8 replies to this topic

[Joe555]

1987 Min8i City with 1275 Metro engine.

Just a question for the next step.
I started by just taking the engine out of the Metro and putting it in the mini with the minimum mods needed to make it go. I used it for 1 year with no real problems. It has been off the road since October and I have done some minor things, SW5 cam, light flywheel & roller rockers. It won't be in the car until the weather warms up a bit. I am thinking the next step will be cylinder head, inlet and exhaust manifolds. I am using the original Metro cast iron manifold at the moment, it works OK and the clearance for the HIF carb is OK, I tried two ally inlet manifolds that I have and they give vey little clearance. On the exhaust side of things, I am using the Metro front twin pipes with a new (last year) two box exhaust back end. I like the existing manifolds because they fit so well and are trouble free but on the other hand I expect that they are a bit restrictive for performance. Because the ally inlet manifolds I have tried don't give enougth clearance I was thinking of getting a long centre branch exhaust and grinding off the Metro manifold so that i can use just the inlet manifold but I dont no if the centre branch of the exhaust will foul the inlet manifold. The other option that I was thinking about is the MG Metro maniflod better than the standard Metro and if so are they availible??

JoeI

[998dave]

MG Metro inlet manifolds are better, and available on ebay for £20 or so.

Match this up with a n lcb or freeflow manifold and RC40 style exhaust system, get it tuned up and you'll have a lovely motor.

To be honest, with you cam and other changes you've got to upgrade the manifolds else you'll not get the most out of what you've done!

Dave

[Bungle]

the MG metro manifold is one of the best and was standard fit to the early 90's cooper

[Guess-Works.com]

I concur, and is every bit as good as a budget LCB...

If you want to increase the exhaust flow you're going to have to put something like a Stage 2 Maniflow manifold... http://www.minispare...=...2181&title=

[Joe555]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. you have convinced me I should get the maniflow exhaust manifold from mini spares. I have had a look on ebay for a MG Metro inlet manifolod, but all I could see at the moment was two cast iron exhaust manifolds, they look simular to my manifold but are not one casting with the inlet. As I can't afford the head this year I was thinking if I get the lcb and grind the exhaust manifold off and use my existing inlet manifold for the moment as it matches the head ports and the HIF44 the only thing is as I said before if the inlet manifold will foul the center branch of the exhaust manifold, by the time I find out it will be too late. So I well keep looking for an MG Metro inlet manifold then if it fouls the exhaust I will still have my existing manifol to fall back on. The other thing about the MG inlet manifold (I am assuming that the MG Metro uses the HIF44) is I imagine the ports will be bigger to the ones in my existing head untill I get it ported, the same for the exhaust but the other way round. Any thoughts?

Joe

[me madjoe 90]

The standerd inlet will foul on the center brench i tryed modifying it but didnet work, get a cheap alloy inlet

[bmcecosse]

The exhaust you have is actually very efficient - don't rush to change it. A separate alloy inlet will help - you would have been better to improve the head rather than wasting money on the rockers........ The SW5 has more than enough lift as it is - check carefully for valve spring binding..............

Edited by bmcecosse, 29 January 2011 - 06:04 PM.

[Joe555]

The rockers were part of the Switune kit so I hope I won't have any problems with the springs. I have tried two alloy inlet manifolds but they don't give hardley any clearance for the HIF carburettor. If anyone can suggest one that will not foul the exhaust and still give clearance for the carburettor I will be greatfull.

Thanks,

Joe

[bmcecosse]

Often just add a spacer to pack the carb away slightly - if modified as per Vizard it can help airflow.