12 replies to this topic

[silvermini]

I have a 1275 mg metro engine in my mini which i think is a wicked little motor, however im looking at buying a turbo from a friend whiich i think is a t3.
what sort of other mods will i need to make so that i can run it reliabley? ( wont be runing it on to hi psi)

Any advice would be helpfull

[Guess-Works.com]

basically you will need a turbo engine, as the pistons and the compression are different to the metro engine you have, you'll also need the carb off a turbo and the head would not be a bad idea...

[silvermini]

what would happen if i put the turbo on and ran it on a low psi?

[Guess-Works.com]

looke at the book on the MG Metro Turbo, as standard it is running a 9.4:1 compression ratio and 4-7 psi boost ( which is believe is very low for a turbo )

Most MG metro engines run 10.5:1 CR, which I suspect means you will have to turn the boost down even more...

I'm not a turbo man, so your about at the limit of my knowledge, but after splitting both turbo and MG engines, the pistons and heads are very different.

[Turbo Phil]

There's no real reason why you couldn't Turbo your existing engine, though as stated above the compression will be to high to run any real boost. So there's a few things to consider.....
Firstly the NA pistons differ from the Turbo items & running a Turbo on these is somewhat of a "grey area". It'll basically be a "try it and see" situation, so i would limit boost to say 7-8psi and "hopefully" it should be ok.
To lower the compression to something suitable I would get the chambers in the head worked to drop the compression to something like 8.5-1.
You'll also need to run a Turbo dizzy, or limit the advance of your existing one, and you'll need the Turbo carb, fuel pump, reg etc etc
Providing the ignition and fuelling are spot on i would think it'll last ok if everything's in good order. It will be interesting to see how a normally aspirated motor holds up to Turbocharging, it just needs somebody to take the risk and see how far it'll go.... any takers ? lol

Phil.

[Turbo Nick]

you'd probably get something like this if you ran a turbo on an MG lump, in a very short space of time




best bet is to get an engine kit from a decent builder like morspeed, that way you wont melt it after 6 weeks and be gutted like me

[Turbo Nick]

phils post wasn't there a minute ago

[Turbo Phil]

Was that on 10.5-1 compression then Bud ?

Phil.

[Turbo Nick]

it was on 9.4:1 but with a 10thou head skim due to warpage...and around 10psi.

[Turbo Phil]

Probably not the fault of the pistons then. 10psi may be a tad high on that compression . lol.
It would be nice to know what they'll stand with a lower compression.
What about ignition and fuelling, was this spot on ?

Phil.

[Turbo Nick]

not in the slightest....it was the usual rip it out of the metro, drop into the mini and drive. was a combination of no RR setup, lead right foot and the actuator pipe may have fell off aswell * it lasted a whole 6 weeks and one track day

[kada1980]

A thicker head gasket will reduce the compression ratio, but you will still have to limit the boost on standard pistons and rings.

Good luck

Karl

[Dave 1293]

i got a mate who blew up his turbo 1275 a couple of days before our rolling road day with mini world, so he got a standard 1000cc bolted on an mg head with a 2nd hand head gasket and slapped the turbo on.. modded turbo that is, and a huge intercooler... got silly power.. before the clutch started slipping.

Still going now after 3 months.. so much fun.