17 replies to this topic

[ChrisRA]

A couple of days ago i flipped my subaru wrx ra, theres only light pannel damage on one side and obviously the roof. oops. I also own a 1380 mini which has been sat for a while as i mainly use it for trackdays. I now have a spare subaru engine and feel my mini needs spicing up. Has this been done before? Just wondering about the 4x4 system etc... Ill post some pictures of both, any suggestions or links would be much appriciated!! The mini at the moment is tip top and i'd rather not tamper.... but then I think of the power.... hmmmm



Thanx all!

Edited by ChrisRA, 08 April 2007 - 11:34 AM.

[Bluemini]

If you cant handle a scoob, how do you expect to be able to handle a mini with a scoob engine

Worth looking into altho anything is possible if you have the right tools and knowledge... Go for it.

[ChrisRA]

If you cant handle a scoob, how do you expect to be able to handle a mini with a scoob engine

Worth looking into altho anything is possible if you have the right tools and knowledge... Go for it.

Passenger says "dont worry, this road is straight for ages", up comes a 90 degree right with a sloped bank on the left.... good one! lol.
It wasnt even fast, thats the annoying thing, only in second gear, locked up on gravel. Thats why there isnt damage to the sides, sowly rolled over and plonk. On the roof. Most of the scratches were from the moron in the recovery van dragging it upside down on to his flat bed. Cheers mate. lol

[sheepo]

If you cant handle a scoob, how do you expect to be able to handle a mini with a scoob engine

what he means is welcome to the forum mate!

the answer is that age old one, anything can be done with money and time.

seems to me the mounting of the drivetrain for the 4x4 would be the biggest problem.

stick with the a-series, thats my opinion mate. its the heart and sole of the mini.

[koss]

Thought about this before. I think the only physical place to mount the engine would be in front of the rear wheels.
As for retaining the 4x4, now that would be difficult. I would be aiming mid engine rear wheel drive.

[mini93]

so, how much would the prop have to be cut down??

what you realy need to find is the length of the engine and transmission as a whole remembering to leave space for rad and other bits, what you will also need to note that IF there is enough space at the end of that transmission is the prop shaft with a couple of UJ joins and differential unit, wether its sold live axle or idepedent suspension

course then you would have to think of a way to set up the front drive system, not sure if thats linked by another prop running to the front thats able to be shortened if the front diff is linked into front transmission its gona be very hard to shorten that to set the space for the wheels

theres also the extended front end designed for hybrid mini's just not sure if even thats gona be long enough

saying all that it is possible just spacing and drive trains gona be hard, and then setting suspension and steering linkages, but i would love to see someone manage it....perhaps in very very very very long term future

[liam_italian]

Rear wheel drive all the way mate!

[steveobennet]

hows about, and bear with me on this, you put the engine in the back/middle but still keep the 4wd? you would have to look at different configurations, and definately different gear boxes. some serious modification to both the shell and probabily mechanical working of the engine/gearbox, but it would keep the weight in middle, rather than pearched over the front axle.

also if you wanted to put the engine in the frontwhy not have a look at that subaru quad, isn't that shortened? see what he has done and see what you can do.


just throwing you ideas

[stevesmini]

Thats not an RA scooby snack

[Sprocket]

Seen one today

It was a Grass track car, and was an unusual mix of parts. Subaru flat four engine, supercharger off a Merc and a 2" SU. It was front wheel drive only, and fitted under a standard Clubman front. Dont see why it wouldnt fit under a rond nose.

[mini93]

sounds cool MS dont spose u snapped any pics, this questions always arising and now you could just post an imagin saying yes

[Sprocket]

LOL, no, sorry, no imagies im afraid.

You will find under all that gubbins in the Impretza bonnet is a flat four boxer engine, what you do with all the gubbins is up to you, but as you looked under the bonnet of this grass track car, the supercharger was on top in the middle, the SU was a suck through and at the back, bolted dirrect to the supercharger. the gearbox i think was from a BMW of some sort, Z3 maybe?? and fed the front driveshafts in the normal manor. I suspect though that the frunt hubs were different, but, if this is what you want to do you need a little enginuity to get it all to work, nothing, with in reason, is impossible.

[nmt_oli]

Hey chris, i know Andy with the volvo who was with you when you crashed. Unlucky. At least you have to play with your mini now, and i love the registration.

I say keep it A series. If you want to have a go with the scooby stuff, buty another shell- yours looks too mint to go chopping up.

[v8mini]

they managed to make a quad bike from a STi, so surely you could fit it all in a mini.

but then again it does look quite long

their web site doesn't seem to work any more

 img_18.jpg   75.12K   16 downloads

Edited by v8mini, 09 April 2007 - 08:23 AM.

[mini93]

id say from lookin at spacing, it does look quite long

but then again