32 replies to this topic

[DaveVader]

thanks for replies. i bought one just for the power steering rack (honest), so scrapping the rest of car.

If you want to sell the dash to me then I've been thinking of getting one to try and stick in the project (emphasis on the word try).

[haggz]

do you want the complete dash, ie clocks etc ??

[valve bounce]

ive seen the posts on people fit KA dashes into their mini's but has anyone fitted the engine into one, just curious to know.

why would you? the KA engine is a million year old design,

What and an A series is modern by comparison.I thought Mosses knocked up the A series while he had nothing to do on the ark.Totally agree on why you would even consider putting a ka in a Mini though.

thank you, im not saying it would be any point converting a mini to have a ka engine but the actual engine itself is a better one

[FWN]

Got to say, I had a 96reg KA with the Duratec 1.3 wasnt bad, and to be honest has been the only car ive driven like my mini in terms of handling, its 80hp out the box with a easy ability to cruise at 80mph - oh and 5 gears, power steering and a rather compact aircon system.

Seems like a fun challenge

[cooperdan]

why go with the KA engine, try get hold of a 1.7 puma engine as they have more bhp than the 2 litre zetec does fairly popular conversion with the ford boys

Wow you didnt suggest the other one

[JakeJakeJake]

Got to say, I had a 96reg KA with the Duratec 1.3 wasnt bad, and to be honest has been the only car ive driven like my mini in terms of handling, its 80hp out the box with a easy ability to cruise at 80mph - oh and 5 gears, power steering and a rather compact aircon system.

Seems like a fun challenge

Surely a nice honda vtec would be better if you were going to go the the trouble of an engine swap. A B16 vtec is good for 150bhp out the box so about 240 bhp per ton with 5 gears and still give 45MPG. Also is tried and tested so if you had trouble along the way then help would be easily available, also subframes etc are already available if you didn't fancy making one your self.

[markaboot]

if its the 1.3 it a horrible little engine, they're horrible little cars, i used to drive my mums a few years back.

Edited by markaboot, 25 February 2011 - 10:05 AM.

[The_Mistro]

Got to say, I had a 96reg KA with the Duratec 1.3 wasnt bad, and to be honest has been the only car ive driven like my mini in terms of handling, its 80hp out the box with a easy ability to cruise at 80mph - oh and 5 gears, power steering and a rather compact aircon system.

Seems like a fun challenge

they handle nothing like a mini! thats just utter rubbish! and i have driven a 96 and a 2002 KA before you say "drive one"

[oli8925]

There's always mixed opinions on the Ka. Some people love them and say they're nippy little cars, others say they're rubbish. I've never liked them but never driven one so can't say, but this argument could go on for ages...

My experience of that 1.3 engine in a couple old Escorts isn't great though. They're probably alright if you look after them but have a fair few issues and they're probably all quite tired by now. As has been said though they're an old design, fine back in their day but outdated now and better options are out there.

[Tommyboy12]

I had the HCS version in my old Mk3 Fiesta. Before it became an Endura-E fitted to the Ka. It wasnt a bad engine but its only about 55bhp so not very quick. About the only thing it has over a standard A-series is a fifth gear. Id happily have another as I would any pushrod. Its an old design but it still works. Just too un-refined for most boring little euro-boxes now.

[Al the Biker]

If you put a different i.e. non A Series engine in a Mini - is it still a Mini ? If you look at just the number of "parts" most will be in the engine so parts-wise maybe 70% of your Mini isn't actually a Mini... so you would have to call it a Kani instead ?
I'd prefer a Honda engine though then it could be a Honi (Honey) !


al

[valve bounce]

Got to say, I had a 96reg KA with the Duratec 1.3 wasnt bad, and to be honest has been the only car ive driven like my mini in terms of handling, its 80hp out the box with a easy ability to cruise at 80mph - oh and 5 gears, power steering and a rather compact aircon system.

Seems like a fun challenge

Surely a nice honda vtec would be better if you were going to go the the trouble of an engine swap. A B16 vtec is good for 150bhp out the box so about 240 bhp per ton with 5 gears and still give 45MPG. Also is tried and tested so if you had trouble along the way then help would be easily available, also subframes etc are already available if you didn't fancy making one your self.

i would agree with FWN i would also enjoy the challange of putting the ka engine it, the honda/vauxhall conversion has been done to death in my book and you say its good for 150bhp etc but in the real world that will make a mini tourque steer all over the road and variouse other things i quiet like the idea of having a slightly more power but 5 gears and better reliabilty. 75bhp 5 speed injection 45mpg starts first time every time would be brilliant

[The_Mistro]

Got to say, I had a 96reg KA with the Duratec 1.3 wasnt bad, and to be honest has been the only car ive driven like my mini in terms of handling, its 80hp out the box with a easy ability to cruise at 80mph - oh and 5 gears, power steering and a rather compact aircon system.

Seems like a fun challenge

Surely a nice honda vtec would be better if you were going to go the the trouble of an engine swap. A B16 vtec is good for 150bhp out the box so about 240 bhp per ton with 5 gears and still give 45MPG. Also is tried and tested so if you had trouble along the way then help would be easily available, also subframes etc are already available if you didn't fancy making one your self.

i would agree with FWN i would also enjoy the challange of putting the ka engine it, the honda/vauxhall conversion has been done to death in my book and you say its good for 150bhp etc but in the real world that will make a mini tourque steer all over the road and variouse other things i quiet like the idea of having a slightly more power but 5 gears and better reliabilty. 75bhp 5 speed injection 45mpg starts first time every time would be brilliant

my spi starts first time everytime! left it for 4 months through the hard hard winter with the battery connected in a cold metal barn and it started first time, no smoke and ticked over like a dream! my friends KA on the other hand, had to have the RAC out to start it after being left in the snow for 3 days!!!

[wolfie]

Nothing wrong with the old kent engines you would get more power from a 1.3 kent than a 1293 a series, i had a hot kent engine on 40's in my old supersport and it was very quick for a small capacity engine, however thats fine in a mk1 fiesta but a pretty pointless sticking one in a mini.

If you want a ka engine in a car then buy a ka and dont ruin a mini!

[Timtom]

ive seen the posts on people fit KA dashes into their mini's but has anyone fitted the engine into one, just curious to know.

why would you? the KA engine is a million year old design,

What and an A series is modern by comparison.I thought Mosses knocked up the A series while he had nothing to do on the ark.Totally agree on why you would even consider putting a ka in a Mini though.

My only addition to discussion is that it was Noah on the Ark