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Potential Engine Conversion Project. **help Needed**


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#1 maxthackray

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:25 PM

Hi. I am looking to build/modify a Mini with rear wheel drive and a motorbike engine. 

 

It must be RWD but i don't know enough about whether to front mount or rear mount. Any advice?

 

Also, with regard to kits and subframe upgrades, are they really necessary or is it just an advisable improvement? I have seen some subframe upgrades on superfastminis.com but none of them seem to RWD.

 

Is there anything else I should know about before doing this? I dont want to find that something is going to be impossible to do

 

I want to keep costs low as possible, so if anyone has done something similar then please let me know

 

Thanks



#2 Anthony30

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:27 PM

front mounted r1 engine?



#3 maxthackray

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:43 PM

front mounted r1 engine?

I had a look into that, but I am unsure how it would work.

 

Do i need subframes?

Will a drive shaft fit down the underside of the car?

Is rear mounting a better/easier idea?



#4 Tupers

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:46 PM

Contact Z-cars they make the most straight forward RWD conversions for Minis. 



#5 sledgehammer

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:47 PM

I would look at the zcars section for inspiration

 

rear engine rear wheel drive is easiest (but not easy)

 

& never seen an engine in the original rear sub frame - but I bet someone has done it

 

problem with bike engines are they are high revving & get hot

 

+ chains & sprockets designed for a bike's weight , driving a car's weight

 

but all do-able


Edited by sledgehammer, 19 April 2015 - 01:51 PM.


#6 sledgehammer

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:48 PM

beaten to it - here is a link to the project section -

 

http://www.theminifo...orum/89-z-cars/



#7 maxthackray

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:49 PM

I had a look at Zcars, but they pretty expensive. Is there a cheaper option? 



#8 Anthony30

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:49 PM

Take a look at http://www.zcarsuk.com/store/ for rear mounted RWD conversions. The R1 engine will fit in the front, and FWD. :highfive:



#9 Anthony30

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:52 PM

For front mounted FWD conversion try http://www.allspeede...x.php/vauxhall. This might be a better option.



#10 maxthackray

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 01:59 PM

This is almost what I'm looking for, but the Zcars kit is way out of my budget. Is there any cheaper way of making a RWD car?



#11 R1mini

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 04:23 PM

If you want it cheaper, either buy something secondhand or make it yourself

 

David



#12 mecanieker

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 07:52 PM

I 'm working on the same project, in the front bike engine in the rear i use an axle from an old kadet c.
bike donor is an cbr 1000f, they have a strong engine and clutch. Hardest part is to make space in the front ( i'm looking for an extended flipfront currently) not so much progress till now but have al parts ready :-)
Good luck, keep us informed when you start!

#13 maxthackray

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 10:56 AM

I 'm working on the same project, in the front bike engine in the rear i use an axle from an old kadet c.
bike donor is an cbr 1000f, they have a strong engine and clutch. Hardest part is to make space in the front ( i'm looking for an extended flipfront currently) not so much progress till now but have al parts ready :-)
Good luck, keep us informed when you start!

You can buy flipfronts from superfastminis.com not sure on price but they look pretty good. might be able to find a uk supplier somewhere



#14 maxthackray

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 01:37 PM

I've decided to go for a mid mounted engine as the front mounted i think would be way t tricky and expensive. Anyone know anywhere other than Zcars where i can do this. I spoke to someone at allspeedengineering.com and they said I could mount one of their front subframes in the rear. 

Would that work?



#15 666junky

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 03:08 PM

What is your budget? feel free to PM if you dont want to say on here. just want to point out one of the cheapest conversions is to leave the engine in the front of the car and modify very little else apart from whats needed to get the engine in place. K series has been done alot so a lot of info is about, the micra one is quite new so not alot of info but the engines are reliable, or Vtec - lots of power and quite alot of mods required. 16v mini forum often have conversions for sale that people have built and got bored of.

Just as a pointer, ive added up the costs of my micra conversion - ive had alot of work done for me + most of the parts are custom + bought new..im currently at 3 grand and its always going up.






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