11 replies to this topic

[billycooper]

Hi

 

Ive just bought a 1993 Mini Sprite 1275 for my son, we are in the process of rebuilding the whole car for track days / Hillclimbs etc, just want him to start with something sensible, bit of power but not too much, now even though ive Rallied / Hillclimbed Minis for 20 years, that was 10 years ago, and im completely lost to the whole SPI set up, can someone explain what it is and how it works please, it looks like a normal 1 1/2 Carb, with the old type round air filter, it has a lambda sensor i presume in the front pipe, and a electronic module on the dizzy,so couple of questions 

 

Can we use the carb (spi ?)  with a water heated inlet manifold and change the exhaust to 3 branch LCB, throw away the cat and sensor ?, is there another ecu hidden somewhere , what will the car need to run, any rewiring  ?, is the dizzy then junk ?

 

it dosnt mater about the MOT for emissions, because the car will not run on the road

 

Many thanks, please exclude my ignorance, help appreciated

[cal844]

you can run the on carbs, then you just take the ecu out and change the exhaust.  

 

someone will be along shortly to go into detail. 

[FlyingScot]

For what it is and how does it work http://www.gaima.co....r/RoverMEMS.pdf

Yes you can junk the SPI bits and change to carb, but you need to do some rewiring and change the distributor.

The current SPI inlet manifold is water heated (and electrically heated for cold start to boot).

See here http://www.minimania..._to_Carburetors

There are other articles on this but this will give you a start

FS

Edited by FlyingScot, 07 November 2013 - 11:31 AM.

[billycooper]

Hi Guys

 

Yes that all makes sence, but .... ive  just looked at the pictures of the SPI units and mine dosnt look like that, it looks like a proper carb, am i being stupid or where the early ones like that ?, as i say it was what looks like a HIF carb with a big round air filter, as i say its a 1993 and it wont have had a conversion as its a stock one lady owner car

 

Thanks 

[billycooper]

Fhttp://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/


Many thanks

[Yoda]

Its not an spi. 1993 there were still plenty of models being produced with carbs, I think the lamda's were fitted to make things standard in readyness for the new regs and fuel injection. I am pretty sure there should be a test point for MOT and tuning somewhere near the dizzy and you can do away with all that when you change the exhaust. No ecu to worry about so just treat the car as you would any normally aspirated.

[billycooper]

Thats what i hoping, many thanks thats great news !!

[billycooper]

sorry to run you guys on a wild goose chase !!, but all the paperwork that came with the car said it was an SPI, and i just couldnt get my head round it !

[Yoda]

It may well say spi on the paperwork, but if you say it is as it left the factory, then that suggests either the wrong paperwork for the car, or the wrong car for the paperwork. You may need to investigate further but for your purposes it is normally aspirated.

[humph]

It may well have been converted to carbs.  Whenever I have mystery problems with my spi and ask specialists or enthusiasts the first response I get is "you want to change that to carbs mate".  Actually I don't!

 

According to my records the Sprite & Mayfair didn't get SPi until August 94.

Edited by humph, 07 November 2013 - 12:31 PM.

[Yoda]

It may well have been converted to carbs. 

 

What he said. its quite commonly done

[Sprocket]

Your car was carb from the factory. Mini Sprite/ Mayfair did not get Injection until early 1995, though some seem to be late 1994 for some reason. Our club has three M reg 94/95 sprites two of which are SPi while one is carb.

 

Only the Cooper had injection in 1993.

Edited by Sprocket, 08 November 2013 - 10:38 PM.