27 replies to this topic

[Mini Adam]

A 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.



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

Hi mark, thanks for this comprehensive list! It's very helpful.
Being a 'beginner' on this topic I am no place to suggest an engine however it just appeared most people used a redtop, what are the advantages of the X16XE that seems to have been mentioned a bit?
Thanks

[MarkGTT]

There is some good info on the 1.6 and 2.0 Vauxhall engines here

http://www.sbdev.co....all engines.htm

also gives you some idea of the cost of modification, what can be done etc.

[Kam]

If you reckon you will have 6k in a few years for the build then don't worry yourself now, that will get you on the road whether now or then, what your car looks like and how much change you have after depends on what you can do and how the end result needs to look like

Read through as many build diaries as you can for some ideas of how its done and compare to what you can do

[Mini Adam]

There is some good info on the 1.6 and 2.0 Vauxhall engines here

http://www.sbdev.co....all engines.htm

also gives you some idea of the cost of modification, what can be done etc.

thanks for that link

If you reckon you will have 6k in a few years for the build then don't worry yourself now, that will get you on the road whether now or then, what your car looks like and how much change you have after depends on what you can do and how the end result needs to look like

Read through as many build diaries as you can for some ideas of how its done and compare to what you can do

are you saying that's a pretty good value to get a car on the road but it may compromise the final look of my car?
thanks
adam

[jayare]

Hi mark, thanks for this comprehensive list! It's very helpful.
Being a 'beginner' on this topic I am no place to suggest an engine however it just appeared most people used a redtop, what are the advantages of the X16XE that seems to have been mentioned a bit?
Thanks

The X16XE (and other small-block Vauxhall engines) have quite a substantial weight advantage over a red-top which tends to make a 'nicer' conversion in a Mini IMO, especially as it's relatively easy to get 150+ bhp out of it. Check out SBD for tuning info.

On the whole cost thing, if you are going with a bought frame, doing most of the work yourself I reckon around £3K will get it running as long as the Mini is solid. If you want the extra little bits that'll make your car stand out, you'll spend more, if you do EVERYTHING yourself including subframe, you'll spend less.

JR

[HARBER07]

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

Would very much like to see some proof.

[Mini Adam]

Hi mark, thanks for this comprehensive list! It's very helpful.
Being a 'beginner' on this topic I am no place to suggest an engine however it just appeared most people used a redtop, what are the advantages of the X16XE that seems to have been mentioned a bit?
Thanks

The X16XE (and other small-block Vauxhall engines) have quite a substantial weight advantage over a red-top which tends to make a 'nicer' conversion in a Mini IMO, especially as it's relatively easy to get 150+ bhp out of it. Check out SBD for tuning info.

On the whole cost thing, if you are going with a bought frame, doing most of the work yourself I reckon around £3K will get it running as long as the Mini is solid. If you want the extra little bits that'll make your car stand out, you'll spend more, if you do EVERYTHING yourself including subframe, you'll spend less.

JR

Ah okay that makes sense Yeah I will have a look on there to find out more information about the different engines

Well that's not too bad then. My dad is a welder and has been for the last 37 years so would it be reasonable to assume together we could make a subframe, or is that a difficult job?

Adam

[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

let me rephrase this as everyone seems to have a problem with it. in my personal opinion i do not like the xseries engine i would prefer the c series ie redtop or blue top

[MarkGTT]

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

let me rephrase this as everyone seems to have a problem with it. in my personal opinion i do not like the xseries engine i would prefer the c series ie redtop or blue top

Why don't you like the X16XE?

[DAVEY_C]

check these out, might be some use to you.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3361ea2ab6

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3f04862331

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3f03a0dd1d

[Mini Adam]

check these out, might be some use to you.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3361ea2ab6

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3f04862331

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3f03a0dd1d

Ah that is great, thank you

[samperks]

cheaper build you could use a rover vvc engine, but if youve got the money probably get more hp out the vauxhall engine but it will cost more overall i reckon

[Mini Adam]

cheaper build you could use a rover vvc engine, but if youve got the money probably get more hp out the vauxhall engine but it will cost more overall i reckon

i haven't looked into that engine, will have a look