Hey Everyone,

Possible change of plans. Im looking at doing a gti conversion on my roundie and putting the 1275 (im trying to get) in my clubbie. Can anyone give me some advice in relation to modifying the front subframe to fit the gti engine?

Any tips anyone?

Lucas

PM 998 Clubman, Whitestriped63 or GtiMini, they'll fill you in on the fun and games in relation to the conversion

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I got nuthin......................

Why don't you put the 1275 in the roundie and put the GTI in the clubbie that way there is more room for the intercooler and turbo and all the other mods that you might want to put on it.

IMHO

Pat

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Team MADMAN/Pat Rogers

hmm this question seems to be getting asked neally every week..

its a very big job, i wouldnt recomend it to someone who has a full time job, and minimal access to materials, tools and a good dry place to do it..

ok i started mine about a good 10 months ago.. im an aprentice mechanic.. i have access to pretty much anything i need, i was lucky to get a pre owned subframe.. had to get some sections of it replaced. but it is good as new, and stronger..

finding a donor car, or front cut.. i found a complete car for $600..

all up it is starting to owe me near the $2500 mark.. new HD clutch, water pump, timing belt, hoses, fuel pump, hoses, recod vh44 brake booster, reco'd dual circuit master cylinder and proportioning valve.. all new brake lines, 6 in total measureing near 5m all up.. the donor car, the subframe.. number plates, various nuts and bolts, brackets, clamps more hoses.. now i havnt had any help what so ever with the conversion so far, besides a goodmate from school, (a aprentice fitter and turner) for making the shafts..

ive only just finished making brackets for alternator, hydraulic clutch slave cyl.. high pressure steel fuel lines, mods to engine bay, cutting etc.. mounthing things like the radiator, exhaust, instrument panels.. the list goes on.. and im at the stage where im starting to just finish things off.. get things working properly, and fixed right.. oh and having a brake pedal for the first time..

other shaft is comming tomorow afteroon now, but all up as an estimate on time, ive spent 2 full weeks.. 12 days 8-5 working on the car recently.. (atmy mech workshop mind you) plus about 30 or so 45min periods at lunch time.. + the 8 months the car was at home, where i got the subframe and engine mounted, modifications to engine bay, painted engine bay, rad, wiring, fuel pump, pipes hoses.. then theres things like modding accel pedal, indicator stalks, lights... everything just takes so much rooting around, all up i can confidently say i did remove and replace the motor at least 10 times..

the list goes on and on, i dont think everyone knows how much work is needed to do this, a year and a half ago when i first thought about doing this, my plans were to swap everything over on a weekend.. now i think back and all i can do is laugh...

sorry for the long post, but there will be people out there who will read this and maybe get an idea on how big of a job it actually is..

oh and your question about modifying the subframe? PM DTmini, or have a chat to whitestriped, you might be able to get an idea on what you have to to..

good luck

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GTi Turbo'd mini, abused daily

forgot to mention gear selection...


i cut the floor out of the gti donor car, chopped a bit out of the mini tunnel and welded it in.. made it a lot easier because the suzuki selector bolted straight up, only mods were the 2 rods needed to be shortened..

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GTi Turbo'd mini, abused daily

If you are going to do it and you aren't capable of fabricating small bits and pieces yourself you will need to be patient. Anything can be done, you just need to find the right people or be prepared to solve alot of issues yourself.

I haven't fully hit all the snags yet but I did as much research as I could before I actually started the project. What you are doing is research, gathering snippets of info, asaking open ended q's. It's all knowledge.

First thing you should know is......IT CAN AND HAS BEEN DONE.

Frame - employ a professional and ensure he consults with an engineer.
Brakes - WIll need late model, dual circuit set up. Make up some brake lines. Not hard just a bit time consuming.
Clutch - I got lucky and found the right slave cylinder. It may need to be re-sleeved but a very minor job considering the hassle poeople have gone to sorting the clutch.
Fuel - One days working hooking up a new line. Use the old line as the return line. You can use the existing line as a template to bend up your new line. Put a good size one in there first time so if you turbo it later you don't have to worry about enough flow.
Acc cable - I broke a few on my bikes when I was a kid. Fixing (modifying) them can't be that hard.

One thing I recommend - Avoid at all costs using the gti loom. I see absolutely no need to pull the mini one out and trying to wire the gti one in there when you can buy an aftermarket ecu and do away with a whole heap of unnecessary wiring. Aftermarket ecu needs power and to be connect to about 10 things max. That's my opinion, others' may differ.

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

hey 998_Clubman pm sent.

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hope be back on the road soon with a blown 1275.

Well Done 998, couldn't agree more. I recently wrote about how long it is taking me to do the Starlet conversion and people were asking why it was taking so long. As you say people don't seem to realise the level of work involved. I have manufacture the subframe myself and there is a world of pain in that by itself. But as you say you have wiring and just all the little pain in the arse details that you just can't skip over. I think I have at least another 3-4 months of work to even get to the point of starting her up let alone registered and on the road

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