Would I be mad...?
Discussion
I've had my little 89F Mayfair for 9 years now and I will never ever ever sell it. Its my car and I love it regardless of what people say.
Now, the TVR is going due to the imminent pitter patter of tiny feet. So I am left with a few choices as what to do for a fun car.
One of which is to go and buy a shopping trolley (Citroen C3) and then spend the left over cash on the Mini. This leaves me in a bit of a quandry.
Do I go for the full Integra Type R VTEC conversion with the Weber Throttle Bodies and the DTA management for around £10K and then spend another £5K or so on paint, body and interior mods or just spend around £5K on a hot A-Series and the body mods?
My concern with the VTEC is that it will be too
But then there is an even more ludicrous (and significantly more expensive) option of the Z Cars twin R1 engined RWD conversion.
I just dont know, and asking a bunch of mini nuts is probably not the best place to start!
Matt.
Now, the TVR is going due to the imminent pitter patter of tiny feet. So I am left with a few choices as what to do for a fun car.
One of which is to go and buy a shopping trolley (Citroen C3) and then spend the left over cash on the Mini. This leaves me in a bit of a quandry.
Do I go for the full Integra Type R VTEC conversion with the Weber Throttle Bodies and the DTA management for around £10K and then spend another £5K or so on paint, body and interior mods or just spend around £5K on a hot A-Series and the body mods?
My concern with the VTEC is that it will be too
But then there is an even more ludicrous (and significantly more expensive) option of the Z Cars twin R1 engined RWD conversion.
I just dont know, and asking a bunch of mini nuts is probably not the best place to start!
Matt.
jeremyc said: Have you already got the necessary suspension, brakes etc. to cope with the VTEC power?
If not, I'd suggest spending some of the cash on that first ....
That would all be done at the same time, it'll get 4 pots and GAZ coil overs and full adjustable rose joints on all arms...
I dont want an Integra Type R, its all about keeping the Mini as I'll never sell and never let it rot.
Matt.
My brother is looking into the Z cars R1 engined mini (single not twin 
) - about £8k all in (plus the mini), should bloody fly, plus you can always turbo it when you find it a bit slow 
I still want to stick a turbo hayabusa engine in the front of my mini when I get the £4.5k it'll cost for the engine.
) - about £8k all in (plus the mini), should bloody fly, plus you can always turbo it when you find it a bit slow I still want to stick a turbo hayabusa engine in the front of my mini when I get the £4.5k it'll cost for the engine
.Is there a company that specialise in this busa engine in the front?
I may give Z Cars a quick call now, but have been put off by that chap in this months Mini World thats spent £37K so far! But then Bill Sollis does say that its the quickest car he has *ever* driven...
320bhp in a Mini, how amusing, bye bye Ferrari!
Matt.
>> Edited by plotloss on Thursday 24th April 12:03
I may give Z Cars a quick call now, but have been put off by that chap in this months Mini World thats spent £37K so far!
But then Bill Sollis does say that its the quickest car he has *ever* driven... 320bhp in a Mini, how amusing, bye bye Ferrari!
Matt.
>> Edited by plotloss on Thursday 24th April 12:03
Never heard of the hayabusa engine in the front, but there's a first time for everything, and I've been thinking it would be a good idea for years. Just got to get a decent job to fund it
The 8K was a full 'all in' quote from Z cars for 1 R1 engine AFAIK.
Edited to add: Holeshot racing can get 450 bhp out of the busa engine
>> Edited by Fatboy on Thursday 24th April 13:38
The 8K was a full 'all in' quote from Z cars for 1 R1 engine AFAIK.
Edited to add: Holeshot racing can get 450 bhp out of the busa engine
>> Edited by Fatboy on Thursday 24th April 13:38
I called earlier but the chap wasnt there. The guy I spoke to said it all depends on components but I cant really see how they keep all that much of the original car.
I dont imagine the quaife reverse box is cheap in itself though.
If its under £15K then the odd supercar may be getting a shock!
Matt.
I dont imagine the quaife reverse box is cheap in itself though.
If its under £15K then the odd supercar may be getting a shock!
Matt.
From what my brother told me (he's not the most technical person on the planet) they basicall cut out the rear from the seats back, weld in a rollcage/new subframe (spaceframe type arrangement) and a new bulkhead for it, but keep the outer shell intact and as undisturbed as possible for the Q-car effect
I know some guy has put a rover V8 in the front of a mini 
, but I vaguely remember someone making a mid-engined RV8 car, based on a space frame chassis/RC and GRP panels to look like a mini. That would be good fun!
My brother had (many years ago) a tuned 1380 mini which was mainly GRP, and that was damn quick.
Sparks
, but I vaguely remember someone making a mid-engined RV8 car, based on a space frame chassis/RC and GRP panels to look like a mini. That would be good fun! My brother had (many years ago) a tuned 1380 mini which was mainly GRP, and that was damn quick.
Sparks
Hi Matt, try here for a VTEC conversion using the 1.6 or 1.8L's - the whole conversion is only 7k - that's all in IIRC, engine, suspension, labour, etc.
As for the twin engined R1 mini, I saw it on the A1 last week, it's only a mini in the sense of the shape & alloys, but it is pretty fast though - the owner reckoned on 2.7 to 60 mph, which, even allowing for owners' embellishment is still hellish quick....
Personal opinion is 1380cc with 7 or 8 port head - these can see 160-170 hp at the crank if you go wild, certainly a reliable 150 or so, and Green & White will build you one with all necessary suspension etc for 4k, or a 5 port (like the one i'm getting
) for 2.5k.
edit: you could always go for a turbo motor, that's an easy 140 - 170 hp, but I keep hearing stories of rebuilds every 10k
>> Edited by minimax on Thursday 24th April 19:35
As for the twin engined R1 mini, I saw it on the A1 last week, it's only a mini in the sense of the shape & alloys, but it is pretty fast though - the owner reckoned on 2.7 to 60 mph, which, even allowing for owners' embellishment is still hellish quick....
Personal opinion is 1380cc with 7 or 8 port head - these can see 160-170 hp at the crank if you go wild, certainly a reliable 150 or so, and Green & White will build you one with all necessary suspension etc for 4k, or a 5 port (like the one i'm getting
) for 2.5k. edit: you could always go for a turbo motor, that's an easy 140 - 170 hp, but I keep hearing stories of rebuilds every 10k
>> Edited by minimax on Thursday 24th April 19:35
Forget the C3 - buy a Getz from me £6995 OTR
I would keep an A series in the Mini, just tune it & don't forget there are two sides to Power to Weight Ratio....
Curley Mouldings for instance.....here
A Carbon Fibre Front, Doors, Bonnet, Roof & boot floor should save a few kilos.....
Force Racing for a few titanium bits to save a few more kg's
And Finally to save yet more weight try here!
Best Wishes whatever route you take....
Chris
£6995 OTR I would keep an A series in the Mini, just tune it & don't forget there are two sides to Power to Weight Ratio....
Curley Mouldings for instance.....here
A Carbon Fibre Front, Doors, Bonnet, Roof & boot floor should save a few kilos.....
Force Racing for a few titanium bits to save a few more kg's
And Finally to save yet more weight try here!
Best Wishes whatever route you take....
Chris
Common amoung the Kit Car guys is to junk the
reverse 'box and fit an electric reverse if you
need one at a later date.
They are very expensive, sap power, break frequently
and compromise prophshaft angles. All bad :^ (
My friends R1 powered striker gets along very nicely
without one.
Matt
1969 Mini Minus
2000 Westfield
Gassing Station | Classic Minis | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff