27 replies to this topic

[Mini Adam]

Okay this is in the future, say a few years time, but have been reading a lot about redtop conversions recently and am very interested in trying one. Realistically, roughly how much could you do a redtop conversion for from start to finish? I'm talking about the engine, uprated brakes, paintjob... the whole lot?
Thanks
Adam

[billyboy83]

Okay this is in the future, say a few years time, but have been reading a lot about redtop conversions recently and am very interested in trying one. Realistically, roughly how much could you do a redtop conversion for from start to finish? I'm talking about the engine, uprated brakes, paintjob... the whole lot?
Thanks
Adam

How long is a bit of string ?

It all depends on what you can do your self, spec of the car you want, frame you buy or make. so really its hard to put a price on it, its more down to the budget or how much you want to spend really.

[Mini Adam]

Okay this is in the future, say a few years time, but have been reading a lot about redtop conversions recently and am very interested in trying one. Realistically, roughly how much could you do a redtop conversion for from start to finish? I'm talking about the engine, uprated brakes, paintjob... the whole lot?
Thanks
Adam

How long is a bit of string ?

It all depends on what you can do your self, spec of the car you want, frame you buy or make. so really its hard to put a price on it, its more down to the budget or how much you want to spend really.

6K?

[mini_mad69]

Okay this is in the future, say a few years time, but have been reading a lot about redtop conversions recently and am very interested in trying one. Realistically, roughly how much could you do a redtop conversion for from start to finish? I'm talking about the engine, uprated brakes, paintjob... the whole lot?
Thanks
Adam

How long is a bit of string ?

It all depends on what you can do your self, spec of the car you want, frame you buy or make. so really its hard to put a price on it, its more down to the budget or how much you want to spend really.

6K?

Did you not read that reply?


You can't put a price on something unless you know what spec and skills the builder has.

[Mini Adam]

Okay this is in the future, say a few years time, but have been reading a lot about redtop conversions recently and am very interested in trying one. Realistically, roughly how much could you do a redtop conversion for from start to finish? I'm talking about the engine, uprated brakes, paintjob... the whole lot?
Thanks
Adam

How long is a bit of string ?

It all depends on what you can do your self, spec of the car you want, frame you buy or make. so really its hard to put a price on it, its more down to the budget or how much you want to spend really.

6K?

Did you not read that reply?


You can't put a price on something unless you know what spec and skills the builder has.

Yes I did: its more down to the budget or how much you want to spend really.

[reallybig]

10.5 billion trillion ks

what size engine

[Mini Adam]

10.5 billion trillion ks

what size engine

I was looking at something like this if it could fit: http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3a5f8709c8

[wassupcrew]

if you are really looking at a redtop conversion you should at least get a redtop engine. they start with a c ie c16xe or c20xe i personally wouldn't bother with a ecocrap engine as they are pants and you cant tune them as well as a redtop. i'm in the middle of a vtec conversion myself, doing every thing myself including building the subframe, i reckon it gonna cost me about a grand, thats not including the cost of the mini in the first place, but thats doing absolutely everything most of it twice because it doesnt look or work right. the vauxhall conversion is a bit easier as the gearbox is on the right but space is a premium because the engine is taller. have a browse on 16vminiclub.com to get loads of info

[Mini Adam]

if you are really looking at a redtop conversion you should at least get a redtop engine. they start with a c ie c16xe or c20xe i personally wouldn't bother with a ecocrap engine as they are pants and you cant tune them as well as a redtop. i'm in the middle of a vtec conversion myself, doing every thing myself including building the subframe, i reckon it gonna cost me about a grand, thats not including the cost of the mini in the first place, but thats doing absolutely everything most of it twice because it doesnt look or work right. the vauxhall conversion is a bit easier as the gearbox is on the right but space is a premium because the engine is taller. have a browse on 16vminiclub.com to get loads of info

thanks for that helpful reply i'll definitely have a look on that website! thanks. a grand? is that it!? is that including the price of the engine?
Thanks

[markxe]

 31102009308.jpg   40.04K   16 downloadsA subject close to my heart this one as it constantly annoys me about these engine conversions, COSTS. I will now list the cost of the parts spent on my own car which is a 20xe Vauxhall just so people are aware of the true costs. ( If the wife sees this I am a dead man) This is parts and parts only and is by no means the complete list of all parts required or used but gives you a good idea. All prices in pounds. Here goes.
Allspeed subframe 500
Allspeed brace bars 55
Allspeed billet driveshafts 325
Allspeed CV joints 180
Allspeed bottom arms 285
Alternator Bracket 12
Bulkhead box 18
Gear shift bracket 16

Now thats well over a grand already, however we now have the basic parts required to begin that is of course if you have a good strong rot free Mini already.

Engine 400
Cambelt kit 50
Water pump 28
Arp rod bolts 50
Steel sump 38
Oil 30
Oil filter 4
Rocker cover gasket 15
Sump gasket and baffle plate 33
Radiator 90
Pacet fan 70
Inlet manifold 140
Alpha Weber throttle bodies and management 1500
Header tank 30
Clutch cable 19
Fuel pipes, coolant hoses, wiring, clips and clamps 55
Exhaust system 80
Manifold modded 200
New battery 66

Brake master cylinder 40
Brake resevoir 15
Metro turbo 4 pots 150
Brake pads 25
Superfin drums 115
Spax shocks 200
Hi Los 85
Wheels and tyres 400
Camber brackets 30
Braided hoses 40

Almost there.
Sportspack arches 100
Zeemax front bumper 200
ABS bootlid and bonnet 200
Bonnetpins 20
Perspex windows 160
Window rubbers 70

I did not require a full respray but had most of the car done cost 800 pics on www.blitzbodyshop.co.uk show what was painted.

I think thats about it probably missed some stuff no doubt such as full cage, sparco seats, harnesses, lights, bumper etc.
 31102009304.jpg   182.43K   20 downloads


Thats it really, was it worth it, when i look at the list above then think that I had to pay someone to do the conversion for me probably not. However the sheer grin factor when wrestling the little bugger up the road and the pleasure of embarrasing cars costing a lot more well I would have to say Hell Yeah.

Lastly I am not having a dig at anyone these cars can be done on a budget but you have to have the knowledge the equipment and the resources plus plenty of patience and lots of time.

Cheers for reading this far.
Mark

Edited by markxe, 04 November 2010 - 03:31 PM.

[HARBER07]

The X16XE engine is by no means "crap". It's been tuned to 240bhp+ N/A.

Edited by HARBER07, 04 November 2010 - 03:48 PM.

[DAVEY_C]

i think mark has a sweet little car even after that big bill but if you wanted to you could do the conversion for alot cheeper, it all depends on how much you can do yourself or if you have a machinist as a good mate. you don't need things like trottle bodies and the engines can be "as cheap as chips". there's alot of build diary's on 16vminiclub and well worth reading. me personaly i would rather build myself and spend the savings on tools which i would then have for building my future projects but you would want to be hands on and persistant. on the other hand 6k is a fair budget and you could possibly build a good car within that, the redtop is a good lump but so is the 1.6xe.

if you decide to do it yourself check out the subframes below, i don't know much about them and even the completed frame comes without mounts due to it being universal but they look prity good.

http://www.kevericmo...ames/4538252967

here are the mounts,

http://www.kevericmo...arts/4538315602

[wassupcrew]

The X16XE engine is by no means "crap". It's been tuned to 240bhp+ N/A.

but then you can get that out of a c20ne 8 valve

[wassupcrew]

if you are really looking at a redtop conversion you should at least get a redtop engine. they start with a c ie c16xe or c20xe i personally wouldn't bother with a ecocrap engine as they are pants and you cant tune them as well as a redtop. i'm in the middle of a vtec conversion myself, doing every thing myself including building the subframe, i reckon it gonna cost me about a grand, thats not including the cost of the mini in the first place, but thats doing absolutely everything most of it twice because it doesnt look or work right. the vauxhall conversion is a bit easier as the gearbox is on the right but space is a premium because the engine is taller. have a browse on 16vminiclub.com to get loads of info

thanks for that helpful reply i'll definitely have a look on that website! thanks. a grand? is that it!? is that including the price of the engine?
Thanks

that includes the cost of the engine loom gearbox driveshafts etc. but i got the donor car very cheap i.e £50, the shafts are sleeved not billet shafts so only cost me 30. all the work has been done by me, but the price doesnt include stuff like the adjustable suspension setup or coil spring conversion as i had that already. it all depends what you can do yourself and what equipment you already have as to how much its going to cost. it can be done on a small budget, but as stated you need loads of patience and prepared to be frustrated overe and over again

[MarkGTT]

The X16XE engine is by no means "crap". It's been tuned to 240bhp+ N/A.

but then you can get that out of a c20ne 8 valve

C20NE will weigh more though. The X16XE is an awesome engine , I think you should read up on the subject before giving incorrect info out it's by no means crap!