29 replies to this topic

[acorn]

I sent the below to Minisport but never got a reply. Are you clever lot able to answer my naive questions please...

 

I recently purchased a 1992 Mini 998cc and understood previous owner had fitted one of your stage 1 tuning kits. However there wasn't any documentation supplied with the car, so a couple of questions please...

The alloy inlet manifold is I understand water heated. I always thought the general idea was to have the intake air as cold as possible for maximum performance, so am I correct in thinking the heating is for initial startup in cold weather and thus needs to be shut off from the hot water once warm?

The previous owner didn't connect up the heated inlet manifold and I can't see instructions for how to do this on your website collateral. Can you provide me with the instructions how to implement this on the Mini please.

There is an exposed air filter as part of the kit and as the Mini engine isn't a crossflow design it will be subject to hot air rising from the exhaust manifold. Won't that decrease performance?

I don't suppose the stock Mini air filter would fit with the improved manifolds, and it wasn't supplied with the car I bought. But would an enclosed air filter taking air from the front of the car perform better and is such an item available please?

[cal844]

Personally I'd use the standard air box and fit a KnN filter to that, then get the car optimised for the components you have.

[Steve220]

I sent the below to Minisport but never got a reply. Are you clever lot able to answer my naive questions please...

 

I recently purchased a 1992 Mini 998cc and understood previous owner had fitted one of your stage 1 tuning kits. However there wasn't any documentation supplied with the car, so a couple of questions please...

The alloy inlet manifold is I understand water heated. I always thought the general idea was to have the intake air as cold as possible for maximum performance, so am I correct in thinking the heating is for initial startup in cold weather and thus needs to be shut off from the hot water once warm?

The previous owner didn't connect up the heated inlet manifold and I can't see instructions for how to do this on your website collateral. Can you provide me with the instructions how to implement this on the Mini please.

There is an exposed air filter as part of the kit and as the Mini engine isn't a crossflow design it will be subject to hot air rising from the exhaust manifold. Won't that decrease performance?

I don't suppose the stock Mini air filter would fit with the improved manifolds, and it wasn't supplied with the car I bought. But would an enclosed air filter taking air from the front of the car perform better and is such an item available please?

 

The issue is you're trying to contact minisport.

 

Ref. the manifold - look up carb icing, and its causes. 

 

You won't get instructions for plumbing in the manifold as it's car dependent. However the consensus is to take it from the tap feed on the head and plumb it inline to the heater matrix.

 

OEM plastic filter housings are NLA. You'll need to find a second hand unit, and you will make more power low down with it. This is all dependent on if the car is set up and tuned correctly. 

[acorn]

Personally I'd use the standard air box and fit a KnN filter to that, then get the car optimised for the components you have.

Unfortunately the car didn't come with the standard air filter box, and it would have been the model with temperature control which presumably depends on the standard exhaust manifold being fitted.

 

And I can't find any of the standard air filter boxes being sold by the usual suppliers

[Bobbins]

One on ebay: https://www.ebay.co....tm/116317751342

[stuart bowes]

blimey £30, if you don't snap that up someone else will and we'll see it relisted next week for £300

 

(assuming it's the right fit for your carb, etc)

 

sale is nothing to do with me or anything, just an observation

Edited by stuart bowes, 25 October 2024 - 11:32 AM.

[acorn]

 

The issue is you're trying to contact minisport.

 

Ref. the manifold - look up carb icing, and its causes. 

 

You won't get instructions for plumbing in the manifold as it's car dependent. However the consensus is to take it from the tap feed on the head and plumb it inline to the heater matrix.

 

OEM plastic filter housings are NLA. You'll need to find a second hand unit, and you will make more power low down with it. This is all dependent on if the car is set up and tuned correctly. 

 

 

Are Minisport notorious for not responding then? Perhaps I'll strike them off my list of possible parts suppliers.

 

I think it is reasonable to have instructions, after all it is a manifold specific to the Mini and HS4 carb. Minispares and Somerford Mini have excellent component diagrams, and it wouldn't take much for Minisport to recommend splicing in to a particular hose.

 

I'll look into the cooling/heating area you mention, thank you.

 

 

 

[Steve220]

 

 

The issue is you're trying to contact minisport.

 

Ref. the manifold - look up carb icing, and its causes. 

 

You won't get instructions for plumbing in the manifold as it's car dependent. However the consensus is to take it from the tap feed on the head and plumb it inline to the heater matrix.

 

OEM plastic filter housings are NLA. You'll need to find a second hand unit, and you will make more power low down with it. This is all dependent on if the car is set up and tuned correctly. 

 

 

Are Minisport notorious for not responding then? Perhaps I'll strike them off my list of possible parts suppliers.

 

I think it is reasonable to have instructions, after all it is a manifold specific to the Mini and HS4 carb. Minispares and Somerford Mini have excellent component diagrams, and it wouldn't take much for Minisport to recommend splicing in to a particular hose.

 

I'll look into the cooling/heating area you mention, thank you.

 

 

 

minisport are notoriously s***.

[Chris1275gt]

I modified the warm air duct to fit on a non standard exhaust pretty simple job.

[beardylondon]

I think the reason is your are not their customer, so what do they care? I’d phone them if you really want an answer.

Edited by beardylondon, 25 October 2024 - 11:25 PM.

[acorn]

I think the reason is your are not their customer, so what do they care? I’d phone them if you really want an answer.

I may not be their customer, and presumably they have as much disinterest with the party who already parted with their money, but one would like to think they want me to value and enjoy their product.

 

For the sake of 5 minutes responding to me Minisport have lost a potential customer and I will tell others, as on this post, my poor opinion of them.

 

Presumably they have enough of a customer base they don't need to care. Meanwhile I need to work out the coolant flow through the hoses to splice in as suggested by the helpful folks on this forum.

[beardylondon]

Well you’d think that would be the case, but sadly not all companies think that way. And from my dealings with them, I now avoid them. Also theres a reason this forum is supported by Mini Spares, just saying.

Edited by beardylondon, 27 October 2024 - 11:00 PM.

[coopertaz]

to be fair to minisport they have fitting bays so why would they provide fitting instrucions! minispares do not, also they do not know of anyones mechanical ability so if an injury arises from them advising a certain procedure they could be liable, this is why most companies will say they know of someone to do work but will not actually recommend anyone. i do however think they could respond to queries like this with diagrams like minispares, in the case of plumbing, rather than just ignore you. have had help before from them by phoning that way they are putting nothing in print.

Edited by coopertaz, 29 October 2024 - 01:00 PM.

[acorn]

to be fair to minisport they have fitting bays so why would they provide fitting instrucions! minispares do not, also they do not know of anyones mechanical ability so if an injury arises from them advising a certain procedure they could be liable, this is why most companies will say they know of someone to do work but will not actually recommend anyone. i do however think they could respond to queries like this with diagrams like minispares, in the case of plumbing, rather than just ignore you. have had help before from them by phoning that way they are putting nothing in print.

Minisport do provide instructions for their stage 1 kit but absolutely nothing about connecting, or otherwise reasons not to, the water heated manifold.

[stuart bowes]

I've never really understood the water heated inlet idea

 

isn't the whole point that it assists with warming up the inlet when the engine is cold.. but when the engine is cold then water is cold as well

 

so surely by the time the water is warmed up enough to make a difference, the engine is warmed up and running normally anyway ?