105 replies to this topic

[camstterr]

Looks really good nice project
I’m currently doing a very similar build (I have also been deciding on pistons for months)

I am currently debating side mount or rear mount turbo
What did you do with the brake servo? Did it clash with the side mount turbo?

I’m looking at going down the emerald ECU route at the moment and creating a selection of maps

What are your plans for the cylinder head ?

I have not been planning on doing a gearbox rebuild, do you think the standard A+ box can deal with 150 - 180
The new gears you got look amazing but £700 is a big chunk of money

[Steve220]

Looks really good nice project
I’m currently doing a very similar build (I have also been deciding on pistons for months)

I am currently debating side mount or rear mount turbo
What did you do with the brake servo? Did it clash with the side mount turbo?

I’m looking at going down the emerald ECU route at the moment and creating a selection of maps

What are your plans for the cylinder head ?

I have not been planning on doing a gearbox rebuild, do you think the standard A+ box can deal with 150 - 180
The new gears you got look amazing but £700 is a big chunk of money

If you're not going above 180bhp, you don't need anything special, the 21253 machined for low compression works well. The standard box will take 150/160 as long as you don't rag it in first all the time.

[jsyjamie]

Looks really good nice project
I’m currently doing a very similar build (I have also been deciding on pistons for months)

I am currently debating side mount or rear mount turbo
What did you do with the brake servo? Did it clash with the side mount turbo?

I’m looking at going down the emerald ECU route at the moment and creating a selection of maps

What are your plans for the cylinder head ?

I have not been planning on doing a gearbox rebuild, do you think the standard A+ box can deal with 150 - 180
The new gears you got look amazing but £700 is a big chunk of money

 

Hi Cam,

 

You do need to ditch the brake servo to accommodate the side mount manifold but it is pretty simple using the yellow tag brake master cylinder with a few other bits.

 

http://minispares.co...sic/GMC227.aspx

 

 

Cylinder head will be going to Turbo Phil to work his magic. As I mentioned in another post I am looking for a compression ratio of around 8.50 so with my +20 10cc pistons the head chambers need to be around 27cc according to this handy calculator.

 

https://jscalc.io/ca...RNEglVkKLQir11T

 

The sky is the limit with Mini parts, I decided to go for the Evolution gear set because I didn't want the constant whine from the straight cut set but they will do almost the exact same job for half the price.

 

http://www.minispare...ic/C-STN39.aspx

 

As Steve says you can build a good spec turbo engine for a lot less but my thinking is that saving a few quid here and there probably isn't worth it in the long run. Build it once and build it properly!

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie 

[camstterr]

Cheers for the information
Might go for a rear mounted as I prefer driving with the servo

A lot of guys on here go with Phil for head mods
I was planning on porting it myself but I no longer have the use of a flow bench to check flow
Need to decide if I’m going to go to the effort of valve & seat design or just improve port flow
I am not sure if the small tweets will be worth it on a turbo engine.

I need to find a mini to have a ride in with straight cut gears
I have not been in one before and I’m interested to see how whinny it really is.

I’ll be looking forward to seeing more pictures
I need to start making some progress
I have just sent off the subframes to be powder coated and the shell is in a split roast ready for me to weld all the new panels on.

[jsyjamie]

I do a lot of cycling so luckily my left leg is up to the task of non servo brakes! Haha

The straight cut gears aren't that bad to be fair and a lot of people love the noise they make but I will be driving for several hours to and from tracks and I know it would do my head in. Have a watch of some youtube videos if you can't find anyone locally.

Thanks mate, I've subbed your thread so looking forward to some updates from you too.

Cheers,

Jamie

Edited by jsyjamie, 11 March 2019 - 08:45 AM.

[jsyjamie]

Wow has it really been 7 months since an update?

 

Apologies for that but in my defense I have been driving the mini every day the weather has been nice!

 

Couple of issues, I had to replace the starter motor as the old one was knackered and last Friday the fuel pump gave up so that was a sign to get her off the road and start stripping ready for paint.

 

Thought I would give her one last wash first.

 

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A local mini club member has given me a quote to do all the body work and respray the car inside and out if I strip her.

 

I have taken lots of pictures of all the rust patches, I won't bore you with them all but here is the worst of it.

 

Like most of my teens and early 20's it's a case of fit from far, far from fit! To be fair I've seen a lot worse...

 

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The engine is still with Chris at Crafted Classics and is nearly finished.

 

So the plan from here is strip the car over the next couple of weekends then send it to the local paint shop. The guy is a one man band so it is going to take a while which will give me time to refurbish the front and rear subframes. I can take them down to him when he's finished, we can get it rolling then delivered back to mine.

 

Lets see how that goes! Ha-ha 

[jsyjamie]

Some engine pictures, I'll let them do the talking...

 

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[Ben Rose]

Just come across your thread and the engine build looks absolutely mint!  Cant wait to see it on the road.

[jsyjamie]

Just come across your thread and the engine build looks absolutely mint!  Cant wait to see it on the road.

 

Thanks Ben, just subbed to your thread!

[Dannyboolahlah]

Some engine pictures, I'll let them do the talking...

facebook_1571908831165.jpg

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That looks epic.

[jsyjamie]

Wow, nearly a year since the last update. That is a little bit embarrassing!

 

Things have been progressing albeit slowly...

 

I will put up a few posts up with lots of pictures bringing everything up to date.

 

Stripping the shell

 

This took a lot longer than it should due to working outside and a lot of the bolts were happy where they were.

 

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There was an ecosystem growing in one of my indicators 

 

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Besides a few stuck bolts it all went pretty well and the engine was out

 

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Removed and stripped the rear subframe

 

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It was knackered so I ordered a new one

 

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To be continued...

[jsyjamie]

The front subframe was in good nick so I gave it a clean with the power washer and sent it off to be powder coated

 

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Very happy with how it turned out!

 

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Previously I had bought some Pro-tech coilovers and rear beam to do the conversion but speaking to a few people and having a think what I will actually be using the car for I decided to go back to traditional rubber cone suspension. Pro-tech shocks and rebuilt top arms ordered.

 

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Everyone loves a before and after cone picture 

 

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Then it was just a case of putting everything together which went pretty smooth

 

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Besides when you order 8 bolts and they send 6 black and two silver 

 

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Font subframe now complete and good to go!

[Ben Rose]

Ecosystem in the indicator light was funny. 

Love the powder coated front subframe and build up.  Looks ace.  I will be going the same way.

If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost to get your front subframe powder coated? I'm in the northwest of england.

Good work with the progress and posting an update.

[jsyjamie]

With everything going on I decided to give refurbishing and reaming the radius arms a go

 

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I bought a reamer from ebay and followed Keith's (Classic Mini Workshop) video

 

 

I over reamed the first bushing but got the next two bang on. It was quite a difficult and messy job but another pretty useless life skill added to the list!

 

Then same as the front subframe it was just a case of putting it all back together

 

I bought the complete suspension kit from minispares and it is great besides the rear camber brackets. Not a fan at all so I will be ordering the KAD equivent

 

https://kentautodeve...er-toe-brackets

 

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That was the rear subframe pretty much built up until it will go back on the car

 

[jsyjamie]

Ecosystem in the indicator light was funny. 

Love the powder coated front subframe and build up.  Looks ace.  I will be going the same way.

If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost to get your front subframe powder coated? I'm in the northwest of england.

Good work with the progress and posting an update.

 

Thanks mate! Front subframe was quoted £120 but he did it £100 for cash which I was happy with. Most things cost more over here compared to the mainland but that should give you a rough idea...