24 replies to this topic

[Turbo Nick]

There are always myths about A Series not being reliable at that sort of power output. Mainly from people who haven't built or driven one.

 

I daily drove my 160hp 1293cc on 15psi for years, then when I could afford a 2nd car I swapped the turbo and ran it at 200hp (20psi) 

Yes that sort of power is acheivable (made 203lb/ft too so had the torque to back it up) proven on 2 different rolling roads and on the arse dyno.

 

In my opinion 40,000 miles over 8 years which I had from mine was pretty ******* reliable! I only built the bottom end with 120hp in mind but got carried away.

It wasn't a pig to drive on the roads as long as you were sensible, don't forget you control the amount of power/boost with your right foot. Stamp it down and it's going to get squirmy, be gentle and anyone can drive it.

 

I'm not saying it's cheap or easy to do, but with a bit of research then anything is acheiveable. I had cast AE pistons, std crank and std rods.

[Tuctuc]

As previous replies have said, those figures need some serious wonga for an a series to produce.
I'm building a 130-150 bhp turbo motor for road use only, but did originally consider bike power.
Have you looked at the promotive R1 front engined conversion, a lot easier & cheaper than a z cars conversion & could get upto 200bhp depending on engine, just think of it as a 1 litre race engine bursting with f1 technology & a sequential gearbox.... And it'll sound awesome!

[welshdan]

Im running 180 bhp and 180 ish pounds of torque and its been very reliable so far. Built a hybrid t3, stupidly fast when you floor it, but drives like a normal 1275 off boost. Have dine a good few thousand miles on it, the main issue was a split oil cooler at one point but that could have happened on any motor

[welshdan]

All done on a very tight shoe string budget too

[ANON]

With all due respect, outright power isn't the figure to be aiming for.  It is power to weight ratio that is king really.  Put the shell (and in my case - me!) on a diet and you will increase the BHP/Ton ratio nicely. Then add a few more horses to the mix and away you go.

 

 

 

as above power to weight is indeed the way to go, also the important figure is TORQUE.

 

speaking of power to weight and torque i've got a clio in that's 365bhp per tonne and running 375lb/ft of torque, one word spring to mind...INSANE!!!!!

[mingy]

My 1380 produces around 108 bhp at the flywheel but, with a few tweeks could possibly produce more. I am more than happy with the performance as it is more than quick enough for normal road use.

Put my foot down and it really goes, from a standing start it is a pig to keep in a straight line......... BUT IT IS GREAT FUN.   

[nicklouse]

My 1380 produces around 108 bhp at the flywheel but, with a few tweeks could possibly produce more. I am more than happy with the performance as it is more than quick enough for normal road use.
Put my foot down and it really goes, from a standing start it is a pig to keep in a straight line......... BUT IT IS GREAT FUN.

Exactly. All that is needed to have a **** load of fun is a sorted 1380.

[rally1380]

Another thing to consider when thinking about building the engine is reliability on track days.  It is all well and good saying you can build a turbo'd a series with whatever brake horsepower for the road, but driving on a track is very different from my experience.

 

As soon as you see other cars you end up extending how long you keep the current gear and therefore extending the rev range.  Engines take far more abuse on a track than they ever will on the road - been there, done that, gone home with a knocking engine!!! (not a mini mind you)

 

Chasing BHP figures is a waste of time anyway and just for BS bragging rights in the pub......"My car is more powerful than your car" sort of nonesense.....yeh but i'm a better driver that can carry way more speed through corners and outbrake you because I spent my money where it matters.

[The Matt]

Chasing BHP figures is a waste of time anyway and just for BS bragging rights in the pub......"My car is more powerful than your car" sort of nonesense.....yeh but i'm a better driver that can carry way more speed through corners and outbrake you because I spent my money where it matters.

You seem to assume that nobody with a high BHP Mini also has the ability to drive well.

Totally disregarding people with high output engines thar also upgrade the car "where it matters" AND know how to drive. Look at the likes of Bill Richards with his 8 port monster. Great driver, great car, powerful engine.

There seems to be some sort of myth that people with powerful cars don't have the ability to drive them.

[rally1380]

 

Chasing BHP figures is a waste of time anyway and just for BS bragging rights in the pub......"My car is more powerful than your car" sort of nonesense.....yeh but i'm a better driver that can carry way more speed through corners and outbrake you because I spent my money where it matters.

You seem to assume that nobody with a high BHP Mini also has the ability to drive well.

Totally disregarding people with high output engines thar also upgrade the car "where it matters" AND know how to drive. Look at the likes of Bill Richards with his 8 port monster. Great driver, great car, powerful engine.

There seems to be some sort of myth that people with powerful cars don't have the ability to drive them.

 

 

Hardly.....I am more pointing out that power isn't the be all and end all for prepping a car for the track or indeed any sort of motorsport for that matter. A talented driver in a lower powered car will outshine an untalented driver in a powerful monster.  And another thing to consider is the tracks you will be driving on - Silverstone is very different to Olton Park for example.

 

Bill Richards didn't just lob in a 8 port motor instead of a 998 did he? He also didn't just appear on the mini racing scene after spending a foutune on a fast engine - he spent years and years researching and delevloping not only his cars, but also learning race craft.

 

My point is this - is someone asks only about power (and in this case a lot of expensive power from an A series) it is good to point out that they might be better looking elsewhere first (Gearbox, Diff's, Suspension, brakes, lightening etc etc) before harping on about BHP figures.