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 Post subject: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:11 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
Posts: 30
Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Hi ladies and gents.

I bought a half done project a few weeks ago, it’s a 66 mini 850 with apparently all the work done to accept a Swift GTi G13B. I haven’t had a close look at the electrical, but it came with. a Haltech ecu and just about everything to rebuild the car. In fact, I think the only thing missing (apart from sections of the floor lol) is the rear suspension components.

As far as rust, she isn’t too bad, I have certainly seen worse, but the engine swap thing is definitely new territory for me. I would normally consider myself a bit of a purist, but as the subframe is already done, and the inner wings have been hacked out already, I figure, double the horsepower and infinity the reliability, why not!

Anyway, here are a few pics of where I am starting from, and I look forward to picking your brains for advice along the way.

Cheers
Adam

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Here’s the little fella on my dodgy arse home made rotisserie

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The car and all the bits that came with it.

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“The usual places...”

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1966 Mini 850 - Suzuki Swift GTi 1300 conversion


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:39 am 
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998cc
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Location: Adelaide
Hey Man, those images don’t seem to be working. Keen to see though.
Brendon

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:43 am 
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Location: the inner west of sydeney!
Images resized by mod

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Convert 1.jpg


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Convert 2.jpg


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Convert 3.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 1:29 pm 
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1360cc
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:07 pm
Posts: 10650
Location: SE Melbourne
Plenty of gti knowledge on this forum- they’re great engines for minis.
Make sure you get onto an engineer first and have that frame looked at.


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:04 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Yeah, I thought that too, but spoke to him and he said to put it all together and bring it to him when it was done??? Seems like it will be a huge pita if he then sees something he doesn’t like.

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:06 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Thanks for fixing the photos mattsmadmini. I didn’t realize they needed to be resized.

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:33 am 
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Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 6:31 pm
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Location: Sydney - strangely, I am glad of the sight of hills!!
66MiniGTi wrote:
Yeah, I thought that too, but spoke to him and he said to put it all together and bring it to him when it was done??? Seems like it will be a huge pita if he then sees something he doesn’t like.


Sounds like the wrong approach to me, putting all of your efforts at risk. He should be able to verify the design will work before anything is built. If he has never certified a Mini conversion before, he is probably thinking along the lines of your average RWD engine conversion where there is essentially no need to alter any of the structural components. Make sure he is aware that the main structural members of the subframe have been significantly modified and send pictures. Alternatively, find another engineer that has previously certified Mini engine conversions. The community will be able to provide recommendations.

Good luck with the project, looks like a decent amount of work left to do to keep you off the streets for a while!

cheers
Michael

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:39 pm 
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848cc
848cc

Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Yeah, thanks Michael, I was thinking I would put the subframe together with the engine installed and take it out to him in the trailer to have a look at. At least I won’t have to connect everything with the risk of having to pull it apart again.

I spent a couple of hours rebuilding the front suspension with new bushes and fitted the front hibs. Amazingly it all went smoothly except someone had jammed the outer grease seal and minced it through the hub. Bits of spring and plastic everywhere. So after cleaning the bearings up and inspecting them thoroughly, I put it back together despite missing a seal.

Anyway, here’s some pics of the subframe to give everyone an idea of what I have got. Apparently the guy who made it is from Queensland.


Image

Image

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:03 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Not sure why the images aren’t appearing. I have made them smaller. Any advice?

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:41 pm 
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Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:19 pm
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Location: Wollongong, NSW
66MiniGTi wrote:
Not sure why the images aren’t appearing. I have made them smaller. Any advice?

You can’t share from google photos. Instead try pressing “post reply” and then add the photos as attachments


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:52 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Hope this works


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:57 pm 
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:07 pm
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Location: SE Melbourne
This is entirely your decision but if I was you:
With that subframe being all plate construction, I'd be getting it sandblasted at some stage to check all the welds on it.
You wouldn't want to find the paint covering up anything that may develop into a crack later on.


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:38 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
Good idea! Thanks very much.

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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 1:54 pm 
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848cc
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:15 pm
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
I dropped the engine into the subframe yesterday, and again, really surprised at how easily it went together. I am waiting for the jynx monster to bite me... is it right to only have three mounts? One on the front and back of the drivers side and one under the gearbox?

The reason I ask, is that there is a bolt that looks like it wants a mount attached at the front of the gearbox too. I can’t think of wha else it would be for.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. So here’s a couple of snaps...


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 Post subject: Re: Mini 850 GTi
PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:35 pm 
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1360cc
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:07 pm
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Location: SE Melbourne
Your front mount is definitely a mini one. Can't tell what the back is.
MK1 GTI gearboxes had the mount underneath as yours does, and another 'dogbone' style one to stabilise it as the one underneath only supports the weight but not much else. The MK2 onwards cars changed the mount setup to just have one big hanger style one at the gearbox end.

You'll need to find or make a stabiliser mount. If you have any leftover lower suspension arm bushes and some offcuts of pipe you can make one pretty easy, otherwise find or buy a proper mount and fit that.


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