87 replies to this topic

[Guennie]

Hi guys,

Not quite sure how to start this project thread so i'll start with a bit off background info!

I learned to drive in my mini and for insurance purposes it was just a 998 with a stage one kit (51bhp). After driving it around for about 2 years i decided i needed a bit more power so found a MG Metro 1275 and dropped that in. That was really quite quick and produced 81bhp. It seemed like a strong engine for 9 months until it went bang on the M6, for those that haven't seen the pics here they are.




Anyway, this left me back with my little 998 again, which gets me around and runs really nicely (touch wood!), but after having a 1275 it feels a bit too slow. A friend of mine was in the process of turboing his mini which led me to think that a turbo is the way to go! After searching about a bit i sourced a metro turbo engine complete with the turbo and started planning what i was going to do with it!

The Planned Specification:
1275cc Metro Turbo Block, with centre main strap
Standard Pistons Turbo Pistons
x pin diff
Staight Cut drop gears
Garret T3 Turbo
Modified Plenum chamber for Ford RS Intercooler and dump valve
Phase 2 turbo camshaft
Megajolt electonic ignition
Running 10psi

Being 20 and a student my budget was quite small, however my couse at uni requires a year out in industry so now i'm working (developing a new supercar, what a placement!!! www.arashcars.com) and earning i can really get cracking on my project. I'm looking to achieve upwards of 125bhp (at the fly) and hoping to have it completed before christmas (im not going to rush it and get it wrong!)

I will keep you all updated on progress (if anyone is interested!) and upload pictures as i go. Any advice or comments are welcomed


Here's the mini at the moment:




and here is the engine:




Cheers Guennie

[sweetser]

i love this mini, im looking foward to seeing the progress you make i have been trying to get my brother to buy some of them wheels to go on his mini because they look really good on red cars but he wont lol

PS: i love your number plate it excellent

[miniadventure]

WHOOOOOOOOO wht happened to that engine? THis looks like a gud project will keep my eye on it

[miniman86]

looks like a nice little project, good luck with it!!

[Piddling Kid]

going to be following this closely as im hoping to build a turbo setup over the winter for next summer (roll on next summer lol)

[haz]

they're the best pictures iv ever seen!! that con rod is amazing!! id frame it and put it up on my wall lol

[Guennie]

Hey guys, did a bit of work over the weekend so here's my first update!

Although i want to get the turbo lump built and fitted as soon as possible i dont want to rush into things leaving me with a fast engine in a dodgy mini!

I have been debating for some time lowering it and putting some different wheel arches on the car. make it look a bit more purposful. So i ordered some front hi lows (already had rears), some spax lowered yellow dampers and some fibreglass arches. I also bought a new windscreen seal as mine was letting water pour in (i had to drive home from with 2 to 3 inches of water in my footwells the other day).

After cleaning my garage and sorting different parts i had in it onto shelves i started to change the back dampers. This went very well and there were no problems at all. The front ones were changed without any problems either, which came as a surprise considering the dampers dont appear to have been removed since the car was built. So far i have left the hi lows at the standed ride height to allow the suspension settle and allow me to adjust the dampers until i'm happy with them, then i'll make it as low as is practical.

One of the main tasks of the weekend was to change the windscreen seal. After removing the old seal i discovered that there was some minor rust around the screen. I removed as much as i could and painted it up again. This is only a temporary fix, as i have decided to sort all of the rust on the front end (only minor patches) and have the whole front resprayed when i drop the turbo in. After leaving the paint to dry overnight, dad and i set about replacing the screen. after about an hour and a half, and very sore fingers the screen was in. hopefully this one will keep the water out (not that it ever rains in england!!!).

I hope to set the dampers and ride height tomorrow so i can fit and spray (glossy black) the arches.

Cheers Guennie

Now for some photos!

Turbo parts shelf in the clean garage!


Front dampers. old and new (spax lowered)


Front damper and hi low fitted


Windscreen out


Standard hight, to be lowered tomorrow weather permitting


Arches taped onto the side, still need to be cut, fitted and sprayed

[luke6040]

That really is a dead engine!
This project looks like it could turn out really nice!

[miniadventure]

Love them seat! wht arches are thoses? are they thw w+p

[edi57]

Hi!

I've seen your mini around town quite a few times and I've always wanted to say Hi!

I've also seen you drive past my garage quite a few times...you'll have to stop by and say hi next time you pass by.

Ed

Edited by edi57, 10 January 2009 - 04:25 PM.

[jordie 08]

what arches are the and how wide,thy look like mines

[Guennie]

Hi!

I've seen your mini around town quite a few times and I've always wanted to say Hi!

I've also seen you drive past my garage quite a few times...you'll have to stop by and say hi next time you pass by. My house is on the corner of New Cheveley Road, the garage backs onto Stretton Avenue. I've got my '65 cooper shell in there and we've got a few other minis too.

Ed

Hey
I often see your minis when i go to see my nan just down malvern close. I'll stop and have a chat next time i see you about! I've seen quite a few minis about in newmarket recently which is always good!

The wheel arches are fibre glass ones that were specially made for Deans Minis (www.deansminis.com), i managed to get the last set. They are similar to the wood and picket ones but are thicker fibreglass. Also they curve around onto the rear valance which finishes them off better than the w&p ones in my opinion. I think they're 2.5in wide, i'll check tomorrow, but i know they just cover my wheels.


anyway i haven't really done as much on the mini as i wanted to but hopefully that will change after MITP when i hope to buy looks of engine goodies!

Work done over the past week:

I have started to cut and file the slots in the wheel arches so that i can spray them up and have them on before some up coming shows. I've realised that im going to have to cut some more metal out of the front arch so i dont have any rubbing issues when i turn.

After i'd let the suspension setting for a day or two i decided to adjust my new dampers. I followed the manufacturers instructions and turned them up until it felt right. then my curiosity got the better of me! "how stiff can the hardest setting really be?" i thought! so i cranked them all up to max, after hopping down the road for half a mile i'd had enough and had to turn them right down again. once i had sortied the dampers out i adjusted the hi-lows to get the low down look. After burning off a lot of my rear arches (not the new ones) on the way to work i had to raise the hi-lows up a little nit again. Now its at a safe height that still looks quite low.

Up until recently i had overlooked the suspension and concerntrated more on the engine and styling but since i upgraded it i have been amazed at the difference it has made! the handling is far better and it's much more comfortable too. This is probably the best upgrade that i've done to the mini so far.

Here are a couple of pictures of it when it was too low. It was actually a bit higher than that (not much), but it was sat funny on the drive which made it look even lower!






Cheers Guennie

[sweetser]

that looks so cool that low

[matty135790]

its looking cool si, the new wheel arches are gonna look spot on!!

may pop round during the week to check on progress:)

[haz]

you have good taste my friend

i have those alloys on my mini and those arches in my garage, and those spax dampers... the only difference is you're building a 1293 with a sneezy cold and im building a 1380 with big hairy dangalies lol

nice car, keep up the good work