9 replies to this topic

[dagnarble]

I am looking at a 1992 Mini Rover 1.3i. I really like the car but would like to swap out the injection and go to carbs. I read that the Japanese minis were sometimes a combination of SPi and MPi and that the MPi does not lend itself to switching over too well. How can I tell by looking at the car wether it is a Japanes mini or a British one and is it correct that a car could be a combination??

[jmmini]

I don't believe that you can have both spi (single point injection) and mpi (multi point injection) and you can tell because the mpi has the radiator up front.

If it's an mpi I'd not go to carbs

Edited by jmmini, 14 August 2013 - 09:06 PM.

[Fast Ivan]

I'm fairly certain that a 92 would be spi no matter If its jap or British, I'm not 100% though. The late jap cars ran a kind of hybred I believe that was multi point but without the cam sensor and with a bespoke ecu. And the rad was side mounted.

[IainStallard]

Japanese spec minis had a mixture of spi and mpi parts I think. Mpi block (no distributor hole, oil filter on block. Different alternator mounting) and then had an spi injection system

Edit: I also think that they all had side mounted radiators

Edited by IainStallard, 14 August 2013 - 09:14 PM.

[mab01uk]

Japanese SPi should be the same as SPi Mini's in UK (pre-96) but with the addition of aircon. The position of the alternator is like the setup used in MPi engines, that is the alternator sits high to allow space for the aircon compressor below it.
After the introduction of the MPi in 1996, things got a bit different for Japan. They had the airbag, in-line fuses, MPi engine block (with distributorless ignition), etc. but retains the side-mounted radiator because of the need to mount the aircon compressor beneath the alternator, many were automatic

 

More:

http://www.theminifo...anese-mini-spi/

 

 

 

Edited by mab01uk, 14 August 2013 - 10:27 PM.

[IainStallard]

The jap spec 96> cars use the MPi block, with the SPi injection manifold and accompanied with Air conditioning and a side mount rad. The ECU will look similar to an SPi ECU however, the distributor has gone and been replaced with a coil pack same as the MPi. Some were manual, but many were automatic.

[dagnarble]

Thanks gents: Am I correct that the two pictures from mab01uk show an SPi at the top and an MPi as the bottom picture. The car is an automatic, but the body is mint as is the interior, so I think I'll take a chance.

[IainStallard]

All Japanese spec cars were spi's. However, the later ones used coil packs instead with mpi blocks, but single point injection

[firstforward]

Thanks gents: Am I correct that the two pictures from mab01uk show an SPi at the top and an MPi as the bottom picture. The car is an automatic, but the body is mint as is the interior, so I think I'll take a chance.

 

I have amongst other things a 96 Jap SPi limited edition. It also has no corrosion what so ever, even the engine mount nuts are shiny bright as new and it really pulls to 4.5K rpm in top with ease. If ever I had a choice of Brit or Jap it would be Jap every time, just waxoyl it well all over in cavities and soak the underside front wings before fitting front wheel arch liners, that will for sure keep the rust away. 

 

 

Liners are here.... http://www.dereksmin...sale/4529669452

Edited by firstforward, 15 August 2013 - 08:30 AM.

[mab01uk]

Thanks gents: Am I correct that the two pictures from mab01uk show an SPi at the top and an MPi as the bottom picture. The car is an automatic, but the body is mint as is the interior, so I think I'll take a chance.

 

Yes the top is pre-96 Jap SPi and the bottom pic is the later post-96 Jap SPi with some MPi parts like the distributor-less block and coil pack but with side radiator, etc.