turbo engined van build
Turbo Mini Forums

now then, i've just got my self a 1976 mini van and just started work on it and my plans were

mk1 grille and de-badged bonnet at the front
sports pack arches all around
un sure of the wheels yet, most likely 13s
suicide doors with a flase pannel inside to make a door card onto
custom steel dash full of smiths gauges (only problem is i can't seem to find a boost gauge in smiths)
classic buckets
smart wooden floor in the back
single piece back door opening like a tail gate with internal hinges
AND a nice little turbo engine

i'm after a fast BUT reliable turbo build, some thing around 130 - 150bhp if possible maybe out of a 1293, i'm not over keen on the idea of a largely over bored turbo, i've heard bad stories of them not lasting long.
i've got a intercooler of a s2 rs turbo as well i'd like to use.

just wondering if any one could give me any advise on the engine build, thanks

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1976 mini van soon to be turbo'd (it doesn't have an engine at all at the moment)
1984 mini 25 street racer 1275gt engine (not much left of the ol' 25 tho)

hi there and a Warm welcome to turbo minis

130 to 150 is easy but you need to beef the transmisson up drop gears and
minispares diff

most of the subjects have been coverd before so please use the search button

the myth of large overboars is ... BS
(ie) 1380cc... 73.5mm granted you only get one shot at the block but it makes hughe torque figures

we are all here to help

i had a 1380 turbo and it lasted well, unfortunatlly the bores went oval and the pistons got squished on the sides.

the engine was built by a respected mini engine builder, and i've never had the same problem with 1293.

if anyone can explain how this happened your help would be appreciated.

nice 1 cheers, i forgot put anything about the gear box, i've heard a lot about up rated diff pins being essensial

1976 mini van soon to be turbo'd (it doesn't have an engine at all at the moment)
1984 mini 25 street racer 1275gt engine (not much left of the ol' 25 tho)

Hi,
Forget diff pins, a 4 pin diff is essential on a turbo motor. This is due to the large amount of torque produced
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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My Mini build diary

as above really.

sort the gearbox with 4 pin diff, SC drops and sc gearkit in that order of importance.

sort the clutch by adding a grey pressure plate and machining the lugs to the correct height.

rebuild the bottom end with good pistons and an avonbar PH2 cam and avonbar turbo oil pump.

get a decent head with the right size chambers for the iston dish/boost. Mr Benross does good heads at good prices.

get a good intercooler on there, the RST S2 is a good one, but the 2wd corworth one is also very good and fits well.

this site written by turbo phil from here is a good guide.

http://www.turbo-mini.com/index2.html