hey all,

after much talk and consideration, i am still unsure as to which engine i should put into my mini.

does anyone have any suggestions or opinions as to which avenue is best to pursue (the final ambition is to have a pretty quick street car that could be raced in events) in regards to a specific engine and rough specs on that engine?
how much would the motor cost roughly to get?

one of my considerations is that if i get an older engine and work it, is it cheaper to get a cooper motor and work from that, or something like a 1340 and fully work that? will they both end up producing a similar Hp? which one will be cheaper to do in the long run (considering the engine will be rebuilt)?

what kind of Hp can you get from a worked original motor? and what are some of the better gear boxes that will last the distance in regards to a powerful motor?

finally, what other engines in regards to conversion, can you most easily drop in?

sorry for all the questions, but hopefully some good advice will come my way.

cheers

Hey Jaebo sup.....1340 probably was a Cooper engine originally....or an 1100S (1275 cm3).....there is a lot in modifying the A Series...talk to the Doc or GR.

If you want raw, smooth ponies...then go for a Jap engine conversion.

Either way....Minis are to be enjoyed

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"Show me the Mini!"

Jaebo, I am no expert in the A Series field but a worked 1275 (maybe bored to 1310) will produce when worked about 85bhp atw. Cost is another issue but you would probably want at least 2-3K above what you paid for the motor and 1275's complete are getting expensive, at around $1K. Like I said I am no expert but I am sure that other people with more experience here will be able to give you more accurate figures. If you start going Cooper S (so to speak) then probably add a bit more to your budget.

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

yeah start with a 1275, i don't know where you would get one for 1k unless you mean a bare block.

the gearboxes are all pretty similar, but the best ones are the late model ones with synchro on all gears.

the "rod change" gearboxes are cheaper , easier to get parts for , easier to remove and reinstall from the car and generally have a taller diff which is better for street use, not as good for hillclimbs and sprints, but you can change the diff.

It depends on what you want to achieve. If you want to keep your mini relatively unmodified then stick with the A series engine. Going a Japanese conversion means alot of work and hacking to make everything fit and work.

For about the cost of... $3000-$6000? you can buy a whole 1275 engine, bore it out to say 1310, 1330cc and get it worked quite well to achieve about 70-80hp atw. That's plenty for a mini IMO. This includes gearbox rebuild depending on what state the engine and gearbox is in and how much work you do yourself. I am spending about this much I all up to build my 1330 excluding some work and tools.

With gearboxes, any 4 synchro box will do pretty well. Gearboxes don't break themselves, people break gearboxes. IMO remotes are best as rod changes do get sloppy with wear and are quite hard to fix without replacing the whole rod change unit. Remotes have better engine stability and are designed by John Cooper not some Leyland accountant

Don't forget about braking...

Speak to engine builders. Good ones usually have time to give free advice and will be able to give you a good idea what is involved.

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Well if we are talking Jap conversions depending on which way you go but generally you wont get change out of 10K if not a bit more. But you generally get 16 valves, 5speed, a minimum of 100 - 110hp atw. How much time and money do you have??

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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

its hard enough to get an A series with a remote change in and out of a mini, nevermind a toyota engine

Actually the toyota engine isn't hard to remove at all...unless you have first hand experience removing a toyota engine from a mini?

It drops straight out the bottom (depending on design) the engine mounts are easier to access and there isn't any gearbox linkages to worry about ala rod change and remote.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

The buyer of my stroker engine is dragging his feet. If he doesn't make a decision this weekend then it's back on the market!! See specs on my sig pic - $4600 complete - gearbox, all ancillaries etc - drop in ready to race once tuned in your car (probably 1 hour on a dyno just to fine tune it - all the hard work's already done!).

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

my original plans were to have the mini with an engine conversion.
but i am wondering, is it cheaper to work an original motor or to do the conversion in regards to getting most power for money.

are the toyota engines the easiest to fit conversion wise, or are there other makes that will fit as easily?
which engines would go in well, and perform well?
what cost roughly to get something like a half cut?

ministar:

that kind of engine is something that i originally had in mind, but then have been considering turbo, and superchargers...
my guess is though, that in regards to power to weight ratio, that a naturally aspirated 16v would make a mini fly (plus, the engine could also be worked more later)?

No it's not, 45mins to get out, and about an hour or so to get back in. A series engines are pobably the easiest motors to get out. rod or remote....

Cheers
Aaron

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check the for sale section - there is a well priced running big bore motoradvertised there.

Its not mine and i have no connection with the vendor.