14 replies to this topic

[benjwildeboer]

Always had a K series as ultimately the way I would eventually go with my mini, but recent events have meant I'm seriously considering it in the not too distant future...

My Mini needs a new front end due to some clown previous owner cutting up my front wings to bodge on the sportspack arches I've just removed. FI therefore thought I'd go for a flip front to try and future proof it as much as possible.

Also, it needs some paintwork to smarten it up a bit, there are a few scratches, dings, dents and the paintwork in general is awful, so I have also decided to clean up the bodywork and do a DIY respray.

Buuuut, I've stumbled upon the Mini Worx K Series subframe kit. http://www.mini-worx...uk/specoff.html

Seems completely perfect, and at a very reasonable price. However I'm wondering what else I'd need for the conversion.

I have sitting in the barn a K series, it's a bottom end from a 200 Vi, mated to the head from a 1.4 25, so it should be running 120bhp the same as the standard 1.8's. This will do for now in terms of power. However, it's running a PG1 and I'm not sure if this is appropriate, I was thinking of trying to swap it out for an R65 (I am confident that the R65 will cope with whatever I throw at it).

Thing is though that I have no wiring from it or anything. It's literally an engine. No exhaust manifold either.

Would I be right in thinking the cheapest and easiest thing to do here would be to buy a donor car to ease with the installation? I'm thinking something along the lines of a 200 1.4 with hgf or something. I will therefore have access to pretty much everything I need, and I'm sure I can get one for under £200?

Does anybody have any suggestions, or any experience with the mini-worx kit? I'm hoping that with the help of my mobile mechanic, and seeing as though I'll have cut the front end bodywork off anyway, we should be able to get the new engine in and running in just a couple of days? Or is this crazily optomistic?

My friend and I swapped out the K Series in question for a T series turbo in under 48 hours with no previous experience, however that was only physically in, not wired up or anything...

I've waffled here a bit, but any comments/suggestions on the best way to go about this would be very much appreciated.

cheers
Ben

[charie t]

Does the engine run ben?
I've not come into contact with a mini-worx subframe.
As i said before there are no pictures of the subframe on their site, or any cars they have fitted it to
Allspeed or popular others, are a tad more expensive but are proven.
The R65 is a fairly strong gearbox, but the pg1 is bigger so stronger. If the r65 fails though its not a big issue to grab another metro or 200 box.
If you can get a cheap car take what you need and sell other bits on and weigh in the rest, hopefully you can clear the costs then

[miniadventure]

This person was advertising on the 16v mini forum a while ago, people posted question but never got answers i think he was busy as this is not his full time job. Just e-mail him to make sure he is still trading

[Broomer]

its a load of crap that never materialised. Here

[benjwildeboer]

Does the engine run ben?
I've not come into contact with a mini-worx subframe.
As i said before there are no pictures of the subframe on their site, or any cars they have fitted it to
Allspeed or popular others, are a tad more expensive but are proven.
The R65 is a fairly strong gearbox, but the pg1 is bigger so stronger. If the r65 fails though its not a big issue to grab another metro or 200 box.
If you can get a cheap car take what you need and sell other bits on and weigh in the rest, hopefully you can clear the costs then

Engine ran fine when we took it out. As it's only 120bhp though it might be easier to just use an engine from a donor car to be honest. I can 10bhp for now to fit a little 1.6 instead, especially if it has the right gearbox already fitted. Either that or I may be lucky enough to come accross a cheapo Vi maybe.

Do you have any details on the Allspeed kit?

This person was advertising on the 16v mini forum a while ago, people posted question but never got answers i think he was busy as this is not his full time job. Just e-mail him to make sure he is still trading

its a load of crap that never materialised. Here

ah yes, I've just had a read. Damn that's a bit of a shame I sent an email enquiry to the website on friday night so hopefully I might get a response.

Will keep you all posted.

cheers
Ben

[charie t]

I sent an email enquiry to the website on friday night so hopefully I might get a response.

I sent one too, find out what they have to say for themselves
I built my own frame, just used allspeed as an example. Try their website mate

[benjwildeboer]

I sent an email enquiry to the website on friday night so hopefully I might get a response.

I sent one too, find out what they have to say for themselves
I built my own frame, just used allspeed as an example. Try their website mate

thats cool, did you build it from scratch, or a mini frame, or a metro frame? I'm sure it's do-able, my mobile mechanic's pretty handy with a welder. Would just much prefer to use a pre-fabricated frame.

I'll have a look at the allspeed website, cheers dude

[charie t]

thats cool, did you build it from scratch, or a mini frame, or a metro frame?

Mini frame, but im considering a metro/mini hybrid frame

[charie t]

Well as the generated reply says a reply will be given within 1 working day its now 2 days over due. unless the others don't class as a working day

Edited by charie t, 08 February 2011 - 01:26 PM.

[tangerinebean]

In mini magazine this month, a mini with a MGF engine, guy bought a Cat D MGF and used a lot of donor parts making a mid-engined machine, the MGF cost him £500.

[joel93]

what happens as far as ,mots and isurence can you still just not tell them and get away with it? also considering k series,
p.s can they b used as a daily?thanks

[DeanP]

what happens as far as ,mots and isurence can you still just not tell them and get away with it? also considering k series,
p.s can they b used as a daily?thanks

Please stay legal. Yes you may get away with not telling your insurance etc, but bump and hospitalise someone, or get bumped and get hospitalised yourself, I guarantee your credit card will have to have a huge limit to pay NHS fees.

Check this one out... £5 million pound lump some and £450K per year this family has been awarded from the someones insurers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-17139275

Could you afford that?

Stay insured.... ;)

[joel93]

whats the youngest the likes of footman james etc, will even consider insuring me with a 1.4 k series?

[skyinsurance]

whats the youngest the likes of footman james etc, will even consider insuring me with a 1.4 k series?

Most specialists will entertain this for a 19 year old with 2 years driving experience.

http://www.skyinsura...-insurance.html

[mike174]

whats the youngest the likes of footman james etc, will even consider insuring me with a 1.4 k series?

Most specialists will entertain this for a 19 year old with 2 years driving experience.

http://www.skyinsura...-insurance.html

you say that you wont quote for me and iv been driving 2 1/2 years and am 21 on a 1.4 k series conversion.....