34 replies to this topic

[supermotolee]

just thought i'd add to this thread i've just been out in my promotive kitted mini and its astonishing i've been fiddling with gearing (sprockets) and relaying my findings back to darren to get a good allround ratio (be alot harder to experiment without the changable sprockets) anyway my hands are still shaking hahaha

the car sits in traffic pulls from idle all the way to the redline 12/13kish amazing cant wait to give it some stick at santa pod and some track days next year

[dave_b80]

had another email about this kit inc some prices......

"Thank you for your recent interest in our MINIeXvo conversion. Testing of the prototype car is well under way and to date is exceeding our expectations. Current work on the prototype car is focusing on an alternative air box/filter arrangement and the installation and testing of an alternative cooling system (based on a Mini radiator rather than bike radiator).

Other recent work has been talks with manufactures allowing a MINIeXvo kit to be available for delivery in the Spring of 2008. We are therefore pleased to be able offer the following Introductory Prices:

MINIeXvo Kit: £6,500
Including:
- Custom Transfer Box (See features below)
- Engine Cradle (Supports engine/transfer box and bolts in place of the A-series engine)
- Custom Exhaust Manifold (Mates to large bore Mini exhaust)
- Gear Stick and Linkage (Fits under original Mini gaitor)
- Adjustable Clutch Mechanism (Connects Mini pedal to standard R1 clutch cable)
- Water Hoses (TBC - installation and testing of Mini based cooling system underway)
- Brackets and Fixings
- Comprehensive Build Manual

Drive In - Drive Out Conversions from £8,000 (Available earlier than kit)

The majority of this cost is the custom transfer box which has been developed for this application. It is built from new components to take the demands of a 150+bhp Yamaha R1 Engine. The MINIeXvo conversion has been designed to a high specification over a long period. It is based on fundamental engineering principles and has following key advantages:

- No body modification (except removal of strut between the slam panel and front valance panel)
- Maintenance free custom transfer box. (Oil check advised)
- NO chain therefore: No adjustment, No Oiling, No chance of it breaking (The last production chain driven car was in the 1960's)
- Cush drive within the transmission. This component is vital for reducing shock loads in the transmission and is present in the rear hub of all Yamaha R1 motorbikes. Not all bike engine cars have this simple but important feature to prolong transmission life.
- Choice of final drive ratio to suit application (from sprint/hillclimb to long circuit racing or as in our prototype an all-round 'average' ratio) This can be changed at a later date if required.
- Choice of Differential (Limited Slip Differential optional extra, various types available)
- Electric Reverse (Very useful in lots of situations! Even a Mini feels pretty heavy when you try and push it on your own in the dark, cold and wet!).
- 10", 12" or 13" wheels.
- Standard Rubber cone or after market coil over suspension.
- Easy and quick conversion for any DIY mechanic (No specialist skills required)
- All Minor Servicing possible with the Engine in the car (Spark plugs, oil change etc).
- Many Major Servicing jobs possible with engine in the car, Not that you should need them! (Head removal, Alternator removal, Exhaust Manifold removal, plus more).
- Designed and Developed by Qualified Engineers.
- Worldwide Delivery Option (Currently RHD but will just as easily fit LHD cars).
- The conversion can be reversed (Return your car to standard or easily transfer to another car).
- Plus continued MINIeXvo development. Other products are under development to compliment both MINIeXvo R1 conversion and other fast road and race Mini's.

We hope this gives you an overall picture of the conversion. Please contact us if you require further information or would like to discuss your requirements.

Pre-Orders are now being taken. No deposit is required at this stage (We will contact you in the New Year to confirm your order when we are able to give a firmer delivery date).

Regards

Mark Wills"


dave

[t@z]

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Edited by t@z, 17 December 2007 - 11:50 AM.

[Purtsi]

Sounds interesting, but the price... ouch... ( Also other thing: it doesn't read anywhere that what year R1 engines can be used with the kit. Does anyone know?

[supermotolee]

whats a z cars kit cost?

[Baldspeed Racing]

hahaha good reply dude

[R1mini]

To be fair, Chris from Zcars did say that if they ever did a fwd bike engined mini, it would end up costing similiar to there rwd kit because of the cost of the transfer box

Cheers
David

[mad4mins]

now that is cool! sitting at the traffic lights in a standard mini with a r1 under the bonnet!

bring on the novas! good find!

[roofless]

good to see someone else getting on the bandwagon, but thats more than double the price of a pro-motive kit, and they'll have to go some considerable way to match the quality of workmanship that I have seen in the promotive assemblies.

[smith1380gt]

So an extra 3000 GBP for a quaife transfer box???!!!!!! I'd go Promotive and use a chain to save that kind of money for something like another Mini and an R1 engine...

[Xiao_Bin]

It has at least the advantage to require no modifications, well for you all in UK that's not really a criteria, but for example over here in Malaysia, to make an engine conversion road legal, you cant touch the chassis, engine mounts, and you cant cut/weld driveshafts. This is so far the only kit on the market that I could buy, but not with my salary

[lilly]

have you read the promotive site? you dont have to modify anything for the promotive kit either...

[Xiao_Bin]

well the subframe is definitely modified, I've no idea what the autorities would think about an aftermarket subframe though

[Jammy]

BUt surely that MiniExvo kit has a modified subframe? Maybe modified is a bad choice of words, but its a custom engine cradle certainly isn't going to be a standard mini subframe.

I do like the sound of this conversion, alone I don't think the price is THAT bad, but compared to other conversions it does seem to be a bit more expensive. I really do like the idea of the transfer box having an electric reverse built in too, and think this would probably make the best bike engined mini conversion for everyday use.

[Xiao_Bin]

From my understanding, you keep the original subframe, and the engine cradle bolts in place using the A Series engine mounts, meaning no modifications of the subframe... I could be wrong though

- Engine Cradle (Supports engine/transfer box and bolts in place of the A-series engine)