Turbo cars Flimsy ? (not my opinion)
Turbo Mini Forums

Just been reading a few of the mags this month and it seems to me most of the opinions are that Turbo minis are Flimsy.

Obviously I am referring to the article on Dave?s car but also there a mention about John Flanagan?s (spelling sorry John or Jon as the case maybe) car as well as the other turbo minis, all within the same magazine.

So i was wondering when these car were featured did they actually say why they thought this was the case? Or is it more of power and torque for such a small car together with the knowledge that a piece has been cut out of the front bulkhead (in the majority of case) that play on there minds?


Answers on a post card

PS (Please note I do not mean any offense within the post as i have seem both Dave's and Johns cars and conserder them to be top notch turbo cars. Just purly trying to think why if you strat a turbo to an a series the mini in question become flimsy)

because they are scared silly

everyone who come's in my turbo moan's why ain't it got a cage since it's so fast

Personally i think its jsut the safety brigade out in force.

Anyone heard of a turbo mini folding up/snapping in two cbecause of the bulkhead box? And im talking about a properly built and welded in box :)

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

I don't think my car is a 'fast' car as far as fast cars go, but if i had a cage, it would definately be safer...

As regards 'flimsy'; I don't agree. I've yet to see evidence that a box significantly weakens the bulkhead...
All i've seen is 'experts' that couldn't find thier arse with both hands, making comments that they aren't qualified to...

I've decided I'm going to model up a simple bulkhead in Pro/E (cad) at work then analyse it into FEA to see the rear difference in terms of 'twist' and deformation... No promises on the date, but i might get one of the placement students to do it as an exercise LOL!!

Dave, I've lots of work the students, shall I send you a list?

Team Racing

my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

write it out 10 times young man!

Edited by giallofly on 7th Mar, 2004.

yes sir, ten times here it comes
my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my last engine did 3 years of solid abuse...

My car is not an everyday car obviously, it has been engineered for speed, i have not won the turbo D class at avonpark but 3 seconds and 3 thirds aint too bad.

The turbo engines have spent many many hours at full tilt around Cadwell/Mallory/Donnington and combe. It it not as fragile as Simon Wooley made out in Minimag you know what these journos are like. My engine last year failed due to a con rods being over heated by the "piston to rod fitting man" and a gudeon pin moved and took out the lot!..all this gearbox and headgasket chat has not been a problem for me. In fact 22 psi/slicks and up on the clutch hard and it holds together..touch wood!

But yes they can be a bitch if not built correctly when big boost/un intercooled and high CR's are used..

Jon Flanigan.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Team Racing

dear oh dear oh dear oh DEAR!

:p

Alex

AlexF

gobshite...

well made me laugh didnt realise anyone would copy it out 10 times lol

well it must be said I'm a bloody fast at typingi

Team Racing

I struggle with ctrl + "c" too jim!!

whats this ctrl c all about??? all new to me, honest guv

Team Racing

:)

Out of interest what sort of clutch/gearbox/transmisssion do you have Giallofly?

I'll answer that for him... its all out a Metro Turbo :p


alex

AlexF

you sure??

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

nope hence the :p


LOL

Alex

AlexF

If you go back a couple of years there were a lot of turbo cars featured with huge amounts of power like "well its only got 8 psi but I reckon it has something like 150-180 lb ft and it does about 4 secs from 0-60 mph" . Wouldn?t that qualify as lethal piece of machinery ???

I used to subscribe Miniworld from practically first issue but quit that some 4-5 years ago. The quality of features and technical stories were substandard and you needed both very tinted sunglasses and very heavy filtering to ignore the major flaws in the text vs. pics. Complete crap ! Haven?t improved since.

Seriously, properly executed turbo conversion is quite as solid as normal body. I have only the bulkhead box seam welded, left the odd "strengthening" pieces off and the front and body are still as good as 8 years ago when I did the conversion.

I wonder what they would say about Viku?s V8 Clubman. If they are worried about power to weight ratio with turbo cars... well they haven?t seen it all. I thought that my car pulled sideways at full throttle but little did I know. Try 240+ hp / 6000 rpm and 200 lbft at 2000 rpm in a 790 kg Mini and you will get a faint idea how feels when there is really some power between the front tyres !

a belated answer to sumpnet's Q...

Tran ex 4 syncro straight cut box
LSD with 3.44 semi helical final drive
AP grey diaphram with AP sintered bronze paddle clutch plate
pot joints with cooper s drive shafts...

and this bulk head banter.....mine was profesionally welded with added 1 inch angle iron added inside to add strength, the mini handles well!...........