Well, that's helpful

Any clues as to those 'few things'

Build cost is a little more then you think,i also found that r1 mini n called about it, there's a hidden cost.

The kit has basic for 6 grand then u can get LSD upgrade, wiring upgrade ect ect but there is an extra $1000 for customs fee's to bring the kit into australia.

Engineer cert for it to be road worthy is another 1000$ +

Fairly costly build but I'm seriously considering it to

i still think that ( & i`ve been saying it for years) i see no reason why we shouldn`t just make our own kit for us Aussies,,,, why spend the bucks OS when we can do it better & less-cost here

who wants one? add names list here

& we`l ll see if the demand is worth the effort/money... because i`ve already got an R1 powered front-wheel-drive race buggy that we`ve tried & proven,,, so a little mod here & there , add reverse gear (easy enough) & we`re sorted right?

why throw away money over-seas???

edit--> Oh & i`m more thinking that almost "any" bike engine is worthy but my thoughts, for my own mini, would maybe be more like something a appearing a little bit more maybe--> Turbo Hyabusa

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I don't want one but anyone considering
The conversion should just simply consult an engineer, they will tell you straight away if they're keen or not.. There's so much difference in opinion on here you shouldn't make any expensive decisions based on opinions of those who aren't going to sign the certificate. Local rta will have lists of engineers.

I'd register my interest... happy to pay less for the same result, leaves more money for my flappy paddle setup

im keen

here is the reverse box solution(http://www.roadstercycle.com/) just need a diff solution. i think it would be better to be gear drive then chain drive if we are going to do it. simlar to this http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qba3r but cheaper. the acutal frame dosent look to hard to make i think it is the diff and and reverse is where the money is and i was just going to but from uk becuase it was done. but as there seems to be intrest i would be keen to support an australian version.

im in

My R1 buggy has been a very very good test-bed for exactly this,,,



& here--> sorry you`ll have to scroll up to about 1min50secs for it to start proper-->

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To8-usWZLrQ

so add this-->

http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qba2r

or this-->

http://secure2.cyberware.co.uk/~rad-shop/acatalog/sr4differentialassemblywithreverse.html

edit-->

or any one of a few more reverse gear-boxes avaliable right now for similar money

& away you go

i can build the frames to suit, we already have one here to carry-on with

i`d just much rather see some solid interest before i jump in , design & build a pile of em & have them approved only to find that none of you end up actually really wanting one

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I'm definitely keen, could put down a deposit if need be. No specific timeframe from me, it's a longish term project (1-2 years). I guess you'd be working with your engineer from day dot to make QLD compliance a formality, so that's a big bonus over importing from the UK.

I think any bike engine that can make 120-200bhp and that can be made to fit inside a round nose mini would be ideal, I'd love to see a V2 or V4 engine in a mini.
Really it needs to be on par with other engine conversions to be considered. Power, weight, cost, availability and drivability. 200bhp and a 100kg engine package would be awesome but if it needs to be reved high to get off the line or is a noisy clunky thing to use then people ain't going to fall in love with it.

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

ah well,,, it`s all over then

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I'm pretty sure this is right. If your car needs engineering (as opposed to putting in a different mini engine), it needs to pass the emissions regulations of the engine's year, not the car's year.

I'm keen to get into this too.

As I see it sorting a diff and reverse is the main thing. You can get reversing diffs but the cost of these are quite high. The Locost guys have developed electric reverse systems that are quite effective.

Anyone contemplating this should be aware it's not necessariliy going to be a smooth, quiet and elegant driveline. Bike engines have very low torque because they don't need to push much weight around so to get anywhere you're going to need a lot of revs.

yes, quite correct,,,, However, i`m not a big fan of the electric reverse tho so i`ll be sorting a mechanical reverse,,, already got a few plans up my sleave with that from toying with my hill-climb car-> (we want to do some motorkhanas in it too you see)

but on the point of drive-ability & sophistication & elegance---> well take another look at this-->



& then take a look at any/all of the motorbike engine powered cars on youtube

as you will notice,,, they are "ALL" pretty hi-reving & clunky things... definately not the most civilized things to drive your mum to the shops in

so,,, if you`re after a comfortable, quiet, smooth, automatic, austin 1800,,,, then go get one of those

if you`re after a pocket race rocket for the track that you can drive "To-the-track" & stop at the pub to pick up some take-away booze on your way home to watch the in-car video footage of the races that you just won,,, then cool... this is the sort of car it`s going to be

& yes... it will need some weight relieved/removed out of it too

earlier i suggested that "my-idea" of this principal train of thought would be a turbo Hayabusa, but we may have a bit of trouble organising the legalitites surrounding the fitment of the turbo,,, i`m waiting for my Dtp of Tpt engineer to arrive here in the next hour or 2 to discuss these finer points of the job... but he`s already suggested to me that there should be no problems with the bike engine conversion & that i can start on it immediately



So,,, guess what i`m doing today???

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.