Bike Engined Minis
Discussion
I've a hankering for a classic mini.
I'm not sure why, as I never had one as a teen or anything! Although we did have a Clubman Estate for a number of years that rotted away and eventually went to the scrappy for £25. Gutted now!
Anyway, I spotted this mini
And it got me thinking.
I note that the one above is a heavily modded Zcars convert and I think there is someone else on the board who has a bike engined mini.
My question;
1) Is it possible to fit a bike engine in the front or are they always fitted in the back? I've got 2 kids who I want to be able to take out, so I really want to have the back seat. But I like the sound of a Kwak ZX12 with 165bhp etc or a haybusa lump or fireblade engine etc...
2) Alternatively, how easy is it to fit the 2.0 Vtec? I've seen one on vtecmini.co.uk and it looks fantastic - but quite alot of work.
3) What's the best mod on the A series to get on a mini that will do some sub 6 Second 0-60 times? 1300cc Metro engines? I've a number of mates who duff around in V8 Ginettas and V8 Caterham type cars and although I wouldn't be able to keep up with them, I don't want to be completely left behind!!
Any thoughts?
Also - I've even got it cleared by her indoors, I apparently have to replace the carpets in the house....what a result!!!
Jim
I'm not sure why, as I never had one as a teen or anything! Although we did have a Clubman Estate for a number of years that rotted away and eventually went to the scrappy for £25. Gutted now!
Anyway, I spotted this mini
And it got me thinking.
I note that the one above is a heavily modded Zcars convert and I think there is someone else on the board who has a bike engined mini.
My question;
1) Is it possible to fit a bike engine in the front or are they always fitted in the back? I've got 2 kids who I want to be able to take out, so I really want to have the back seat. But I like the sound of a Kwak ZX12 with 165bhp etc or a haybusa lump or fireblade engine etc...
2) Alternatively, how easy is it to fit the 2.0 Vtec? I've seen one on vtecmini.co.uk and it looks fantastic - but quite alot of work.
3) What's the best mod on the A series to get on a mini that will do some sub 6 Second 0-60 times? 1300cc Metro engines? I've a number of mates who duff around in V8 Ginettas and V8 Caterham type cars and although I wouldn't be able to keep up with them, I don't want to be completely left behind!!
Any thoughts?
Also - I've even got it cleared by her indoors, I apparently have to replace the carpets in the house....what a result!!!
Jim
An 'A-Series' Mini with sub 6 sec 0-60 will almost invariably be undriveable on the road. You would certainly need 120 bhp+, an LSD, weight less than 550 kg and a close ratio gearbox with a very low final drive which would limit your maximum cruising speed to around 70 mph.
A really good 0-60 for a road driveable Mini would be around 8 seconds, and that would be exceptional. Even my fully prepared Cooper 'S', which has virtually everything it's possible to do to the engine and still be suitable for rallying, takes 7.4 seconds (at best!) and the final drive is 3.9:1 on 10" wheels. That gives just under 15 mph/1000 rpm in top and it's very noisy inside with little soundproofing in order to get the weight down.
A really good 0-60 for a road driveable Mini would be around 8 seconds, and that would be exceptional. Even my fully prepared Cooper 'S', which has virtually everything it's possible to do to the engine and still be suitable for rallying, takes 7.4 seconds (at best!) and the final drive is 3.9:1 on 10" wheels. That gives just under 15 mph/1000 rpm in top and it's very noisy inside with little soundproofing in order to get the weight down.
Cheeky Jim said:
I've a hankering for a classic mini.
I'm not sure why, as I never had one as a teen or anything! Although we did have a Clubman Estate for a number of years that rotted away and eventually went to the scrappy for £25. Gutted now!
Anyway, I spotted this mini
And it got me thinking.
I note that the one above is a heavily modded Zcars convert and I think there is someone else on the board who has a bike engined mini.
My question;
1) Is it possible to fit a bike engine in the front or are they always fitted in the back? I've got 2 kids who I want to be able to take out, so I really want to have the back seat. But I like the sound of a Kwak ZX12 with 165bhp etc or a haybusa lump or fireblade engine etc...
2) Alternatively, how easy is it to fit the 2.0 Vtec? I've seen one on vtecmini.co.uk and it looks fantastic - but quite alot of work.
3) What's the best mod on the A series to get on a mini that will do some sub 6 Second 0-60 times? 1300cc Metro engines? I've a number of mates who duff around in V8 Ginettas and V8 Caterham type cars and although I wouldn't be able to keep up with them, I don't want to be completely left behind!!
Any thoughts?
Also - I've even got it cleared by her indoors, I apparently have to replace the carpets in the house....what a result!!!
Jim
Mini's are well cool, I have a little 998 which is well loads of fun, the engine options on mini's now are almost limitless depending on what you fancy and how far your budget stretches.I'm not sure why, as I never had one as a teen or anything! Although we did have a Clubman Estate for a number of years that rotted away and eventually went to the scrappy for £25. Gutted now!
Anyway, I spotted this mini
And it got me thinking.
I note that the one above is a heavily modded Zcars convert and I think there is someone else on the board who has a bike engined mini.
My question;
1) Is it possible to fit a bike engine in the front or are they always fitted in the back? I've got 2 kids who I want to be able to take out, so I really want to have the back seat. But I like the sound of a Kwak ZX12 with 165bhp etc or a haybusa lump or fireblade engine etc...
2) Alternatively, how easy is it to fit the 2.0 Vtec? I've seen one on vtecmini.co.uk and it looks fantastic - but quite alot of work.
3) What's the best mod on the A series to get on a mini that will do some sub 6 Second 0-60 times? 1300cc Metro engines? I've a number of mates who duff around in V8 Ginettas and V8 Caterham type cars and although I wouldn't be able to keep up with them, I don't want to be completely left behind!!
Any thoughts?
Also - I've even got it cleared by her indoors, I apparently have to replace the carpets in the house....what a result!!!
Jim
1: There was a guy a few months back feature in a mini mag with a fireblade lump up front with rear wheel drive - pretty major and quite a long project. the trick with a bike engine is the drive as they only have one outlet. Quaife do gear drive units that incorporate diffs that would allow a front engine front drive setup. Bike engines are bloody noisy - which is great for short blats but aweful on long trips esp motorways!
2: 2.0 Vtec is wicked but bloody expesive (2.5k for engine, box, loom and ECU. 2nd hand). And its a s
t load of work. A cheaper and more drivable alternative is a C16SE Vauxhall unit which is about a tenth of the price but very drivable.3: The A-series is a great engine and responds well to basic tuning but is very expensive to get a lot of power with anywhere the same reliabilty as bikes or modern car engines.
Monkey Man Out
It all depends on two things really. Budget and engineering ability or access.
When you look at each task within the conversion it is all fairly simple in its theory.
Late Metro subframes seem to be in favour over mini ones as they are stronger and already designed for an engine with the gearbox on the end rather than underneath. The subframe will have to be modified to accept the new engine mounting points.
Drive shafts are an issue because you either cut and shut the two ends to make a mini / whatever hybrid, this is done by cutting both halves over length and then turning each half into a male and female peice that can be welded together. Not ideal but it can work if done properly. OR you find a manufacturer like Quaife or GKN who can make a pair with the correct ends, chances are they already have the spec of each end on file and could easily make a pair although this is where your budget restraints will come in.
FYI, in the back of both the major mini mags a company advertises who does a kit for the Vauxhall engines which includes the subframe and drive shafts and bracket etc to do the complete conversion. I think they are called rally design or something along those lines.
HTH
Monkey Man
When you look at each task within the conversion it is all fairly simple in its theory.
Late Metro subframes seem to be in favour over mini ones as they are stronger and already designed for an engine with the gearbox on the end rather than underneath. The subframe will have to be modified to accept the new engine mounting points.
Drive shafts are an issue because you either cut and shut the two ends to make a mini / whatever hybrid, this is done by cutting both halves over length and then turning each half into a male and female peice that can be welded together. Not ideal but it can work if done properly. OR you find a manufacturer like Quaife or GKN who can make a pair with the correct ends, chances are they already have the spec of each end on file and could easily make a pair although this is where your budget restraints will come in.
FYI, in the back of both the major mini mags a company advertises who does a kit for the Vauxhall engines which includes the subframe and drive shafts and bracket etc to do the complete conversion. I think they are called rally design or something along those lines.
HTH
Monkey Man
thanks Monkey..... I guess it's not just skills, it's time to do it as well!
there was a fantastic thread on The Mini Forum of a chap building a white ZCars R1 mini - he was working on it full time virtually and it took him ages. But it looks fantastic...
I think my skills are not really upto that and i sure don't have the time...so it's sounds like it would be just too expensive to get done by someone else.
Hmm...
there was a fantastic thread on The Mini Forum of a chap building a white ZCars R1 mini - he was working on it full time virtually and it took him ages. But it looks fantastic...
I think my skills are not really upto that and i sure don't have the time...so it's sounds like it would be just too expensive to get done by someone else.
Hmm...
www.promotive.co.uk will show you a bit more information on the fwd mini's via yammy R1 motors
Baldspeed Racing said:
www.promotive.co.uk will show you a bit more information on the fwd mini's via yammy R1 motors
This is precisely what I'm looking for! Thanks for this - really appreciate it
The website you were looking for is www.pro-motive.co.uk. don't forget the -
Cheers for the mention Rich!
Cheers for the mention Rich!
Cheeky Jim said:
thanks Monkey..... I guess it's not just skills, it's time to do it as well!
there was a fantastic thread on The Mini Forum of a chap building a white ZCars R1 mini - he was working on it full time virtually and it took him ages. But it looks fantastic...
I think my skills are not really upto that and i sure don't have the time...so it's sounds like it would be just too expensive to get done by someone else.
Hmm...
Thats my mini, Hello there was a fantastic thread on The Mini Forum of a chap building a white ZCars R1 mini - he was working on it full time virtually and it took him ages. But it looks fantastic...
I think my skills are not really upto that and i sure don't have the time...so it's sounds like it would be just too expensive to get done by someone else.
Hmm...
Hello Ian,
Did you sell that fantastic Mini then? Looks fantastic and worth every penny!! You did a fine job, but I'm sure you don't need anymore smoke blowing up yer chuff!!
Anyway, I've got my eye on a Mini for the project, it's currently got a 1300 engine, single SU, K&N Filter, RC40 exhaust, hi lows and 13x7 minilights and a full year's MOT Ticket.
It's also had new wings, front panel, a panel, Sills and front floor pans.
It's been blessed by the House Treasurer (she who must be obeyed!) and hopefully will pick up at the weekend. I think I'm going to run around in it over the summer and then look to get the parts etc together and perhaps have a crack over the winter at the Pro-Motive Kit.
I'm determined to have a fast mini!
I'll post some pics when I get it!!
Did you sell that fantastic Mini then? Looks fantastic and worth every penny!! You did a fine job, but I'm sure you don't need anymore smoke blowing up yer chuff!!
Anyway, I've got my eye on a Mini for the project, it's currently got a 1300 engine, single SU, K&N Filter, RC40 exhaust, hi lows and 13x7 minilights and a full year's MOT Ticket.
It's also had new wings, front panel, a panel, Sills and front floor pans.
It's been blessed by the House Treasurer (she who must be obeyed!) and hopefully will pick up at the weekend. I think I'm going to run around in it over the summer and then look to get the parts etc together and perhaps have a crack over the winter at the Pro-Motive Kit.
I'm determined to have a fast mini!
I'll post some pics when I get it!!
I would say beg, borrow or steal a load of money an get a Vtech from zcars.
WELL worth every penny when u drive it!
3.7sec 0-60 you would be leaving your mates behind, not the other way around!
I am v biased as i have one. However I have had many mini engines including a MED 1380 8port with 145bhp and nothing comes close to how much fun the vtech is.
WELL worth every penny when u drive it!
3.7sec 0-60 you would be leaving your mates behind, not the other way around!
I am v biased as i have one. However I have had many mini engines including a MED 1380 8port with 145bhp and nothing comes close to how much fun the vtech is.
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