11 replies to this topic

[16vCooper]

If you had £1500 to spend on an engine and a gearbox that could cope with it, what would you go for? Priority is acceleration

[RobG295]

1275, fully balanced and lightened internals. Tasty head and a fairly lairy cam (SW10 MD286 or similar). With the box, standard rebuilt box with a 4.1 FD and a hardened diff pin! Hoping to build up something similar myself when I get round to sorting my mini out!!

[RONNIE]

1.4 metro turbo

[aston19uk]

a holiday

[16vCooper]

a holiday

Going on holiday in the Mini lol

[scrog]

at the mo a mini would be nice

got a diff like that sat in an old gearbox in the garage not sure if its a 4.1 but did about 12mph per 1000rpm in 4th

so 5000rpm was 60mph in 4th

[The Matt]

£1500 aint really a lot at all!

You going to do a lot of the work yourself?

[16vCooper]

£1500 aint really a lot at all!

You going to do a lot of the work yourself?

I'm not quite sure what my budget is just yet. Depending on the implications of getting something like a 1380cc engine, like do you need different engine mounts etc I'm not so sure on. My budget will depend on things like that. Looks, interior, suspension and brakes are priority and the left overs will purley go on the engine, probably will be more than £1500 seen as I'm selling my Sport to fund it along with savings I should have a fair amount to go at it with (even have permission from the powers that be now, as long as I don't have gearbox parts in the dishwasher or any such activity).

Actually, as a seperate question may as well ask that now. Bigger engines like 1330 and 1380s, are there any issues with puttin them in a standard car (like the engine mounts for example).

Thanks, (not very clued up on these things I'm afraid).

[IFlingPoo]

Being a silly American, I think I would do the following(if I was in the US where I could easily find all the parts I needed to accomplish this):

I would go with a small V8...Ford 289, or Chevrolet 305...convert the mini to rear wheel drive, and throw a 4 barrel carb on it for good measure. Actually I would probably do this only to a moke, as this much change would IMO mess up a mini body too much. There's also a ton of work that would have to go into this, from frame work, replacing/molding parts of the floor for the new rear end and driveshaft. Would be LOTS of work, but I think it could be done for 1500...maybe.

I know this sounds like sacrilege, but it's only a thought. The typical American goes straight for an old V8 when the discussion of power comes up, especially when you grew up around old big block classics.

For you Japanese fans, you could consider an engine from a Nissan Skyline, or maybe even a Toyota Supra. Still would be a lot of work, but would be fun.

[16vCooper]

Being a silly American, I think I would do the following(if I was in the US where I could easily find all the parts I needed to accomplish this):

I would go with a small V8...Ford 289, or Chevrolet 305...convert the mini to rear wheel drive, and throw a 4 barrel carb on it for good measure. Actually I would probably do this only to a moke, as this much change would IMO mess up a mini body too much. There's also a ton of work that would have to go into this, from frame work, replacing/molding parts of the floor for the new rear end and driveshaft. Would be LOTS of work, but I think it could be done for 1500...maybe.

I know this sounds like sacrilege, but it's only a thought. The typical American goes straight for an old V8 when the discussion of power comes up, especially when you grew up around old big block classics.

For you Japanese fans, you could consider an engine from a Nissan Skyline, or maybe even a Toyota Supra. Still would be a lot of work, but would be fun.

yesssssssssssss

Back to being serious though, you then lose that classic (and gorgeous) Mini noise. I don't like Mini V8s, I think there weird, it dosnt look or sound right. VTECs are impressive, but again you lose the noise.

I want a Mini engine, i was all up for a 16v Vauxhall engine but I've been talked out of it. I want the noise.

[Paul Wiginton]

MED could do you a very good 1380 bottom end to go with a standard head. Later when youve saved up another £5-600 they could do you a good head to go with it

Paul

[Q_M]

1380cc sports engine £1900.00 from Morespeed. Ouch. 95 bhp though.

Fully assembled 1293cc ST2 turbo engine £1900.00 Exchange ....140bhp.....madness.

Edited by Q_M, 26 January 2009 - 09:18 PM.