45 replies to this topic

[.998TANGO.]

Evening all

 

Got a bit of a dilemma. Going to be taking my 1275 engine out for a bit of a winter rebuild, There was a few things I wanted to do to it and check (gearbox has been making all kinds of sounds) The head gasket went the other week so thought now would be a good time to pull it out. Now I have always toyed with the micra conversion idea but i'm a little worried about losing the feel of the car but the thought of reliability and decent power is very tempting. What do you guys reckon? those that have conversions has any of that mini feel been lost?

 

 

[Cooperman]

It's your choice as to whether you want a classic Mini or a hybrid.

Different people want different things from life.

[AVV IT]

Whilst I can certainly appreciate the benefits of a modern engine in a classic mini (performance, reliability & efficiency etc.) and that driving one is probably a lot of fun too, the A-series is a a big part of the classic minis charm in my opinion. A classic mini without an A-Series therefore really isn't a classic mini to me, but then this sort of thing is all about personal taste and preference I suppose.

[vx220]

I like to sit on the fence, and occasionally draw my own imaginary fence to sit on!

So for me, anything that doesn't require an elongated front (and I include Clubmans in that!) is ok by me...

So a Micra or small block Vauxhall conversion would be for me. For a true everyday car (inc motorway use) the Vauxhall would be good as the diesel gearboxes give proper ratios. The Micra makes a great town/lanes car, and seems to be an easier conversion for someone with an engineering mind

[Harrison541]

One one hand, there's nothing like a well sorted A series and it does give the Mini it's character.

But at the same time, if you want to essentially build a car and choose your own engine, brakes, suspension etc to build it around then a Mini is an easy way of doing it because there's so many options available. No other car has so many off the shelf options available to fit such a wide selection of engines.

Personally, I'd love a well tuned A series but cost would be an issue, if you want to go really fast in a Mini then a conversion can be cheaper, and there is some fantastic engines that can be fitted.

[vx220]

C16se rocker cover is even fairly retro!

[deanymini]

I love my small block Vauxhall engine. 120 bhp, 5 gears, brutally quick acceleration, the 'shock factor' expressions on peoples faces and cruising along at 70 mph without perforating your ear drums.....perfect. Oh, and it still 'feels' like a mini. All from an engine that costs a fraction of a similar performing A-series.

[Cooperman]

To most classic car enthusiasts any serious deviation from the original stops it being a 'classic'. Period modifications are always acceptable though.

As AVV IT says, the A-Series engine is an important part of the classic Mini and effectively makes it a Mini.

Not many would put an American V8 engine in an E-Type or a Porsche engine in a Ferrari for exactly the same reasons.

Hybrid cars are established in the world of modified cars and can be great fun if done well. I well remember driving a Hillman Minx with a modified 2.4 Jaguar engine back in the 60's - outrageous! It was called a 'Jagman' by its owner. The Triumph Stag is often fitted with the Rover V8 engine, but then the Stag's original V8 was a heap of c**p and the Rover is now considered a period modification as many were done in the '70's.

It might seem a shame to do this to a classic Mini, but if you own one you can do as you please with it. Just remember that in years to come someone will be trying to put it back to standard to realise the ever-increasing value. The Mini is, in many eyes, the ultimate and true classic car.

[The Matt]

 the Vauxhall would be good as the diesel gearboxes give proper ratios. 

 

They don't though, the F15WR that everybody recommends isn't great due to the wide ratio.  The ratios in the F15CR and F10CR aren't great either.

 

I reckon I'm in a reasonable position to answer the original question.  I've just ripped my Allspeed small block Vauxhall conversion out of my '71.

 

It fitted in a standard roundnose (with inner wings intact....mostly), it retained the exact look and feel of a standard Mini.  The all up weight was very, very similar to a standard A-series engine.  The balance of the car felt similar.  The power was great, the gearing was as best as I could find with my limited internet research, but I was just always thinking "wouldn't a fast A-series be fun"

 

So I ripped the modded C16XE out.  Now I'm building a 1330 A-Series, with a remote box. Nothing too lairy, a homebrew build, 10:1 CR, probably a 276 or similar cam, electronic dizzy, cross pin diff, 3.44:1 FD ratio, 10" wheels (I even kept them on the Vauxhall engine).  It just feels like I was ruining the heritage of the car, so I am desperate to get it back to A-Series and enjoy it again.

 

I would love to go supercharged, but not yet.  I want to get the car right before I go mad with modifying it.

[cooperdan]

Pain the arse sometimes, likes fuel too much sometimes, very regular tlc/ servicing..... the charm and annoying smile it brings even though can be so damm stubborn

I dont think i could leave the A series....

[The Matt]

I kinda missed the 'tinkering' if I'm honest.

 

'Tinkering' the Vauxhall engine was just check oil....no change, check water....no change...plug laptop in, tweak ignition and injection for a laugh....start it up....put map back to where it was before as I've stuffed it up....close bonnet...put car back in garage....wait for 3 months.....repeat.....drive 10 miles.....scare self stupid......fill up with fuel....park up for another 3 months....repeat.

[Cooperman]

By the way, a Shorrock supercharger on an A-Series is considered a 'period modification'.

 

I have a friend who has a Honda engine in a 1996 Mini. He drove my 1310 cc 1964 Cooper 'S' on the 'Huntingdon to Hunstanton' whilst I drove my Innocenti 1300 Export and he said how much better my car felt than his hybrid. He also has a 1330 cc 1990 Rally Cooper which I originally built and he also prefers driving that. I tested his Honda-engine hybrid and, yes, it was very fast in a straight line, but it just wasn't a 'Classic Mini' as enthusiasts for classic cars perceive them. It just didn't 'feel' like a Mini. In fact, in the wet it felt unsafe.

 

One might suppose that an E-Type Jag with an American Ford V8 engine would not feel like an E-Type in the same way that a Mini with a Jap engine is not like a Mini really.

[The Matt]

Yeah. My dad had a Shorrock on his GT in the 70s. That's why I considered it myself.

[Cooperman]

I was going to fit a Shorrock blower in my 1961 Mini 850 back in late 1963. Then, in Feb 1964 I got a much better job and bought a brand new 998 Cooper instead. That was 'improved' with a better head & cam and went very well. 

[skinnyminny]

n/a

Edited by skinnyminny, 23 February 2017 - 03:58 PM.