10 replies to this topic

[webbster1984]

Hi everyone I'm lucky enough to be getting back my first car which was a mini of course i havnt seen it in 7 years i want to do a V-tec conversion to it but i dont know which one is the best i hear the b16 is the most tunable and the b18 is not and that the h22 is a good swap but its a pain the the arse because its quite a tall motor can anyone here can give me advice?

[Kam]

There is only one engine you need - the search engine

If you can't find the answer then thats telling you what you already know - that there is no best engine, all down to what you can build and spend, what you want from it and how your gonna use it and how its gonna affect the overall look of the car, check out the different build diaries on here to get a feel of the most popular engines, thats not telling you they are the best ones though......every engine is tuneable, some more than others but an engine is an engine, the rules are the same

[M J W J]

I want to do a V-tec conversion to it but i dont know which one is the best i hear the b16 is the most tunable and the b18 is not and that the h22 is a good swap but its a pain the the arse because its quite a tall motor can anyone here can give me advice?

None is the simple answer (says he opening can of worms)

Vauxhall is the solution (burnard where are you when I need you to back me up). We have torque. Honda does not.

Joking aside have a look through some of the other engine conversions. You may find others are easier, cheaper and be more suited to what you want. The micra conversions are gaining popularity due to the ease and affordability. Until you have done loads of research don't just set your heart on a V-tec.

I kept reading loads of build diaries before I started mine and eventually choose the vauxhall route (despite choosing a less conventional engine) due to cost and it didn't seam to have some of the fitment problems that some of the other engine choices do. There also seemed to be more options to go with in terms of gearbox.

[Kam]

Burnards probably in bed as he's got a paper round to do in the morning

You have a point with the b16 but the b18 will be more than enough to torque steer you into a hedge if needed so you won't need any tuning on it, gear ratios are a problem yes, you gotta spend in that area to enjoy it.......

My advice OP get some research done then buy a fiesta

[evansisgreat]

I had my heart set on a vtec mini. I saw one on a rolling road and the noise was just amazing, not to mention all that power! But I didn't want to cut bits off my mini, and I was driven in a 120hp k series and it really was crazy fast and I realised that'd be plenty for me in a small fwd car.
I was then looking at the Micra conversion, as there's no need to hack the front off, you save the cost of flip fronting etc. As standard in a mini it'll put out around 100hp and the money saved on up front prices (for the price of a b series engine you could complete a conversion) you could easily re map or/and put on itb's or bike carbs.

It's just a thought, and it was easy for me to decide as I bought a honda as my everyday car, mainly for the vtec, haha!

[1380roadmini]

yer i went in a friends vtec mini i was blown away. if i had the money i definetly would go for a vtec

[2tonedc5]

well your right about the b16 being the most tunable but the b18 makes the most power in the b series honda motors. Bottom line is get a K series. The mid range power blows the B series out of the water. Not to mention it available in a 2.0 or 2.4 lt motor. Both of which can be combined to get a K20 head and a K24 bottom end. This engine can produce up to 280 naturaly aspirated whp. Crazy numbers for the mini. Also the compression can be at a maintainable 12:5 ratio. Almost beats the Skyactive technology mazda is puting out. lol K series FTW

[Kam]

The only crazy thing about the K in terms of numbers is not the power output figures but the purchase figures, they are still steep here, nothing for it is wallet friendly, and after all that you still need a custom final drive or you'll be driving around in fifth gear all day

I like the b16, I had one, as awesome as it is with its 160hp from a 1600cc with a 8250 rev limit for an engineering pov its all down to driving it at the end of the day, the lower torque is good for flooring your right foot (with a custom final drive if your using smaller wheels) but you will notice this torque figure out on the road

Best bang for buck is the b18, no point in getting a type-r unless your worried about the fast n furious crowd, the block is only 3mm taller than the b16 so fits the same as a b16, we get the b18c4 over here (c6 is type r) I don't know what other b18's are over here with good figures but with 170hp and 134 torque its almost type-r territory in the torque aspect compared with the 116 for the b16

[typer andy]

the b18c4 will have issues with the intake as it drops down the back of the engine. id say the b16 for driveability in the mini the b18c type r is a mental engine if you can get one for a good price

if you can pick up a vti eg civic then you can use alot of the loom, the clocks, ecu and basicly have a mini shell and subframes with honda electrics and engine

[Kam]

Theres too many factors here such as not knowing what frame what front end what wheels what suspension setup what bulkhead mods to dismiss it just under the inlet, which can be changed anyway for an aftermarket one which will be upswept a bit more or just go itb's, I mean you'll have pennies left over if your planning b over k

b18c4 being mentioned is pure bang for bucks malarky not tuning malarky, its good out of the box, also (again not knowing what size wheels the OP wants) you will still need a final drive unless you want your on mini on 14's??? I know I don't

You can have the b18c4 driveable if you get a final drive, probably even the type-r, but cost wise (which is what everything in this world is down to) then the c4 wins hands down compared to the b16 or b18c6, its sits in the middle, so best of both worlds

[2tonedc5]

The only crazy thing about the K in terms of numbers is not the power output figures but the purchase figures, they are still steep here, nothing for it is wallet friendly, and after all that you still need a custom final drive or you'll be driving around in fifth gear all day

I like the b16, I had one, as awesome as it is with its 160hp from a 1600cc with a 8250 rev limit for an engineering pov its all down to driving it at the end of the day, the lower torque is good for flooring your right foot (with a custom final drive if your using smaller wheels) but you will notice this torque figure out on the road

Best bang for buck is the b18, no point in getting a type-r unless your worried about the fast n furious crowd, the block is only 3mm taller than the b16 so fits the same as a b16, we get the b18c4 over here (c6 is type r) I don't know what other b18's are over here with good figures but with 170hp and 134 torque its almost type-r territory in the torque aspect compared with the 116 for the b16

Not sure about the transmission but i can tell you that a K series is substantially more in the US as well. But you have to pay to play. K series offer crazy amounts of NA whp. The K20a is acutally lighter than the B18 honda motor. Hondata K-pro also allows an owner to be able to learn how to tune your own engine. Not recommended though. K is where its at. Mini Tech is coming out with the j32 V6 swap here soon. Stay tuned @ superfastminis.com