Turbo or not
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi

Registered here before as Neil8p but forgot my password

Anyhow, I have a mk 1 currently being tidied up, and I originally planned to put in a mildly tuned 1275 engine, keep it on 10's, do the suspension properly etc. to make it a proper fun driveable road car. Something that's good for the country lanes, the trundle to work and the odd trackday for me and the missus.

I've always fancied a turbo but I don't want to hack the body about at all. I noticed a few posts recently about a turbo conversion that can be fitted without modding the bulkhead.

Can this conversion be done in such a way to make it a reliable usable car that will behave in all traffic conditions? (the missus can't cope with a car that misbehaves at all).

If it can, would it be so mildly tuned that it's not worth the time and expense of doing the turbo conversion?

Cheers

Neil

Hey Neil,

Theres two schools of thought here... the thing with a turbo is that getting power is easy. So its also easy just to turn the boost down for round town driving or for the misses, then you can crank it up for fun at the weeekends.

The Mirage kit is the only way to go if you don't want to hack the body work. Its not a cheap conversion thou, nothing with a turbo attached tends to be, particualrly if you start from scratch and build an engine.

You can't have is all

Cheap
Power
Reliability

Choose any 2 as AC Dodd says!

Alex

AlexF

Hi Alex

Seen that Dodd quote before and know exactly what it means. 8 ports don't come cheap you know

I don't know. I like the idea of it, but I'm not sure whether it's actually worth the effort as I'm not after a fire breathing monster.

It's not like the car wont be fun to drive with a stock(ish) 1275. Maybe I'll stick to the original plan and see how soon it is before I want it to go faster.

Cheers

Neil

PS maybe a ride in yours will change my mind!

I'd say turbo it if you don't plan to thrash it everywhere
as it is soo much faster than a 1275 mg metro'd mini even on low boost
my mg 1275 could just about keep up with mk2 golf gti's to 60'ish
whereas my turbo is in front of golf gti's weather they be 8 or 16 valve

mine is mechanicaly sound but like's to break thing's such as driveshaft's

I actualy like 4 psi of boost more than 8 around town
it's so much nippier at low boost around for daily driveing
I try and turn the boost up while' I'm on the move when I take on more serious traffic light race's

Neil -
I reckon you'd be mad to spend the time and money on a turbo conversion when it is clear that Nitrous oxide is what your mini would be best suited to (having 4 inlet ports). You can get them insured now aswell (speak to highpower about who it is they reccomend).

With modern controllers, they are much more refined and easy on the engine aswell.

Edited by turbodave16v on 27th Jan, 2004.

Just curious but is it neil from out my way, gainsborough?

Hope you like the site anyway.

I can change your password for you i think so if you like ill sort it. Email me with what you want it to be.

Iain at turbominis.co.uk

Billy, that's along the lines I was thinking. Would a small turbo and low boost be a cheaper option than a supercharger and give similar no-lag performance?

Dave, I hadn't planned on putting the 8 port into the Mk 1 (yet :) ) as I'd like to keep a standard bonnet profile. The webers, even on the inefficient short manifolds, still poke through the front of the bonnet. Interesting idea though, especially as I'm looking to detune the 8 port as it's a pig to drive in everyday traffic.

Iain, yes it's me. How's tricks? Having fun in the snow? It's much better this way than in Doncaster, and hopefully more to come :)
Don't mind which username I use, but I'll email you anyway

Cheers

Have a work with Carl Austin about the motorbike carbs he's been looking at for his KAD head... They have springs and needles just like SU's, but are REALLY short and easy to fit!!!

Thanks for that, I'll get in touch. I think Carl is not to far away from me so maybe he'll let me have a look. Funny you mentioned nitrous as I live 2 minutes from the Wizard of Noz workshops as well. It's a nightmare really!!

Seen the BRR bike carb setup on an 8 port head, but heard through a reliable source that they were an absolute ***** to get working.

Hope my wife doesn't see this thread!

turbo the bloody thing , mine might be a bit loud ,but that can be sorted and the boost can be turned down ( wife mode) or up ( track day mode )

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....