Newbie needs help.
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi guys

I am planning to get a mini, I have got a good 10 months to work on it, so I would like to do some modifications on the engine, I was wondering what model would be the best to work from? (been looking at a 1275 carb), I would also like a turbo and some other modification to increase performance, what would you guys suggest doing too it? not going too over the top though.. :)

Also I'm going to see a mini this afternoon, is there anything I should look out for that could be bad news?

Cheers

Edited by 5haneJ on 7th Oct, 2010.

Hello and welcome.

Rot and rust is the biggest thing to look out for.

As for engine mod's. You need to decide what you want to achieve and then you can work out what you need to get/do. If you say you want to make xxxBHP and you are going to use this turbo and that engine then you will probably get more help.

Thanks for the welcome!

Well I know in my head what I'd like but putting it all into reality is a different matter, as for BHP anything between 90-120, as for turbo's and engine's I really dont know, thats the advice I was looking for, and everything else I'd need to make the turbo and the engine run well, I apologise for my dummy terms, but very new to everything.

Have a read of Turbo Phil's site. Lots of usefull beginners info there.

http://www.turbo-mini.com/

Also have a good read of this site, searching will help you. All your questions will have been asked before.

80-90bhp is "achievable" with a road friendly 5 port carb'd 1275 and in my opinion would probably be the best all rounder. (price/performance/reliability)

120bhp+ is realatively simple to achieve with a turbo engine. A rebuilt metro turbo spec engine with cross pin diff an appropriately sized intercooler, mapped ignition and 10-12psi should yield this.
A more appropriately specced turbo such as an R5 spec T2 or a GT1752 would improve tractability too

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

thanks for that link apbellamy!

Hi John

would it be possible to get abit more info on the 5 port carb'd 1275? cheers

For 85-90 hp from a carb engine you will need in short.

Well modified head
285 or 286 cam
high lift rockers
I would personally use and ultralight flywheel too.

Or you'll get the same/more from a standard turbo engine so its up to you.

Are you sure you would need a 286-ish cam to see 80ish-bhp?

I would have thought a well sorted motor with an SW5-07 should do that sort of figure.

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

Hmm, carb or turbo, hard choice

You still need a carb if you have a turbo

>.<!

Welcome ShaneJ, if I was you I'd worry more about the condition of the car (shell, subframes etc) first as this is a lot more work if you get a bad one than the engine etc.

When you look at it, look VERY thoroughly for rust.

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

OK I'll correct my statement.

You still need your carb unless you have a huge brain and can understand fuel injection and the siamese port thingy (that's assumming you keep the 5 port head).

Hi Rod S, well I'm going to look at one this afternoon, thanks for the tip bud!

Anyone know roughly how much I'm gonna be spending?

As much as you have, 4 or 5 times over, then some more.

EDIT: WAY TOO SLOW!

Edited by John on 7th Oct, 2010.

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

if your only after 120 ish go suck through supercharger there is no spool up on a supercharger and then even better there is no return fuel line that needs to be done,

My college tutor has a suck through system on his hornet and didn't spend a bomb gettin it together :)

Hey guys, just been to look at that mini, its an Austin Mayfair 1000, its in good condition too! No sigh of rust, new subframe in it etc

Where did you check?

completely under the car, we put it on the ramps also in the foot-wells and around the car in general, when i say no sigh of rust, i mean major rust, all the door panels etc are brand new, no rust on the the important bits though

Did you take a strategic poking stick with you? I've seen many a "solid" mini which has lots of bodge paste and paint to hide its sins.

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