Please don't attempt another V8 Mini. Just because it can be done doesn't make it a good idea. Some of them do turn out well, but too many Minis get butchered by amatures. Yes it does seam like a fun idea to put one of the biggest engines you can into the smallest car you car. But I bet it isn't anywhere near as fun as driving a tuned Mini on a windy road. The V8 would ruin the beautiful characteristics of the Mini. A good 4 cylinder from another car or bike would be the way to go, throw a turbo at it if need be, it will be much more enjoyable. Just my opinion.
(but I am right)

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email - [email protected]
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/TurboOrangie/

67 Traveller - Needs restoration
www.victoria-chiropractors.ca

GT40 engines were 302 windsors, some had cleveland heads and boss manifolds but the blocks were 289/302 .
I was going to do a lexus V8 until i saw the actual size of them, i think a dart or sportsmans alloy V8 ford block is the best option for size and power.

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

I gotta say that I am with turbo orangie on this I am putting a toyota motor in mine (out of a starlet GT) and putting a V* in a mini requres a lot of effort to be done well. Work out how much effort it's going to be before you go cutting up one of the coolest cars ever made

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-doing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering,
and a few conversions:
13B Extend in a 1600
4EFTE in a mini ute (all slowly)

Im with orangie and hpd ,remember the mini was the original v8 killer

If you can beat em Dont join em

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with the fury of a Monkey Dishwasher aimed at your Purple

57 Morris minor
88 Rover Mini

evening, i wasnt saying that i was actually going to do it, i was just curious about it all...

would a turbo charged toyota scarlet engine have enough to beat a v8???

i have to agree i would prefer a original engined mini, but i love v8s also... so some time in my life im going to build one or buy one...

~sumanovic

buy a v8 capri then

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

hmm, gd idea, ill buy a mini and a capri...lol...

nah actually buy a mini and keep the extra $$$ keep it running...

i duno, has eny one heard of the zcars? or driven one???

~sumanovic

Most new gen 3 holdens do 14's my mates VK should do 12's at a $12000 engine build so a 13second mini should do pretty good

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with the fury of a Monkey Dishwasher aimed at your Purple

57 Morris minor
88 Rover Mini

Sumanovic - I've definately heard of Zcars, havent' driven one but I've seen vids. And I can tell you that I am going to build a bike powered Mini in the next few years as my next Mini project. I'm already planning and currently I plan to use a Hayabusa engine and gear box and obviously RWD, but I think I'll add a turbo as well. But if something better comes out before I build this car then that will be the new powerplant of choice.
I like V8s too, I used to have a Z28 Camaro and a 400hp 1979 Corvette, they were both fun, but I've had way more fun in a stock Mini. Now with the turbo Suzuki engine in my Mini and good brakes I can't even explain how much more fun the Mini is. The responsiveness of such a light car is way more fun than my previous V8 tanks. Plus even the stock Mini was more reliable. I would imagine that the turbo Toyota Scarlet would have enough power to beat some V8s. I've beaten a few V8s with my little turbo 3cyl and I haven't even done much for mods on it yet.
Another engine to own in your life is a rotary. I put a fuel injected rotary in a 1977 Corolla and that car was a blast to drive, that car beat many V8s. I was going to school in the US at the time I beat so many Z28 Camaros and Cobra Mustangs and they hated it. I had 1.3L decals on each front fender and one on the boot lid, and the car was stripped out inside and had a 10pt cage in it. The drivers of these muscle cars would pull up and laugh and make fun of my 1.3 and my cage. Then the light would go green, I'd be way in front and then at the next light they would give me dirty looks. Like it's my fault their car sucks! lol. Or maybe they were mad because my rotary was basically running a straight pipe and when I shifted as I went by a huge fireball and load explosion would occur right beside them and scare the $h!t out of them. Either way, it was very entertaining for me.
So when doing an engine swap get something silly but don't go to over board, or the car will become undrivable and kind of pointless.

_________________
email - [email protected]
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/TurboOrangie/

67 Traveller - Needs restoration
www.victoria-chiropractors.ca