one elderly customer with a Mini,she's had it from new.We did a clutch on it a couple of years ago,new clutch plate,machined flywheel and pressure plate.And it turned out juddery....or atleast when she drove it.She didn't give it enough revs and it would shake and lurch - just a few more revs and it was smooth as silk.

''It's never been like that as long as I've had the car,it only started doing this when you put in the clutch''.We had another couple of looks at it (more time down the drain),but it was her driving style that was the problem.How do you tell her that both of them are old and worn out and shouldn't be on the road?

[Hawkeye]

Now here is a nice mini....:blip:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60&page=3&highlight=biker+chicks post #42

[slowpoke]

Thats a nice looking setup! Well presented and very tidy engine bay too.

So what sort of money did the discs and engine setup end up costing you?

The brakes upgrade cost about $500 by the time I overhauled everything, but the hard part was finding somewhere to stash the brake booster. I tried running without it with the grippiest pads I could find but still needed a leg like Jonah Lomu to get 'em to lock up. I ended up fitting it inside, under the dash.

The engine cost? Bloody hell, I've been tryin' to keep that secret from my missus for ages so you've gotta promise not to tell ok?
I picked up the engine and gearbox separately (some mumpty imported the engine for his MG Midget, not realising the minor difference of front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive!) So initially about $1000. The engine came with a spare turbo (needed recon), just as well 'cos the original was beyond repair! I left the gearbox freshen up to the pro's but rebuilt and modded the engine myself. All up it still cost me over $4000. That's Australian dollars so not sure how much parts are over here now, maybe cheaper 'cos Mini's aren't exactly thick on the ground over there. I snuck some cash from the missus and bought stuff like a quick change gearlever, bigger "rimflow" inlet valves, adjustable blow off valve, extra gauges etc so you could do it cheaper if wanted too.
It was absolutely the most fun car I've ever owned, with bus drivers opening their doors at traffic lights to have a chat, bikies giving you the thumbs up as they go by, people commenting in carparks etc. Funny as phuk blowing away the boy racers and seeing the "What the..?" expression on their face at the next lights, haha...

[slowpoke]

Yeah dont worry mate i have done the research, Avonbar supply most parts for turbo mini's

Stronger cons and crank with 18cc pistons to lower compression. the block will have undercrown cooling jets fitted
Longman head modified for hi-boost applications, with high lift rockers an special valves etc
avonbar phase 2 turbo camshaft
The HIF44 carb can be blocked off and is the same carb used on the A+ turbo metro block.
high flow turbo oil pump with 10fan 15 row oil cooler,
uprated water pump with electric fan
gearbox is a rod change with jack night straightcut gears and drop gears.
custom tourque steer diff with uprates driveshafts.
Garret hybrid T25 Turbo with intercooler to run about 12psi of boost

i have bought a custom exhaust manifold and down pipe from mirage motorsport thats designed so you dont have to cut and weild a box in the firewall but i have done it anyway to allow more space between turbo and firewall to allow for better cooling.

Mmmmmmmmmmm Avonbar....(Homers voice, looking at a donut)

Luvverly stuff...I used to spend hours drooling over their catalog and then about 10sec looking at my bank balance realising I couldn't afford any of it, haha!
Sounds like you are on first name terms with Vizards' Bible so you are on to it, persevere ('cos you WILL be tested!) and you'll have a blast.

[slowpoke]

Man thats a pretty cool looking Mini slowpoke. Might have to have a look some day... :niceone:

Just memories and scars to prove it now Skelstar....we had to flog it off when we came back over from Oz earlier in the year.

[Motu]

You guys missed out on some bargins in the '80's.Motor Corp were selling ''Gold seal'' engine transmission units - they were complete minus manifolds and dist,and painted gold.They were supposed to be factory rebuilt units.They were a good price but not selling,so they started to split them - you could get a long block,a trans,or a cyl head.I fitted several,blocks,transmissions and cyl heads - and I can tell you they weren't rebuilt,they were BRAND NEW!!.Virgin castings,new studs and bolts etc - they must of been some sort of disposal from BMC,or British Leyland as it was then.

The parts rep for Motor Corp was Graham Gordon - and when he left he took nearly all their parts stock,all the old stuff and a lot of new stuff too.Graham was the man,but a bit difficult to deal with....actualy a lot of fun to deal with,if you knew his ways.

[slowpoke]

You guys missed out on some bargins in the '80's.Motor Corp were selling ''Gold seal'' engine transmission units - they were complete minus manifolds and dist,and painted gold.They were supposed to be factory rebuilt units.They were a good price but not selling,so they started to split them - you could get a long block,a trans,or a cyl head.I fitted several,blocks,transmissions and cyl heads - and I can tell you they weren't rebuilt,they were BRAND NEW!!.Virgin castings,new studs and bolts etc - they must of been some sort of disposal from BMC,or British Leyland as it was then.

The parts rep for Motor Corp was Graham Gordon - and when he left he took nearly all their parts stock,all the old stuff and a lot of new stuff too.Graham was the man,but a bit difficult to deal with....actualy a lot of fun to deal with,if you knew his ways.

Thank god you didn't metion the money they were going for...I've got a feeling I would by blubbin' like a baby right about now!
Graham Gordon sounds like your typical BMC purist...not a wanker or anything...just subtley shall we say "different", to most other people....

[SPman]

You guys missed out on some bargins in the '80's.Motor Corp were selling ''Gold seal'' engine transmission units - they were complete minus manifolds and dist,and painted gold..........Was that when they were selling brand new 4.4l "Leyland" V8's for bugger all?

[Motu]

Yeah,they had Mini engines and 4.4 V8s on the parts room floor.Those were the P76 engine I think,most found their way into Triumph Stags which were blowing apart everywhere at the same time.Always liked the P76,so simple and far better handling and power than the Aussie big 3.

An Aussie journo/racer,Evan,? Euan? Green took a near stock P76 in one of the big London to Somewhere rally's.The only things beating it were Alfa's and Audi's,it was very impressive for a big tank.But he got lost in the desert and ripped the front end out.That was the rally where Stirling Moss wrecked his Merc and nearly died,lost in the desert.

[skelstar]

Fark, Ive driven a Stag with the P76 Leyland V8 in it and it was awfull. Felt like it had a 90%-10% weight split.

[dawnrazor]

i like short skirts

[pete376403]

I did a turbo mini for a speedway car (Rob Simpson) back in the 80's
1300 block bored out with 1200 flat top Datsun pistons. 1300 crank offset ground to take S rods (smaller journal size) gave capacity of 1440, and a static compression of 8:1 with standard thickness gasket. S inlet and exhaust valves, 649 cam. IHI RHB6P11 turbo blowing through Weber DCOE 45. Sealed bearings on the butterfly spindle, and the float chamber vented into the airbox so float chamber saw same air pressure as venturis. Plastic Del'Orto floats in the carb as the standard Weber sheet brass ones would collapse under pressure and sink, causing flooding and fire. Fuel pump was from a Triumph 2.5PI, boost controlled modulator valve controlled the fuel pressure so it was always about 4 psi higher than boost pressure. No intercooler but we did try water injection via windscreen washer bottle and pump switched on by a pressure switch (vauxhall viva oil pressure switch) when boost was over 8 psi. Max boost was 10 psi controlled by wategate. Turbo was located over the clutch housing and oil drained back though the transfer gear breather hole. Exhaust manifold was fabricated from thickwall square tubing but was always cracking, cast iron would have been better. dyno testing on rolling road saw over 130hp at the wheels and, once the float problem was sorted, extremely reliable. Won a 2.3 litre class for a number of seasons until turbos were finally banned in that class.
If some of the items used look a bit "quaint" remember that in the early 80s there were very few turbo cars on the road apart from Mitsi Cordias and Tredias and aftermarket turbo accessories just could not be found in NZ

[pete376403]

I remember my brother giving me a few driving lessons as a 15 year old in his Mini,in about 1969.It was only an 850,but he was only a 17 yr old apprentice,so not a lot he could do to it.It had a Weber and cam - E3134 ?....no,that's something else....?
Triumph 650 Bonneville, IIRC

And a 649 cam in an 850 would make for a pretty peaky wee thing. OK in a 1300 or bigger

[pete376403]

If I can get a scanner working I'll post some pics from a "Cars and car conversions" mag from December 74. Has a full space framed mini with a Ford BDA motor. Pretty cool, even 30 odd years later