85 replies to this topic

[megamini_jb]

Haven't been getting on the forum as much recently, but this is getting very close now. Loads has been done since, cannot wait!!

[mab01uk]

 

Was speaking to an old friend a couple of weeks a go whilst up in Scotland he built one
a lot of years ago !
check out cmroad&race website pictures on there

Ah that sounds very familar. I'm sure I've bought a few mini parts from him in the past. He has a stunning black mini with a full race tuned A Series and cares for a Austin Healey race car I believe it is?

 

 

 

Maguire space frame Mini-Ford
From the CM Road & Race website.

More photos here:-
http://cmroadandrace...w-it-all-began/
Quote:
"We had the car 8 years so you can imagine it was highly modified, and ran the last 2 or 3 seasons with a Ford BDG powering it.  Numerous class wins and records, and receiving the West of Scotland and Scottish Sprint Championships in the same season, made this a very successful car. We then decided that we could not go any further with the old girl, and we made the hard decision to sell.  (Big mistake).  I should have known when I towed it away - the look on Dad's face said it all.  Anyway the car went to Japan and we went to a single seater."

[megamini_jb]

Yep we've met the guy before and he provided loads of great info. Helps that he's nice and local too.

Ours is getting there, all thanks to dad cracking on with it. The engine side is pretty much all done. It's sitting built up ready. Well he also needs to collect some different Pistons from T&L engineering in Bedford (fantastic place and highly reccomended, they've done a lot of the work for the Lotus Twincam and on our A series in the past too) and the subframe needs blasting/painting, but apart from that everything else is ready. Just the mini side now as I don't think he's decided what route he is taking with that yet

Edited by megamini_jb, 15 April 2017 - 11:42 AM.

[Vegard]

Hi guys.

I'm contemplating such a conversion in the near future. 

I've got hold of crank tail, modified casing and adaptor plate.

However, what is done to get the crank inline with the idler gear? Do we rely on everything being straight?

 

Also, what about oil pump. Will the Ford oil pump fit straight into the sump somewhere?

 

If anyone's got more info/pictures, that'd be fantastic.

[stoneface]

Hi,

If the crank tail is machined correctly it just bolts on and should run true and line up. Not exactly sure what you mean by "inline with the idler"

 

The oil pickup point might depend on the manufacture of the conversion gearbox you have. But you normally use either a standard Ford oil pump modified with an external pickup or a Ford dry sump pump. Both fitted to the Ford block with pipes running externally to the gearbox or dry sump oil tank.

[Ivor Badger]

Most serious conversions were dry sumped. The single seater most engines came from were configured that way when obtained. Eric Smith's 1300 BDA was a scratch build with a Gordon Allen crank, thus no adapter piece on the crank. The crank was made from scratch with the mini taper on the end. The oil pickup basically used the std mini oil pickup connected to the scavenge pump and the return and oil feed from the pump already fitted from the single seater.

[DeadSquare]

But if someone could plonk a lightweight, reliable alloy block engine on an A series transmission, this type of conversion might become attractive again. K series is a non starter due to block depth below crankshaft axis, but there are maybe others. Doesn't one of the more modern Firms have an alloy block?

 

The K Series goes round backwards.   4 reverse gears !

[stoneface]

You can get an ally ford block but they are very expensive, and once you butcher it to mount on a mini gearbox it can't be put back. Well not without a lot of work.

[Vegard]

My kit comprises of a crank tail. Of course a one piece crank is better for two reasons. Obviously, the crank is stronger, and you get to mount the block closer to the flywheel.

 

I'm looking to fit a near standard 1600. That'll make sufficient grunt to make the 3-sync box moan. Road car.

[stoneface]

What are you putting it into; round nose or clubman?

You can fit it into both but a clubman is much easier. Especially if using carbs.

Have you got a modified block?

[Vegard]

No, I haven’t got a block yet. Clubman of course ;)