15 replies to this topic

[Barn]

hi there, I'm new here so hi everyone

I'm trying to weigh up costs of potential mini projects and am unsure of what route I want to go down! lol (have been looking at the C16se conversions)

basically want 100bhp or thereabouts (or over!) but want to keep the fun factor of the mini, awesome handling etc. and want to keep the costs to a minimum! I'm a VW apprentice so would be looking to do pretty much all the mechanicals myself and probably any welding that needs doing (have done a little welding before).

as stated I have been looking at the vauxhall 1.6 8v conversions but how heavy is this engine compared to a 1.3 mini engine for example? I would be trying to sort pretty much everything on this project to a good standard (hopefully! lol), brakes, suspension etc (so will be asking loads of 'whats best for this money'? type questions)! lol
I dont want to ruin the character of the mini by destroying the handling for awesome straight line speed by putting a heavy engine in but if a c16se would work well in a mini with tricked suspension etc then this conversion appeals to me

thing is, looking through the sites I have seen people that have spend small fortunes on tuning small mini engines with what seems (to me) not massively impressive gains, which I dont want to do...but then I've never driven a mini so I dont know what 80bhp etc feels in a mini (but that doesnt seem impressive to me for example)

what kind of cost is involved in putting a 1275 turbo lump into a (purely for example) 1990 mini city?

not really got much idea about minis at the moment I'm afraid, as you can probably tell (!) but I want a mini project and want something that will impress when complete.

to be honest I was looking at doing a vauxhall nova project but have noticed that the minis keep there value better and I want to do something different

Sorry for babbling on but trying to give you guys and girls an idea of my thinking!

Thanks in advance

[Brawlyrox]

look at power to weight ratios and not just the amount of power in a mini vs other cars. i.e a mini that has 100bhp and a few aftermarket products is about 158bhp per tonne which is around the same as a std 172 clio.

[Oldskoolbaby]

A friend of mine has a 1.6 Vauxhal tigra powered Neon. He says to me that his other mini, a 1293 Cooper S, is just as fast. Its definatly more roudy. I drove it down a street in our town and people just goorped at it even on part throttle (He has a weber fitted with single box rally exhaust) Im sure he said it kicks out just over 100bhp. He's just completed his Vtec project and that is just on another level compared to the c16se. If your thinking of engine conversions, you might as well go the whole hog.

Bassicly if you only want 100bhp, stick with the A seires. They are loads of fun to drive and feel quicker. Sit you car next to another hot hatch with a gruff A seires and youll belittle them.

[m3ntalist]

Check out the mini projects topics, and the 16valve mini club forum aswell. A suzuki swift engine could be a good one to go for

[Pandora]

A-series all the way baby!

[Bungle]

i have a 1275cc rover cooper and for around £500 and easy bolt on parts i now have 85 bhp at the flywheel :wink:

like has been said before if you want 100 bhp stick to a A series if you want more then go V TEC etc :wink:

also have a look a guessworks mini not a silly spec but good power

[minidaves]

why 100bhp why not 100ld ft of torque at 2500 rpm of there abouts

Me personally

swiftune sw5 cam
Longman or simular head (non of the 299quid special stage 3 cack)
standard rockers
rebore with 21253 pistons 1293 or 1310
twin 1.5 su's
maniflo lcb
and fopr a bit of bling playmini small bore side exit stainless exhaust

this will go lovley produce aroun 85-90bhp true power and around 100lbft of tourque and be reliable

my veiw

dave

[Barn]

wow, thanks for all the replies so quickly

Yeah, see what you mean, I hate throwing 'bhp' around but I just wanted you guys to get an idea of what I was on about!

how much am I looking at roughly for the above spec minidaves?

I am also planning to strip it out, lightweight buckets, and maybe a few fibreglass panels? front end? so I guess I would get a little more oomph that way

I dont think I will go the Vtec way! bit too mentalist for me and seems alot of work and money! the latter being the biggest problem, lol!

looks like tuning the A series would be cheaper than doing the c16se conversion then?! the subframes and conversion parts if you do it properly from allspeed (iirc) cost around £1500 before I start.

[Bluemini]

Getting that kind of power is going to be fairly costly, my 1380 cost around the £1k mark including a box etc and all the building work was done by me, if you get someone else to do it then you will pay more.

[Dog]

easiest way...

K-series 1400... 103bhp std

[minidaves]

if u have a 1275 to start with the around 1200quid for that lot plus then if u need it assembled add some extra ££££ its not cheap getting reliable power, i mean u can fit nitrous to a mini gives u power till it goes pop

dave

[Jammy]

easiest way...

K-series 1400... 103bhp std

Easy in what way?! Thats custom subframe fabrication!!!

[AlexM]

easiest way...

K-series 1400... 103bhp std

If u gonna fit a K-series why not the whole way and have like a 2litre. Are all K-series engines twin cam?

[Dog]

Cheaper and more reliable than doing a 1275 enigne up!

[The Matt]

What bluemini said was perfectly right. If you want to build it up yourself, set a budget of anything from £800 to £1500 for a decent normally aspirated A series. The mini in standard form is not ideal for just plonking 100BHP in it, you should look at gearbox upgrades, brake and suspension upgrades and also extra cooling ability.

I do think an A series is the way to go for ease, there are soooo many options for tuning and getting yourself a nice torquey little motor without the hassle of any custom subframes etc.

Look into places like Morspeed and MED for engine kits, just to get an idea of budget.

Also, have a flick through the projects part of the forum and look what mods others are doing. :wink: