23 replies to this topic

[mattbrown]

Right so that's good news that I could still use it everyday and not have to worry about breakdowns etc all the time.

I like the idea of a smaller vauxhall engine, as I don't want a big heavy lump ruining the mini driving experience. I think a sensible and reliable 100bhp would be nice, But then again you can pick up the k series so cheap that there is the temptation of going all out with a vvc k series and about 145bhp on tap.

Which one will comfortably fit under the standard steel round nose, I'm not entirely convinced about the longer front ends but I would consider a fiberglass flip front.

I need to double check insurance costs before anything goes ahead as I will only be 21, anyone had any issues with insurance with engine conversions at around my age?

[samsfern]

I'll be going k series 160 vvc engine. I use a rover 25 as a daily, that gets driven hard all the time and I've never had any problems with it. People that slate the k series obviously don't know anything about it and are just going off what other people say.

[samsfern]

The k series in my rover 25, 1.4 16v is 103bhp. 123nm torque

The 160bhp vvc I bought, I paid £350 for with wiring, ecu and everything else from a mgzr 160.

Edited by samsfern, 15 January 2012 - 12:20 PM.

[Frisco]

I'm not going by what anyone says, I'm going by what I have seen.

On the emissions side of things any vauxhall with a letter first in the engine code is designed to run a cat so you can fit one if needed

Edited by Frisco, 15 January 2012 - 12:29 PM.

[mattbrown]

A k series 1.4 16v sounds like a sensible option, 103bhp and can be picked up dirt cheap, might even be fairly cheap on the insurance.

If a 1.4 k series was fitted in a custom subframe, are they the same size as a 1.8 vvc?So if I decided a bit later on to upgrade would it be a fairly simple engine swap? Really it all comes down to insurance and the complexity of the build.

I do love the idea of a 160 bhp vvc mini though

[Beej123]

To be fair, the K Series engines DO have head gasket issues but if they are looked after and you keep an eye out, they will be fine. They are good engines!

[samsfern]

The vvc mounts are the same as the 1.4.

They do have head gasket issues, but once they've had the uprated multi layer steel gaskets fitted their fine.

I could say vtecs are crap as I've seen a few of them with holes in the blocks, but I do think their good engines.

Edited by samsfern, 15 January 2012 - 12:33 PM.

[Frisco]

Vtecs die from abuse it's not quite the same

[mattbrown]

Right that makes it a really viable option then, I could go 1.4 16v for a while and if needed upgrade to vvc power at a later date.

The k series will definitely fit under a standard round nose mini then?

I don't want to start a big debate about which engines are crap etc, as they have a tendency to go over the same old ground. I am aware of head gasket problems etc and I'm sure almost every engine has it's problems.

Having said that I am by no means ruling out the vauxhall option, if a good one of either engine comes up cheap I wil go for it