34 replies to this topic

[miniman24]

Hey all, time for my second active project thread on here! This was bought to be the daily hack as the Mini is now a weekend toy - I planned to run it and do nothing else to keep it cheap but of course, 2 months later, thats no longer the plan! Its currently a 1.1i with 133000 miles on it but it will soon be a 120bhp 1.6 16v, and being the very basic spec 106 it is also the lightest - with a bit of engine tuning and mapping I am hoping to have a car capable of 0-60 in 6 seconds. The plans are to leave it looking very much as it currently does on the outside, sleeper style! The car itself is incredibly solid, literally no rust anywhere, which is what made me want to spend a little on it and keep it. I have a friend who knows these conversions inside out and, one Ive got the parts, we hope to have it converted in a day. So, the car - this is the only picture I have of it at the min:

 

IMG305 by victorkristiansen, on Flickr

 

I took this as it looks like the Peugeot italian job! Mines the white one, and being a 1997 reg it is one of the first S2 facelift models - actually a negative in this case as it has S1 3-stud running gear, which needs to go in the bin! More soon, I have an engine potentially on the way if the deal goes through :)

[mini93]

use all the GTI suspension, little point having the power without the handling!

[WiredbyWilson]

I owned a GTi for 7 years, by far the most fun car ive ever had and the power delivery was ideal. But you will need the breakes etc as have seen someone drop a 16v in a saxo and it kept doing driveshafts and lots of problems.

 

But then the lad drove it like a lunatic so to be expected.

 

Very good engine, mine made 109bhp at the wheels with induction kit and cat back exhaust. Great fun.

[miniman24]

Yes that is the plan - Im going to use my current 1.1 gearbox as it bolts straight on and will give mega acceleration with the 16v engine! Bulletproof boxes and even at 133000, the box is tight and snappy as new. New clutch, cam belt and seals will go in the engine, converting from 3 stud to 4 stud hubs - gti rear beam with discs, much larger discs up front, lowered 60mm all round and decent shocks, should do the trick :) The car cost £150 and Im hoping to do the conversion for under £1000, car cost included. My mate has a ton of parts including a good unlocked 16v ECU which Im buying.

[Ben_O]

This sounds good!

 

I have a s2 3 door 106 on a W so the last of the s1 3 stud.

 

Parts are dirt cheap and although mine has done almost 200,000 miles, it still goes well and i often use it for long motorway drives.

 

Good luck

 

Ben

[tomb1992]

i wanted to do this i had a 1.1 106 Zest and fitted a Gti Kit archs/ bumpers. leather seats. even brought the 4 stud set up before selling up/ Miss it going to the 16v makes all the difference!

 

would recommend some pug  306 cyclone alloys  as they look the nuts on a 106 Gti are you going to put the arches and bumpers on? you can either  bonded or rivet as long as you cut the rear arch a little.

 

best of luck 

[Ben_O]

I say keep it exactly as it is body wise!

 

Even the wheel trims 

[Ben_O]

I might as well ask you as you have one, do you get knocking and banging from your suspension when going along bumpy roads?

 

I do and i have replaced the driveshafts, a wishbone, ARB bushes and tightened the big coppor collar on the front strut. It's worse on the passenger side with mine.

Wondered if you have/had it and what it might be?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[mini93]

I might as well ask you as you have one, do you get knocking and banging from your suspension when going along bumpy roads?

 

I do and i have replaced the driveshafts, a wishbone, ARB bushes and tightened the big coppor collar on the front strut. It's worse on the passenger side with mine.

Wondered if you have/had it and what it might be?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

ensure the rear end is up to scratch, I used to work at a reputable rally prep' place delt a lot with 205's which used basicly the same arrangment. The rear's can go badly wrong when the bearings colapse. It's bad news when people try to lower then but do so incorrectly, splines misaligned, coupled with bearings the play in the arms highlight themselfs as a knocing noise. can be felt when the cars jacked up, bracing the wheel from 12 & 6.

 

I have a complete 106 gti, non-sunroof type. I was going to rally it till I started sinking all my money into the mini. It needs to be sold

[Ben_O]

 

I might as well ask you as you have one, do you get knocking and banging from your suspension when going along bumpy roads?

 

I do and i have replaced the driveshafts, a wishbone, ARB bushes and tightened the big coppor collar on the front strut. It's worse on the passenger side with mine.

Wondered if you have/had it and what it might be?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

ensure the rear end is up to scratch, I used to work at a reputable rally prep' place delt a lot with 205's which used basicly the same arrangment. The rear's can go badly wrong when the bearings colapse. It's bad news when people try to lower then but do so incorrectly, splines misaligned, coupled with bearings the play in the arms highlight themselfs as a knocing noise. can be felt when the cars jacked up, bracing the wheel from 12 & 6.

 

I have a complete 106 gti, non-sunroof type. I was going to rally it till I started sinking all my money into the mini. It needs to be sold

 

My knock feels like it is coming from the front N/S

[stevearch0]

dont know if its any help, but i had a 106 quiksilver that used to eat drop links.!! that used to give a right old bang when they were worn

[Ben_O]

dont know if its any help, but i had a 106 quiksilver that used to eat drop links.!! that used to give a right old bang when they were worn

Mine doesn't have droplinks.

 

I think it might be a strut but i don't have much money to spend on it so i need to be careful. Especially as it is off the road and i only need to sort it so i can MOT and sell.

 

Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

Ben

[stevearch0]

does yours have the big rubber doughnut bush in the top of the strut?  they can wear and go hard after a time

[Ben_O]

does yours have the big rubber doughnut bush in the top of the strut?  they can wear and go hard after a time

Not too sure mate.

 

When i get my other car sorted, ill be looking into it.

 

Thanks

 

Ben

[miniman24]

Mine only knocks when going round a right hand bend, due to a horrendously worn CV joint Other than that it is sound in every way.

 

Ive just purchased a rather tasty engine for the conversion, a bit more than I was looking at spending but £600 later I have this engine:

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item43cfedafeb

 

And this rear beam:

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item43cfd4fa5d

 

147bhp output on the engine, it has a set of £300 cams installed and £400 worth of mapping! It also comes with nearly everything needed for the conversion and the rear beam is also a good one.

 

It is staying pretty much exactly as it looks now - the only changes externally are out of necessity - 15 inch steels to fit over the larger brakes and 60mm lowered all round. Proper sleeper