39 replies to this topic

[justkitteh]

I wonder about changing the gears... I mean, if 3rd is like 1st in a normal car... I'dunno...

Edit: If 3rd is like 1st, what's first like... x_x

[z cars chris]

we are using 175x50x13 yokohama A539 tyres even on the drag strip with bigger tyres?wheels it would give taller top speed etc but i dont feel its an issue
the lads in the workshop are going to london to brighton in it driving all the way there and back to get some mpg figures for it as most of what i do on demos is flat out
thats a 600 mile round trip so it will be a good test of its useability
as far as stability goes we can accelarate flat in each gear with no hands on the wheel on a decent road on the back roads which are full of potholes i only drive with one hand on the wheel something which is impossiable with mega powered front wheel drive cars normally
if you are really desperate to have taller gearing we can get crown wheel and pinion made so that the car will do 180 mph but it costs £850 plus vat and i cant see why you would want to have it done 154 in a mini is exciting enough for me and i take a bit of exciting nowadays!!!!!!!
basically when you drive the car you just treat it as a four speed box which most mini drivers are used to anyway
1 st is good for pulling trees up with or ploughing if you fancy it !
if you want to see the car the boys will be at london to brighton on the seafront
we havent a stand there as im occupied elsewhere that weekend
chris

[justkitteh]

If anyone sees it to to get a picture of the inside one thing about using it as a daly driver is the whole... exposed engine and everything means you are connected to the outside through the back... so f it gets wet...

[Bounce]

Have we figured if the Mid-engine VTEC is a daily driver?

I understand that its gonna be a bit easyer do drive than the R1 in all conditions. But is there luggage space for two people to go away for a week? Have i got room for a trip to tescos?

I may be spouting devils words for the guys who do these convertions for track day and the odd trip in the dry. But some of us cant afford to run two cars after doing one of these conversions.


Ive been looking at the Allspeed front mounted VTEC, but i dont want to spend my money knowing i could have had something better.

[Jammy]

I'd say the rear engined Vtec is ok for a daily drive in that it will have no problem getting you to work and back everyday. However I'd be very cautious in the wet if I was driving one (should be in any car anyway!), and from the what I've seen at shows there really isn't anywhere for baggage apart from the passenger footwell or a roof rack.

[Bounce]

Is there any point in putting a compartment in under the bonnet, making sure the rad still has air around it and moving the fuel tank around to fit?

[Jammy]

Can't find a pic of under the bonnet, but even if you moved bits around there wouldn't be much room left at all I don't think.

[Bounce]

Oh nuts! Really had my eye on the zcars kit. And i dont want a dirty great big roof box.


Allspeed it is then

[CharlieBrown]

Very interesting thread.

Really glad to see a manufacturer (Chris) taking the time to come on the forum and answer all these questions.

Cheers Chris!!!

I look forward to hearing about the front engine jobbie

[supermotolee]

hope people have seen the thread smudger started with the front engined R1 i know it seems like a backward step but as a good usuable conversion it seems great. thats were people seem to be going on this thread, using their cars for everyday outings london to brighton, shows ect they dont just want their mini as a track car ect i know i would sacrifice the nuttyness of a rwd mini for a good usuable everyday and lets face it bloody quick car maybe use engines like the cb1300 or the oil cooled bandit engines they seem strong and torquey and the bandits have a massive range of bolt on and tuning parts i guess i like the idea of a street sleeper that i can use as and when i like....

i am in no way slating chris's cars they are unreal and i am so impressed everytime something new rolls out of his shed but maybe there is a calling for some milder more usuable cars that still handle and feel like a usuable mini but without the unreliability of a mega tuned a seris, some 120-150bhp front bike engined cars with good torque and a boot

keep up the amazing work chris!!!