24 replies to this topic

[Andrew1408]

Been looking in to upgrading my mini 30's engine to something with a bit more kick and my mate's just heard of a guy who might be getting rid of an old metro with a maxi 1750 engine fitted.

Apparently it's on a metro 1300 sub frame and should be a case of dropping my engine and sub and replacing it with the maxi.
I don't know a lot bout the maxi's but was wondering if anybody could enlighten me on if its that simple or not.

Edited by Andrew1408, 03 March 2008 - 10:07 PM.

[Bungle]

a metro subframe is not a straight swap for a mini one

this used to be a conversion in the 70's/80's but now there are much better engines to drop in a mini

if your going for a hassle of fitting a metro subframe why not fit the metro 1.4 16v engine ?

[oli8925]

i saw in a mini mag not long ago a qusetion from someone with a free maxi 1750 asking if it was a worth while swap. i think the answer was a resounding no! something to do with the extra weight of a maxi engine or something and its just not worth it. ill try to find the article for you

[Andrew1408]

a metro subframe is not a straight swap for a mini one

this used to be a conversion in the 70's/80's but now there are much better engines to drop in a mini

if your going for a hassle of fitting a metro subframe why not fit the metro 1.4 16v engine ?

the maxi is only gonna cost bout £80 - £100 to be honest the only reason i am considering it is because its so cheap, i was lookin for some thing smaller for the 30.
If its not a weekend job dont think i'll bother.

[mab01uk]

The Maxi single OHC E Series engine with what was then a rare 5-speed gearbox in the sump were put in Mini's in the 70's but the extra power was canceled out by the tall and heavy Maxi unit ruining the Mini handling.......so it was never a very popular conversion. The same engine can be found in some Austin Allegro's (if you can find one).

[dave21478]

Its certainly not a simple bolt-in job. Even though the engine may come cheaply, there is little sense in doing the required fabrications and fitting such a crude old engine, when for similar effort (granted sourcing the engine will cost more though) you could put a modern lighter engine in like a k-series, vtec, vauxhall etc etc.

Edited by dave21478, 03 March 2008 - 10:36 PM.

[oli8925]

found it! the feb 08 issue of mini mag in the ask the experts section titled maxi factor. basically whats said is: its a heavy lump and could affect the handling badly; could also flatten the standard rubber springs; and brakes would need to be considerably uprated; the performance of it isnt that great anyway; the cost of avtually installing the engine could be quite high.

so at the end of it the expert, keith calver, says 'take a hard look and see if the benefits are worth it. my guess is that they are not'

hope this helps

[Andrew1408]

Yea think i'm gonna leave it then, i only wanted a quick simple change not another project.
I should be getting the sub frame done for my VVC conversion in the next week or so when i can make the trip over to my uncles place so i'll get that out of the way first i think.

Cheers for the replys

[miniboo]

as you only have a 998 a good upgrade would be a 1275!!

[Tomf]

Sorry to bring this back up, but i went to drop some parts of to a guy the other day and he was doing this Maxi 1750 conversion.

He was using the standard manual subframe and was having to make up new engine mounts, then when it came to the driveshafts he said he had tested the mini pot joint and it actually fits into the maxi diff, so making up the driveshafts shouldnt be to much of a problem.

But as everyone has said its a very heavy engine, but it does sure look like an easy cheap conversion.

Edited by Tomf, 20 July 2008 - 09:30 AM.

[M44K TS]

they probably only have 80bhp do they?

[Tomf]

Yea i think they only put out about 80BHP, but they do have the five speed box...

[M44K TS]

5 speed box would be nice in a mini, although i found that at 70 in 4th, my mini does the same rpm as my car in 5th

[Strontium Dog]

The Maxi 5 speed gearbox is truly pants! It was one of the first 5 speed boxes ever and things have fortunately moved on a bit since then. Lol!

Do yourself a favour and weigh in any old maxi engines you may have lying around as the price of scrap is quite good at the moment!

[Dan]

Do yourself a favour and weigh in any old maxi engines you may have lying around

Couldn't agree more, Maxi engines are rubbish. Pull the pot joints out first though and sell them to Mini Spares. Rare things and useful.

then when it came to the driveshafts he said he had tested the mini pot joint and it actually fits into the maxi diff, so making up the driveshafts shouldnt be to much of a problem

People have been using Maxi pot joints in Minis for YEARS as a performance upgrade so that's no great surprise. The driveshafts probably won't fit anyway though as the diff is in a different place.