Hi guys, i have been lurkiing on this board for a few days now and have been reading all the conversion threads. I have a roundnose and was thinking of doing a conversion on it, but am still not sure what im able to do.

Some info about me, im from Coffs Harbour in NSW and have finally started work on restoring my mini which has been sitting in the garage for about 3 years. I was thinkning of a conversion cause im planning of relocating the mini to Sydney and wanted something more reliable than the old A series. (Not a fan of oil leaks) I also think that with the way motors are going nowadays, there will be no mechanics left who will know how to tune a carby and plus leaded petrol is harder to find.

Anyways, i was wondering what conversions are possible with a round nose, i was initally thinking of a vtec conversion, but it sounds like its too big to fit in a round nose without any bodywork extension.

Keep up the good work guys.

The most tried and true solution is the Suzuki G13B out of a GTI but these are becoming much harder to find and most of the time they have many k's on them so a rebuild is necessary. As you may have seen there have been discussions about newer engine packages such as the Toyota Echo etc (none of which have been tried as far as I know). And the 4EFTE may fit in a roundnose (ones being attempted as we speak) but this is not a straighforward solution.

The other solution maybe the Daihatsu engines CB70(?) which is a 3 cyl but don't laugh with a turbo these things are putting out decent power. And while I am going the 4EFTE route my main reason was because I wanted a 5speed as much as stump pulling power.

Cheers Matt

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

I'm in coffs sell me your round nose (so another can be saved ) and buy a clubman and go for it

You'll thank me when you see how much more room is in there

I'm at korora by the way where abouts are you?

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67' Matic
73' S

hey im at toormina. Are you selling a yellow clubman by any chance?

No sorry thats not my clubby

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67' Matic
73' S

plug -> http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10240

I have been looking at these.. but can't seam to find any for sale out here atm.. will keep looking..

With engine conversions, assuming that the new engine fits in the engine bay without any major modification, is there a lot to do in the conversion?

I mean theres the subframe, drive shafts and electronics. Is there anything else major in it?

Depends on the chosen conversion really. Gti conversion:

Get frame built. Three words do not do this mammoth task justice.
Modify suzi gear shifter
Modify mini floor to house suzi shifter
new brake lines for the front
new fuel line
wire it up
cut engine bay walls
modify clutch actuator (either hydraulic or cable)
New radiator location
New exhaust
New driveshafts.

This is over and above anything else you may think of that will need upgrading. i.e. suspension & brakes.....

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

if i was to go the conversions route, id go the daihatsu cb70. But what id really want is a vtec mini. Is it possible without having to extend the front or have the wheels out wider?

Yes and yes. It won't be the twin cam Vtec but a single cam has been done. But....it was done on a LHD mini......I think he commented that the honda g/box would foul a RHD steering column. Though, come to think of it, it really doesn't stick out that much.

http://minimikebc.tripod.com/VTEC/VTEC1.html

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

been done and there's another in progress in Melbourne with a VTEC twin cam, no extension, and standard track with mini front-end.

The poms seem to prefer extending the front because they sell the conversions as kits to bunnies who can't make their own...

Thanks for all the help guys, really great information here.

Is the Starlet motor bigger than the vtec one?

I would say the Starlet motor is a little more compact than the VTEC.

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

minstar i would say a lot more
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".