42 replies to this topic

[Foobah]

Hi everyone,

I need to replace the engine on my '93 SPI.

After reading lots, a 1380 on HIF 44 carb seems to give me most of what I am looking for.

Ive had a good chat with the Minisport folk about their stage 4 1380 and that seems to tick a lot of my boxes.

I don't want to build my own engine.

Does anyone have any advice about who else I should talk to? 

I know there are some serious builders about like Avonbar but whilst lovely, their kit is beyond my budget.

I have an ambition to beat 100bhp at the wheels and have discounted turbo/supercharger at this stage.

I have a decent manifold, exhaust, brakes, suspension, quick-rack already fitted.

Car is for road use and an occassional track day.

If anyone has some thoughts on this I would be eternally grateful!

Thanks a million.

 

 

 

 

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[Cooperman]

You might be better going for a 1330 cc engine. You gain virtually nothing by going bigger and a 1330 is simply an overbore which does not require offset boring and, when a further re-bore is needed it is very easy to sleeve back to 1275 without any risk of destroying the block. A 1380 must be offset bored.

Unless the engine is for competition, then there is really nothing to be gained form the extra capacity.

100 bhp at the wheels is a pointless figure really as what is important on a road car is the mid-range torque which gives the driveability and acceleration. Now 100 bhp at the flywheel is better with a softer cam giving good torque.

[nicklouse]

MiniSpares. Join TMF+ and you will get a 7.5% discount as well.

Short motors built by Bill Richards. Heads by Keith Calver. Then have a chat with John Guess at GuessWorks about a rebuilt gearbox.

you will then need to put it all together.

[Northernpower]

I assume you've plucked 100bhp out of the air because it sounds like a nice round achievable number. If you're wanting a good drivable road car that accelerates quickly on track days you need to look for lots of torque. Speak to Keith Calver about what you're trying to achieve from the engine and forget about wanting a specific number of horses.

I agree with Nick, talk to John Guess regarding the gearbox, I would recommend a cross pin diff as part of the build.

[cooperdan]

MiniSpares. Join TMF+ and you will get a 7.5% discount as well.

Short motors built by Bill Richards. Heads by Keith Calver. Then have a chat with John Guess at GuessWorks about a rebuilt gearbox.

you will then need to put it all together.

 

Did this myself with minispares, defiantly the direction id go

[Guess-Works.com]

Before you do anything check to see if your engine/car is exempted from the CAT test on the MOT, if not then don't change to a Carburettor and 2 you wont be getting 100hp as the ECU will not let you...

[Foobah]

Thanks.

Yep - 100 is an arbitrary figure.

Thanks for the advice re torque which makes a lot of sense.

Im trying to give myself the best chance to getting close to a nice fast mini with this engine rather than having to go back and dabble for a bit more later. 

Cooperdan - did yo find the minispares route worked well?

Thank again.

[Foobah]

Thanks re ECU.

Im exempt on the CAT test.

[cian]

Got 94bhp from my 1330 with sc injection kit sw8 cam and very mild mannered on the road

Highly recommend the sc kit

And as cooperman said the cc is really irrelevant it's the kit you put together, head etc

[Cooperman]

Personally I have never seen the point of offset boring an A-series block right out knowing that when it is again worn the block is either scrap or in need of expensive re-sleeving with special sleeves.

A 1380 is no better on the road than a 1275 as it all depends on how well the engine has been built and what the specification actually is.

Of course a 1380 might be good for a bit of 'bar room bragging'!

For pure competition, if allowed by the regulations, it might well be a different matter, but not for the roads.

[Foobah]

Thanks for the ongoing comments.

Cian - I might be being a bit dim - sc kit? As in supercharger?

[cian]

No the specialist Componants fuel injection kit

[Guess-Works.com]

I offset bore at +60, which retains a good space between cylinders 2 and 3, also then means you can go 72, 72.5, 73 and 73.5 on the bore without issue,

[Foobah]

Thanks, what does that offset make the capacity?

[Foobah]

Thanks cian, Ive pinged SC a note.