24 replies to this topic

[tobycatlin]

Hello everybody
I am new to TMF so i hope i am posting in the right place. Go easy on me if i am wrong.

Last year i went into a second hand garage to buy a VW golf and drove out in a 1993 mini rio, blowing my budget by a grand and a half. I love it and was immediately drawn to the mini scene. I did some reading and bought a stage 1 kit from mini spares. I have never done any mechanics (although am very very keen to learn) so had a local mechanic fit it.

I totally hooked now and am looking for a rolling road to get it properly tuned.

I have considered a engine swap to a 1.8 vvc or tuned 1379cc but i feel this is a waste of a good 1275 engine. I'd like to do a project to build a superfast mini using one of these engines and more of a wreck once i have cut my teeth and have some proper space.

So onto my big question, What shall i do next? I'd love to get my 0-60 times down to 6 seconds (but realise there is a lot to do)
from what i have read on this forum and other webpages good options are:
new cylinder head with 1.5 rockers (http://www.minispeed...e kits - 1275cc)
new carbs (eg twin hs4 carbs http://www.minispare...y=pb&pid=35874)

Which would give me most bang for my bucks? Please bear in mind i will need to get someone to fit it, but do have some savings to splurge.
If i upgrade the carb would i need to upgrade cooling?
When do i need to start thinking about gear boxes. they cost!
Also what kind of brake upgrades are recommended. i read that should be your first upgrade. seems sensible to consider.
anything else you all think would put a smile on my face

Thank you all for your time and answers

toby


Rio
1993

[Ouster]

Sub 6 second 0-60 times is pretty serious. That'll be turbo/super charged 1380 or engine swap territory. What is your budget?

[adam_93rio]

noooo! not a rio.
do you know there was only 750 made?

[tobycatlin]

Ok i realise sub 6 seconds for 0-60 is a big ask and i don't expect to get close to that any time soon.

I could spend up to 2 grand which is nearly enough for a 1380cc fitted from plmini but would I be better off selling my current rio and buying a cheaper base car with an older engine (my mini has only done 35k)

[tobycatlin]

I did know only 750 were built but it cost me less than almost all of the coopers i have seen since. I know money is a very crass way to look at it. i am blissfully ignorant when it comes to minis (thats why i am here). How much do rio's go for? (good condition, very little rust, orginal interior) I only ask because i havn't seen any for sale and really don't know.

Also would any modification passed standard seen as sacrilege by everyone or is it down to personal opinion?

thanks

t

[huw_jenks]

Just remember that some of that budget will need to go for suspension and brakes as well as power! You could have one without the other but it's a bit like having a hand grenade without a pin.. Things could get messy.

[tobycatlin]

Just remember that some of that budget will need to go for suspension and brakes as well as power! You could have one without the other but it's a bit like having a hand grenade without a pin.. Things could get messy.

absolutely, that exactly the kind of info i want. what do you recommend?
i dont want top of the range but best option for the money

[Pauly]

Best thing to do is research, search the forums see what people like and dont like, braking wise because you have 8.4" disks you could go for 4 pot calipers (if your thinking of tracking or dragging most of the time) but I think 2 pots are more than up to the job, set of good disks and pads, wont go wrong with that.

Sub 6 secs would make your car the fastest mini in the country, currently the fastest mini (a 7.9ltr chevy engine) is doing I beleive sub 9's 1/4's.

You say you have never done mechanics, building an engine is a big step and Id recommend that you start doing some of your own work, get a haynes and go from there, start picking up the basics, do some small jobs that need doing and go from there. A 1.8 vvc k series is quite a task to fit even for the most experienced person. A good 1275 with a few mods, cams, head etc can be a nice usable engine.

Paul.

Edited by Pauly, 09 July 2009 - 08:24 AM.

[Nelson92]

hi are people confusing 1/4 mile times with 0-60? a sub 6 second a-series should be possible. (expensive though)
to build it up slowly; look at various kits companies sell and fit; ask people at shows what they have.
twincarb is alright but alot of people are running one huge carb instead, makes tuning easier.
if you look at minispares website you can run through every car part in the haynes manual and find a performance version.

but you may just be better off taking out the current engine, storing it intact (not selling it)
and then buying a tuned/race built 1380, pop that in with new brakes, better tyres etc and it should be a killer.
then in the future turbo that, and build it up from that point.

either way for 0-60 you're talking weight loss as well, get the back seats out, strip out everything you don't need.
you'd prob find a second in there anyway, what is the current 0-60 by the way?
not from the handbook, get someone to time yours (somewhere safe plz)

[Pauly]

hi are people confusing 1/4 mile times with 0-60?

Yes .

[tobycatlin]

Best thing to do is research, search the forums see what people like and dont like, braking wise because you have 8.4" disks you could go for 4 pot calipers (if your thinking of tracking or dragging most of the time) but I think 2 pots are more than up to the job, set of good disks and pads, wont go wrong with that.

Sub 6 secs would make your car the fastest mini in the country, currently the fastest mini (a 7.9ltr chevy engine) is doing I beleive sub 9's 1/4's.

You say you have never done mechanics, building an engine is a big step and Id recommend that you start doing some of your own work, get a haynes and go from there, start picking up the basics, do some small jobs that need doing and go from there. A 1.8 vvc k series is quite a task to fit even for the most experienced person. A good 1275 with a few mods, cams, head etc can be a nice usable engine.

Paul.

I didn't mean a quarter mile in less that 6 seconds, that would be insane. No i meant 0-60 in less than 6 which i understand is quite achievable. I have read about 1.8vvc doing ~3sec 0-60 with a close ratio gear box.

Your advice is very sound and although in my mind i want to jump right into a total engine rebuild i know this isn't realistic. You are right I need to start smaller and i have with the stage 1 kit.
I was kinda hoping this thread would give me a list of things to do, stepping up in effect and complication. I think a new engine is going to be for a later project.

[jaydee]

An a series engine build to push a mini 0/60 in 6 sec will undrivable on the road, with all power on top end revs. And i dont either think will be possible to do because of the wheelspin that will make you loose a lot of time/acceleration..

[jaydee]

I didn't mean a quarter mile in less that 6 seconds, that would be insane. No i meant 0-60 in less than 6 which i understand is quite achievable. I have read about 1.8vvc doing ~3sec 0-60 with a close ratio gear box.

Dont know about vvc engines, but to give a comparison, R1 powered minis can do 0/60 in 4,5 sec, while race minis (a series engine) can do 0/60 in 7/8 secs.

[Pauly]

Firstly it depends on what engine you want to go for, Orginal a-series? k-series? Bike engine? A-series engines I would say to acheive those times is going to be a quite high spec engine, and as said, would be undrivable on the roads. k-series conversions might be slightly cheaper but theres more work involved.

Main things to do other than engine change, is to upgrade your braking system (disks & pads) and suspension (hilos, neg camber bottom arms, adjustable tie rods etc).

If your looking at buying a ready built a-series then the engine builder will give you the specs.

Edited by Pauly, 09 July 2009 - 09:33 AM.

[Nelson92]

hi are people confusing 1/4 mile times with 0-60?

Yes .

lol. i was thinking a mini running quarters in 6 would cost more then 2 grand

if you want a list and your car is standard:
1) new long centre brand (lcb) and good quality exhaust. (search for the threads on here about them)
2) stage 1 kit with good quality parts. get it fitted by a company and tuned up at the same time.
3) new sparks, ht leads, replace the rotor arm and dizzy cap, and the coil.
4) you could fit a bigger carb at the same time as the stage 1, a stage one should come with a new needle though.
5) decent oil, check the radiator isn't full of rubbish, flush out as many fluids as you can and replace with new.
6) performance air filter, i think k&n are the best? but i've got a generic as it was only £15

that should cost under 500 quid and give you a seriously sweet sounding 1275. and from there you can go as far as your budget takes you. you'd realy be suprised how just that lot will make a pretty quick car. then build in rockers and cams etc later.
if you got the weight down on the car aswell and did some suspension mods that should be a decent 0-60 aswell.