12 replies to this topic

[Philtrum]

well ... its about time I started another project having done a few others in the past (not mini's though)

so the plan is ....

sell current mini
get a mundane car for the trawl to work every day (keep the wife happy)

then ....

get a mini shell and go bonkers with it

Im thinking of a major engine change ..... and poss 4 wheel drive

anyone done 4x4 in a mini ?

Im strongly considering a rotary engine as I've used them in the past and with some fettling you can get silly bhp figures and a super smooth power delivery (last one I did was well in excess of 200 bhp and that was only with a small turbo) ... considering using a supercharger this time if the shell can take the power

Im tempted to put a full spaceframe in it ... starting with a full cage and building it from there ... anyone done it before ?

Cheers
Phil


ps ... someone buy my mini (86 round nose 1275 mild tune in the sale section) so I can get started on this monster !

[Pooky]

i have seen a 4x4 mini (made by special tuning or something like that, i bet Guessworks knows :cheese: !)

sounds good mate, don't think anyones ever put a rotary in a mini before. Where would you get one from? RX-7 ?

[Philtrum]

Hi

Rx7 13b engine would be a good one ... from the 2nd generation cars
only prob with this is that it runs injection, so would need a custom injection system with 3d mappable ecu to do it properly ...

the 12a engine from the 1st generation is a simple engine, it runs on carb, but is not as powerfull .... still prob a good bhp/tonne in a mini

would love to put a 20b engine from the mazda cosmos in it .... prob a bit too long as its got 3 rotors compaired to the others having 2 ..... but bonkers power when tuned ... you can get them to just over 1000bhp if you spend some serious cash (which I've not got) (supercharge and major porting with rocker tip seals/ monster injections systems etc)

its not that hard to mate the rx7 engine to the box from a sierra 4x4, you have to use a transit clutch if I remember right and get a bellhousing adapter made up

any details on the 4x4 mini ... was it good ?

cheers
Phil

[Pooky]

I don't know anything about it just that it was purple and they made a replica or something an did an article on it in miniworld!

Sorry!

its not that hard to mate the rx7 engine to the box from a sierra 4x4, you have to use a transit clutch if I remember right and get a bellhousing adapter made up

:saywhat:

i can't understand how people know things like that!

[Pooky]

here's a little pic of it!!

about halfway down this page!

[Philtrum]

no problem ... thanks anyway mate ... I'll have a trawl on the web


the stuff about the clutch .... its just one of those things that sticks in your head when you find it out .... sort of stuff thats worth remembering though


anyone know whats the max bhp that a mini shell can handle safely ....

I know there are some monster bike engine jobs out there .... got the vid from the forum of the white one ...

would love to do the bike bit again (build a locost fireblade with custom light weight chassis), but the noise would be a bit bad in a mini I think ... unless you can front mount one ?

cheers
Phil

[Philtrum]

looks good mate ... like the rear diff setup ... nice and simple !

cheers
Phil

[nag1_uk]

Rota power has been discussed on www.16vminiclub.com a few times. FBM-spec even bought an engine but had difficulty getting a gearbox to match. Come over and ask any questions, there are a lot of different mods about.
Minivic is currently making a 4*4 audi tt powered mini!

[ed4ran]

Theres that guy who did the 4x4 suzuki powered mini pickup

Ill try and find the site

EDIT: found the site 4x4 Mini Pickup

[Philtrum]

thanks for the info guys


I've had a look at the 16v forum and also the 4x4 mini site, plenty for me to think about until mine's sold and then I can start the project

cant wait ...

may just go for rwd although 4x4 would be good ..

anyone know if there is a rwd subframe availiable, as there are mny fwd conversion subframes availiable now ?

cheers
Phil

[Philtrum]

had what I think is a cracking idea to get rwd or 4x4 in the mini

has anyone ever put a front subframe in the rear of a mini ?

if so ... whats involved ?

cheers
Phil

[ed4ran]

Yeah thats been done,
Look for twinis (twin engine minis)

I guess your going to put a rear axle in the front subframe in the rear (instead of a second engine)

[Philtrum]

Hi ed4ran

thats sort of the plan ... thinking that if I can put a front subframe in the rear I can then run a diff onto the driveshafts and if possible go 4x4 ... if not then rear wheel drive

I think a rwd mini would be fantastic, the mini handles so well and with rwd you could get it even better as you can balance the car better with rwd ... plus in my mind there is nothing better than getting the tail out round a corner with bags of opposite lock on !!

but that might just be me ?

I'll have a search for twini's

cheers
Phil