14 replies to this topic

[t66]

Hello All,

Over the next few months I will be having a Fiat 126 bec built.

Its going to have a Rotrex Honda Blackbird lump, looking good for 250-300bhp. (I hope)


My car is 7.5 inches shorter than a mini................


So who here has used the Quaife gear drive box, did it work as Ive heard its not that straightforward to fit in the Mini due to the short wheelbase. (mines even shorter)


This leads to my next issue, if I go chain drive I will be using my Quaife chaindrive atb - What are you getting (distance) between centres from the bike front sprocket to the rear sprocket centre ?

And are any of you suffering (with similar bhp) overheating chain drives/adjustment issues ?


I know Zcars have built a turbo busa Mini for hillclimbing in Bulgaria, but whether this was chain drive I do not know.



Any other solutions kicking about ?


Thanks

[t66]

any takers. 40 views and no replies. I take it everyone has had no problems with their chain drives. Come on folks give me a hand

[Renessy]

I can't help you with that.... i'm building a Honda VTEC conversion......

René

[t66]

thanks rene. Sure someone might part with their experience of chain drives. Thanks

[R1mini]

Not personal experience but I was talking to Andrew the owner of a silver turbo hayabusa mini and he was complaining about the chain constantly stretching, the original distance between teeth was about 1.5 inches in an effort to lengthen the chain and also help with handling he lengthened the trailing arms about 4 inches. He was running the strongest 630 chain available

I don't if the mods done the trick but it must of helped

Cheers
David

[R1mini]

Not personal experience but I was talking to Andrew the owner of a silver turbo hayabusa mini and he was complaining about the chain constantly stretching, the original distance between teeth was about 1.5 inches in an effort to lengthen the chain and also help with handling he lengthened the trailing arms about 4 inches. He was running the strongest 630 chain available

I don't if the mods done the trick but it must of helped

Cheers
David

[R1mini]

Not personal experience but I was talking to Andrew the owner of a silver turbo hayabusa mini and he was complaining about the chain constantly stretching, the original distance between teeth was about 1.5 inches in an effort to lengthen the chain and also help with handling he lengthened the trailing arms about 4 inches. He was running the strongest 630 chain available

I don't if the mods done the trick but it must of helped

Cheers
David

[R1mini]

I don't what happened there with the triple post?

Cheers
David

Edited by R1mini, 04 February 2010 - 07:22 PM.

[z cars chris]

chains are in general ok
they need more maintainance than a gear drive and you should pay attention to tighten them correctly and ensure the sprockets are aligned perfectly
otherwise you will be pulling down just one side of the chaijn which halves its strength
a scott oiler is a brilliant thing which extends chain life enormously
a good chain cover enclosing it entirely would take a bit of making but would make the chain last forever if it was oil tight enough to keep the chain running in oil
we have just fitted a mini kit into a fiat 600 and it fits an absolute treat
its a v tec but the frame is pure stock mini kit with very minor mods where it bolts to the floorpan
chris

[t66]

Thanks for the replies guys.....

Chris - Did your turbo busa Mini run ok with the chain drive ?, ps love the fiat 600 need to see some more pictures ?


Ive read somewhere the Quaife geardrive box is not too easy to fit into the Mini wheelbase.


The enclosed chain box with oiler is an option but I would prefer to drive the car than spend every trip out farting on adjusting the chain.


Replies appreciated folks thank you

[t66]

Thanks for the replies guys.....

Chris - Did your turbo busa Mini run ok with the chain drive ?, ps love the fiat 600 need to see some more pictures ?


Ive read somewhere the Quaife geardrive box is not too easy to fit into the Mini wheelbase - anyone ?


The enclosed chain box with oiler is an option but I would prefer to drive the car than spend every trip out farting on adjusting the chain.





Replies appreciated folks thank you

[R1mini]

From memory I believe the centre to centre distance is 10.5 on the transaxle compared to about 8 inches for the chain, but with the transaxle you can have the driveshafts running backwards a little, so the overall difference is maybe an inch, in a mini this still leaves reasonable driver/passenger space. Using a car that is even smaller by quite a chunk 7.5" I just don't see how to get it all in wether your using a chain or transaxle.

One thing I have done on my mini is to move the rear wheel back to increase the wheelbase looking at the fiat you could easily move the rear arch back 4 or 5 inches, done properly you wouldn't notice it

Cheers
David

[t66]

One thing I have done on my mini is to move the rear wheel back to increase the wheelbase looking at the fiat you could easily move the rear arch back 4 or 5 inches, done properly you wouldn't notice it

Cheers
David

Thanks David, I did think of that as an option but considered all the cutting & shutting would be a chew on. I have seen Minis widened across the track & wheelbase so maybe I need to look at what we are doing again.

It will all fit in the 126 wheelbase Ive seen one !


Cheers

Ivan

[R1mini]

I've seen a R1 126 and even that was tight in the driver area, the problem with the blackbird/hayabusa and the like they are about 5 inches deeper front to back than the modern 1 litre engines like the R1, I have both here I can measure the actual difference if you want

Cheers
David

[t66]

I have a Rotrex Blackbird engine to go in....

We have a few ideas for chainless final drives on the go, but nothing as yet to commit here. Still in the planning & measuring stage.


Thanks for the offer of a measure up, by lengthening your wheelbase are you able to throw a few pictures on here how you did that ?


The research continues