19 replies to this topic

[spanner_allan]

i have recently purchased a 1380 block which was pretty cheap so i thought what the hey ill build a 1380 fast road block but now looking around a bit it seems like honda/k series engines would be cheaper to build including the subframe.

how much am i looking to spend to get half decent performance from the block because it seems like ill have to spend well over £1000.

performance wise what do budget 1380 engines kick and what do the top of the range 1380 engines do ie 0-60, 1/4 mile???

[Jammy]

Depends what you class as top of the range!? You could do a 16v or 8 port conversion on the 1380, spend 10k on it and get 150bhp+.

On a budget, get a rebuild normal gearbox, cross pin diff, orange diaphragm clutch and normal flywheel, ARP head studs, ported and large valve head, stage 1 kit, and pick up a decent second hand cam. Probably looking at around £1500, and you might be lucky and get about 80bhp at the wheels.

A Honda conversion will probably set you back about £4k+, a Vaux about £2.5-3K+.

[Pie]

Jammy, you dont NEED APR head bolts, just more expence.

[Jammy]

Meh, I suppose thats true. But then you don't NEED an orange diaphragm, or a cross pin diff, or anything non-standard on a 1380...

[Pie]

true, i think the main things to upgrade onare obviously the head and cam, but running a Pre verto clutch with orange diaphram is better than standard AND it doesnt cost a lot more than the standard parts anyway.

I know some 1380s are around 75-85bhp at the wheels, and some are more. A mate of mine has a highly tuned 1330 and that produced 88bhp at the wheels. But thats down to the head and cam.

[spanner_allan]

if i continue with the rebuild my specifications were:

1275 camshaft, crank and conrods
73.5 powermax pistons
rebuilt gear box hopefully with straight cut gears.
lightened flywheel
stage 3 head or possibly a port and polished mg metro head.
twin carbs.

does this sound anygood? what performance am i looking at? can anyone recommend anything decent to help with the performance???

[Jammy]

You looking at building this yourself?

[Pie]

Youll want a better cam than a 1275 metro cam, kent 286 would be better IMO.

[spanner_allan]

okay thats the advise im looking for, yer building it with my dad who used to work on mini engines for 10 years so he nos everything about assembly but not tuning.

[Pie]

ok ill give you my version of an "ultimate" 1380

73.5 powermax pistons
Kent286 cam
Straight cut close ratio gearbox with 4pin diff on 3.44Final Drive
straight cut (drop) transfer gears
Ultralite flywheel
Orange clutch diaphram
Decent head

As for carb, you can either use a hif44 (good enough for upto 150bhp) twin SU's or weber (DCOE45 would be my favourite)

The gearbox doesnt NEED to be s/c c/r but it does loose less power, buts its more money. A straight cut close ratio gearbox with 4pin diff, central oil pickup ad s/c drops is aprox £1000.

[spanner_allan]

i think the gearbox will be about the only thing i would miss there, as for a carb i no someone who completely strips and rebuilds them so twin carbs second hand would be awesome, as for the head i will probably settle at stage two, but my mate does port and polishing which he is going to teach me so who nos could create something better.

what power am i looking at with the above specs with an mg gearbox and stage 2 head???

i tell ya this is an awesome site plenty of people in the knowhow.

[Paul Wiginton]

1380 with a 276 cam will give around 80bhp, stick a descent head on it you'll get around 100bhp, fit 1.5 roller rockers and you might get 110bhp.
An HIF44 will be OK upto 100-110bhp.
Top spec 1380's like mine will be fully worked crank and rods, 310 scatter cam, full race Swiftune head, 45dcoe and show 155bhp.

Paul

[spanner_allan]

awesome well i have put up a price list as follows which i shall be aiming for. got plenty of time to do this but as i am impatient i want it complete for summertime lol. my main priority is the engine as my last project was slightly frustrating as i bought an mg 1300 engine and just plopped it straight in, bad idea, i had to keep on having it apart changing parts on it, although it was awesome to drive in the end it didnt half *yellow human water* me off, i am just looking for something a bit more powerful now.

list:

Clutch diaphragm orange type
Ultralite flywheel
Minisport camshaft kit
Minisport roller tip rocker assembly 1.5:1
Minisport lightened timing gear
73.5mm piston set
Stage two kit

second hand mg engine in order to rebuild the gearbox and use the head for port and polish project.

[Paul Wiginton]

Forget MiniSport, theyre butchers

Paul

[The Matt]

ok ill give you my version of an "ultimate" 1380

73.5 powermax pistons
Kent286 cam
Straight cut close ratio gearbox with 4pin diff on 3.44Final Drive
straight cut (drop) transfer gears
Ultralite flywheel
Orange clutch diaphram
Decent head

As for carb, you can either use a hif44 (good enough for upto 150bhp) twin SU's or weber (DCOE45 would be my favourite)

Awww, that's like mine

If I was gonna go 1380 again, I'd go for a 16v head on it with injection!