setting up
Turbo Mini Forums

Has anyone got any recomended places to have the engine set up once ive ran it in? Ive heard a few places mentioned but wonderd if any of you that have been there and done it have any favourites? Also i was reading an article on this forum about running the motor in by warming it fully up then driving it hard. Does everyone agree?

I could say about the rolling road a few on here use me included, but it's in Essex so a bit away from you.

as for, "Also i was reading an article on this forum about running the motor in by warming it fully up then driving it hard. Does everyone agree? " IMO Not if it's a road car, But i'm sure this will start people off in one. Every one does thing very differently you see.

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

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Personally, I've built about 12 normally aspirated engines over the last 20 years and it has to be said I've taken a rather conservative and probably over-cautious approach simply as this was on a par which recognised the level of effort and investment involved - I didn't fancy things going bang.

However, I'm prepared to give my first turbo motor a bit more stick during it's running in period as long as I feel the timing and fuelling settings I've chosen are up to it and the engine isn't unecessarily laboured up to 4,000 rpm. Previously, I would have used 3,000 rpm and taken this up in stages a few hundred miles apart.

But for the new turbo motor, I've invested in a good quality wideband Air Fuel Ratio meter and have fitted programmable ignition along with a knock meter to detect detonation. This kit wasn't fitted to my previous builds so its one of the reasons I'm prepared to try another approach.

There are a few other TM posts regarding Running In - they're well worth a good read as the advice appears very broad. My guess is that as long as you aren't labouring the engine and that you give a good spread of revs, load, conditions etc along with earlier oil changes and appropriate TLC then the revised approach is entirely plausible, especially considering the number of Mini racers out there who only undertake a few hours dyno or track time before they're at full load in their next race.

Food for thought.

Richard.

Minivanless, but reluctantly happy living with the decision. There'll be another one day.
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