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Turbo Mini Forums

hi guys,

just wanting to say hi really, im new to these boards, but have been into minis for a long time, and currently own a 72 salloon which im gradually building, to the disgust of my family, and has taken several forms already, before its even touched any tarmac, currently with miglia arches, deseamed, and a completely flush rear end, with no lights or boot lid.

im in the throws of deciding whether to stay with the old faithful a-series, and go the turbo route, or to go the hybrid route and stick a vaux lump in it which im hoping some of you may be able to help me with.

the plan is eventually to use the motor as a daily hack, but at the same time, i want it to be quick enough to see most things off the line. ie. the xr3 brigade, and some of the rs boys. and im not sure im going to get that sort of performance without having to sacrifice the a-series lump.

your thoughts? as im sure you know what sort of performance a turbo mini has far more than i, as im what you would class as a turbo virgin.

many thanks

dave

www.mini-roadster.741.com

Roadster conversion kits on the way!

If you just want enough get up and go to see off escort RST's then it can easily be achieved with a turbo lump in mild tune. When i finally got mine on the road earlier this year i was running 8psi with no intercooler (120bhp)and this was enough to see off standard RST's. I also managed a 5.8sec 0-60 with this spec at trax. So no you wont need to sacrifice the a-series and it should be a nice smooth drivable engine at that:)

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-

hehe, y m8 has a 1430 with NOS, such a laugh when 'da boyz' roll up next to him in thier xr2's, xr3's, calibra's and chicken paxo's

the 1430 is fast enough to beat them, and then he hits the NOS, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

crikey, i didn't realise they packed any where near that much punch. looks like my decision is made. i would imagine this is a vastly cheaper route than the vaux method as well?

is it really as difficult as people make out? getting it all in the car? or is it a relatively straight forward job?

that would be the sort of bhp i would look for 120bhp or there abouts, at least to begin with anyway. LOL

5.8 to 60 i wasn't expecting that. thats 2.5 seconds faster than an rst!!

where should i begin? second hand engine to get it all in and running, then upgrade, or splash out on newer stuff strraight off?

thanks

dave

www.mini-roadster.741.com

Roadster conversion kits on the way!

LMFAO @ Chicken Paxo's

Cheers, Stevo

why have a vauxhall lump when you could have an integra type r 6 speed!!

well I know my mini has a little more money thrown at it than others as regards the 'icing on the cake' but that was needed to beat people like Giallofly as i refused to go the 'light weight' approach, so had to concentrate more on the engine...

But figures speak for themselves, and for a RAPID turbo mini, you could build a very solid, reliable drivetrain for around 2.5K that in something less than 700kilos, will run 14.0 to 14.5 all day long.

OR you can spend 200+ on a tired vauxhall engine, 400+ on carbs/manifold & dizzy OR 1200+ on full management, then around a grand for a subframe and run 14.5 to 15.o - which is all your typical Vauxhall XE engined mini runs... FACT!
One of the Best, and most 'used' valvers out there at the moment is Tony Wells with his integra Type-R engined mini - the engine conversion has cost around 5K i recall - maybe more?
I comment on Tony, as he has got quicker, almost at the same rate as me - and has run a 13.8 best I believe...
Note however, he's never lifted the head on his engine however, and has done at least 20K in it - and it's still going strong...

So, what to do?
I know i can get my mini to run low 13's, and I know that a modified Vtec / Valver can also do the same (excluding using gas)...
My next project will be a Vtec mini, primarilly for the drags - and that'll run in the 12's, but also for the road. I'll also be interspursing that with getting low 13's in my mini however!

To finish off, bear in mind no-one has even done less than a 14.5 in the first year of trying in their turbo mini - it seems that a lot of self learning has to occur first - wheras a 'thrown together' valver will always do sub 15's out of the box... There is a LOT more bullsh1t and 'I am" with the valver scene though... And as long as that continues, i'll continue to develop the A-Series in order to remind them that their mini is still slower than a road-going mini with a 3 bearing crank!

respect!!

Yeah big respect