Introduction and my '92 Cooper 1.3i - need advice...
Turbo Mini Forums

Morning all, great forum here, really like the layout and you seem like real helpful, friendly bunch. Looking forward to getting plenty of tips and advice and possibly meeting some of you around.

I owned a 998cc mayfair about 10 years ago and had a 1275 metro before that, since then i've had all sorts, a couple of pics below of my current cars also...

I have just done a deal on this mini cooper 1.3i. it's a non-runner, been told it needs a new ecu and the drivers door is pretty rusted. otherwise it's pretty tidy, standard except for some wierd exhaust.

I'm picking it up this saturday. it will be stripped inside, couple of buckets, an fia cage, and then the fun with the engine begins which is where you lot come in.

Has anyone ever rear mounted a turbo to a mini? i have a spare garrett t28, will that boost up or is it too big for the little A series? i can push over 300bhp with this turbo on a 200sx, but i dont know how a 1275cc would run it.

Would i be better of switching to carbs if i fit a turbo or is the spi fuel injection good enough for a turbo? do i need new injectors? what cc are they standard?

Sorry for all the questions, i'm a noob and need as much info and advice as i can get :)

Anyway, here's the cooper i'm getting





here's my workshorse, which is also an extreme off road toy, cant recommend these 3 door shoguns more highly!!! impossible to get stuck in the mud... nearly





and here's my 200sx, possibly the most tunable car i've come accorss, i'm never ever selling this car!! if you get the chance, buy one, you will NEVER regret it :)

Welcome to TM!

You need to have a search about the injection question as it's not a simple affair on a 5 porter. Carb is a much easier way to go.

There is a member on here with a rear mounted turbo. Not sure on his username, but I seem to remember that he is from Australia.

:Edited to make more sense.

Edited by theoneeyedlizard on 11th Feb, 2009.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

fotfun. from america :)

Fortfun I think you'll find see here http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=9347

That's a good spread of cars, always liked the 200sx.

The GT28s turbine is too big to be suitable for use on the A-series, and the SPi is not a suitable option if you want to make serious power.

If you hunt around there are lots of threads on injecting the 5-port head. No big power solutions yet!

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

In the 13's at last!.. Just

i'd imagine it would be pretty laggy with a t28 on there. Might try a t2 from a renault 5, they seem easy enough to get hold of.

reason i was thinking rear mounted turbo is becasue i dont want to butcher the bulk head and running a length of intercooler pipe the length of the car should be ok as the mini is so short.

i'd have a seperate oil supply and pump for the turbo at the back of the car and it probably wouldnt need a large intercooler if it's at the back.

If you don't want to hack the bulkhead look into the mirage manifolds. they aren't cheap but they allow you to fit a t2 without bulkhead mods.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

well, doing it all on a budget is the priority. I'm tempted to leave it as is and fir a 50bhp shot of nitrous!! pay as you go turbo

On 11th Feb, 2009 nitrodave said:
I'm tempted to leave it as is and fir a 50bhp shot of nitrous!! pay as you go turbo

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

On 11th Feb, 2009 nitrodave said:
I'm tempted to leave it as is and fir a 50bhp shot of nitrous!! pay as you go turbo

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Welcome to TM Dave, Ive just sold my 200sx :( I was on the SXOC too, great forum!

As the guys say above, there is tonnes of info on here for all of your questions, take a little time with the search function and beginners section and you'll be flying in no time.

Pretty certain a 92 will be spi mate, one of the first.

You can get plenty of used gearboxes, dependant on the power you want you can get away with standard for a while, but it wont be long before you want more boost. Then you will need to start upgrading.

quickest and easiest way to spot an mpi is the alternator is hung from the head not the block, and it has a front mounted rad etc

or the coil PACK on the front on the engine.

i may get it this evening and also have tomorrow off now so could get it then. If i dont, i have definately arranged for collection saturday morning. GETTING EXCITED NOW!!

I'll know if it's spi or mpi when i get it, guessing spi though.

Ahhh hi, I posted in your thread on sxoc earlier, im the one with the black s13/white front end clubman

It's an spi with sportspack wheels and arches.

If you look at the pics its got early spi seats in, a non airbag steering wheel and the rearview mirror is attached to the roof not glued to the windscreen.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

rich, i take it you're jdmgravy on sxoc?? great looking project car you've put together!!

fancy building me an engine to drop in there?

Yeah thats me :) Haha ill see how my engine works first, im hoping it'll be ok

well, i picked it up yesterday, go the AA man out who diagnosed a lose injector plug, bodged it on and drove it home 80 miles with no worries! it has an oil leak from the pressure sender unit, the drivers door needs changing and the tappets need adjusting, otherwise it's absolutely spot on!

i gave it a good clean inside and out, a quick polish and it's come up a treat! i forgot how much fun these things are!

oh, and the indicators have stopped working today since i pulle dthe carpet out, all part of the fun though!! looking forward to doing this one up a bit :)

Looks alright to me.

Fancy selling the dash?

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

nope, not selling anything from it!

Got to fix an oil leak from the sender unit and the engines a bit tappety/rattly.

nope, not selling anything from it!

Got to fix an oil leak from the sender unit and the engines a bit tappety/rattly.

I was only jesting mate as its a nice dash.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.