Mini Vtec, or other engine options
Discussion
I currently have 2.5 minis, a 1998 Mpi, 1982 Mayfair and a BMH shell (To reshell the Mayfair in to). The Mpi Mini is my everyday car, and I love it – although I have just ordered a 530D as I have found myself making more and more journeys to Heathrow and Gatwick, 1.5hrs m’way driving in a mini is not great.
Although the Mpi is great it is not the best on the M’way and I have been thinking about what I can do with the Mayfair to make it more of a motorway car. My initial thoughts was to re-engine it with a Yamaha R1 engine, great sound and quite straight forward, but there is no torque from the engine, and I don’t think my ears could put up with the screaming from the chain drive all the time. So then I moved back to the A Series and the supercharged options, but these seem to be very inefficient and with a heavy right foot you can get single figure MPG!
So, I have now settled for a B16 Honda Conversion. 180+BHP and over 40MPG, 5 speed, LSD and one of the most reliable engines in the world – what is there not to like? What ever happens I am putting the engine in a standard length round nose mini, there is no way I am having a long nose conversion, they just don’t look right.
So, the question is. Am I mad? I know its not a true mini without the A Series but I will have all of the required parts to convert it back in a few hours, if I ever needed to, and Honda did have a long association with Rover for a good number of years, so that is justifying it to the purest in me!
Does anyone have any real experience of this conversion? I don’t really have a budget, but I expect it will be £10k or so. The interior will be a luxury racer type thing, electric windows, nice stereo, thick carpets, bucket seats, harness and a different driving position (central vertical steering wheel to the driver, like a touring car)
bike engines and b16's are a bit old hat aren't they?
Something a bit left field - 998/1275 Nissan Micra engine and box!?!?!? (bubble shape Micras)
If you believe the internet legends these engines are actually an all alloy, 16v, 5 speed - A Series with an end on gearbox!
Ok so the 65-85hp ain't going to set the world on fire but it's still over 100hp per ton and you should get a real world 40+ mpg!
Something a bit left field - 998/1275 Nissan Micra engine and box!?!?!? (bubble shape Micras)
If you believe the internet legends these engines are actually an all alloy, 16v, 5 speed - A Series with an end on gearbox!
Ok so the 65-85hp ain't going to set the world on fire but it's still over 100hp per ton and you should get a real world 40+ mpg!
nick1275 said:
you wont get that in standard front unless you go clubby front, and as for changing it back in a couple of hours, no hope.
would be worth having a look on somewere like the 16v mini forum and see whats really involved in doing such a conversion
You're wrong!would be worth having a look on somewere like the 16v mini forum and see whats really involved in doing such a conversion
And as for changing it in a couple of hours, I would expect no longer than an afternoon.
Extra 300 Driver said:
You're wrong!
And as for changing it in a couple of hours, I would expect no longer than an afternoon.
I have seen them in the round nose front ends but it is a tight fit. Plus won't you have to cut away some of the inner wings ?? And as for changing it in a couple of hours, I would expect no longer than an afternoon.
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