Minis - Who's got/had one?

**R6_kid:Me** · 13th July 2006, 12:53

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** · 13th July 2006, 13:39

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** · 13th July 2006, 19:16

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 13th July 2006, 19:37

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

**Mooch** · 15th July 2006, 11:49

Originally Posted by Jim2

PM Mooch...

Did someone say "Mini"

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** · 15th July 2006, 22:18

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** · 15th July 2006, 22:57

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** · 19th July 2006, 05:17

Originally Posted by Mooch

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** · 19th July 2006, 07:59

Originally Posted by Motu

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** · 22nd July 2006, 12:36

Originally Posted by NSR-Dan

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** · 22nd July 2006, 15:04

Originally Posted by Mooch

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** · 23rd July 2006, 11:21

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

gotta love em

**slowpoke** · 25th July 2006, 21:05

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....