6 replies to this topic

[domrocks2]

mini cooper spi
1995

hi i was wanting to convert my spi engine to a webber dcoe 45 carb, as the electrics are way to complicated and it is not very reliable.
i am not sure what parts i will need and dont know wether i will keep the ecu or replace it with a simple relay as suggested by an american site.

sourcing the parts as a kit would be useful but i cant seem to find any kits available in the uk.


any help would be much appreciated

[Bungle]

do you need to pass a emissions test at MOT time ?

[Rosslin Racing]

WHY???? you racing? it will mess you consuption up and it will not be much faster.

[Dan]

sourcing the parts as a kit would be useful but i cant seem to find any kits available in the uk.

Because in this country we have MOTs to pass so the kit wouldn't sell. The only reasonable way for you to do this and still pass MOTs is to replace the entire engine with a unit buit before the emissions tests were tightened up and keep proof of that engine's age and engine number to present to the test station. If there is no MOT where you live then no problem but if there is you'll have to do it that way. On a 1995 SPi the electrical system is fairly well integrated, not like the earlier injected cars where the engine loom was seperate from the rest of the car's harness. You'll probably have to replace the whole front loom to do away with the electronics entirely. The SPi system really isn't complicated and should be perfectly reliable. Like anything else if it isn't maintained properly and faults aren't fixed then it will become less so. What's wrong with yours? Fixing it will be easier.

[domrocks2]

hi thanks for that yeh i wasnt looking to replace the whole egine as is has just been completely rebuilt from scratch. the electrics have been an issue since it was finnished but ive managed to sort most of it out. the problem at the moment is i took it out for a drive and it seemed to be losing power almost misfiring and it got a bit shakey when it was at low revs or idle. it was ran for a while then just cut out and havent been able to get it fired up. the spark is there and so is fuel so im thinking its the electrics in the spi system but can quite figure it out at the moment and thts why i was looking at the carb option as would get rid of the sensors and the majority of electrics.
thanks

[Dan]

I'll move this to the injection section, we have some real experts on the injection system here who can help you. It's probably a simple problem to fix, injection problems tend to be fairly simple once you understand the system. It's usually a duff sensor or a broken vacuum line.

[datsun100a]

I replaced my spi injection system with a 1 3/4 su, dizzy and fuel pump from a metro. No problems passing the mot. Not sure about the webber but if the right person sets it up it should pass ok.