I know there's a few engines that can be modified to fit a mini even the sub frames to fit like a vtec motor. But does anyone know if there is an engine that will fit without big mods?? For example like a 1.3l Mazda 121 engine or a Honda Jazz engine?

The only ones I know of that fit in without wholesale subframe butchery (or complete replacement with a custom one) are the 3 cylinder Daihatsus (with or without turbo). I guess a Suzuki Swift 3cyl might fit too.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

In the great scheme of things if you can do driveshaft wirering, and engine mount mods the extra step of subframe mods is not a big step at all, and beside which if you have the money you can buy all the bits required off the shelf anyways from Allspeed, no fabrication required

Yea that's true. I was just curious as you can get a Honda Jazz motor cheap plus once you get rid of the parts not needed like air con,power steer etc it would even be smaller plus can get rid of the radiator shroud on the mini and stick a small radiator with a thermo at the front

I think Matt Read `TheMiniMan' was mucking about with putting a Nissan Micra 1275 motor in a Mini. Not sure how far he got, but they are pretty compact for a 4 cylinder.

re my previous comment, in NSW I have seen some pretty poorly modded subframes in early Starlet GT conversions. I don't know how they got engineered! The RH tie bar mount was left hanging from the sky on a bit of flexing RHS tube, so the RH guard was cracking on one car.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Yea that's why I was thinking about something that doesn't require modding the frame coz then the hassle of engineering and that. But yea I duno how some cars are on the road and I get knocked back for the simple things.

Yea the new engines are pretty compact. Might have to measure

You always have to weight up the cost/effort/performance/reliability of any swap. I doubt there would be anything small enough to fit in the standard subframe without cutting most of it out? In NSW you are supposed to keep all the emissions gear of the engine/exhaust if it is newer than the car too..

1.3L Jazz engine - L13 is 84hp
1.5L Jazz engine - L15A is 109hp

The typical VTEC B16A is 140-180hp

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The Daihatsu Charade turbo fits in with most of the subframe intact, including the RH tie bar's mount. Because it's a 3 lunger, it's nice and short.
Brad `13secmini' on here has done one into a Mini K, it's close to being finished.
He also did the first Starlet GT > Clubby conversion here that I know of.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Just slightly off track but on similer line. What's the legal standing on the front engine motor cycle conversions. Are the allowed in Aus?

I think the issue with motorcycle engines in car car is that motorcycles do not comply with the same emissions that a car has to.
So if you fit a motorcycle engine into a car you will have to make it comply with "new car emissions" which may be a bit of a task.
Just my understanding, others may be better informed.

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Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

Wouldn't it depend on what you're fitting it in. If it was an early Aussie mini the emission rules wouldn't be very strict, but the subframe kits are designed for single bolt tower frames, so that would need modifying. I was more curious as to what the powers that be would have to say about fitting a motor with three times the original.

"All" engine swaps from A-series to whatever , need major frame mods & axles & such
some more than others

the smaller the motor the easier yes, but still a major opperation
& still need engineer approval

i was in the middle of a Jazz swap but they`re way bigger than you think/see (even with all the crap off)
you don`t have to trust me, i`m just tellin ya what i did & it was a big issue, so we stopped
not to mention all the many computers in them that (funny enough) need to talk with eachother or they have an argument with the main computer

the 3cyl jobs are probably the easiest,,,
out of all the 4cyls (in my opinion) the nissan micra is not too bad, (But still major)
the rest even worse (with regards to work required & subframe bastardization) & in every other dept
but,,, we made a turbo charged alloy v8 fit in a mini east-west ontop of autin 1800 gearbox
so i reckon you can get anything you want to fit (Nearly)

the bike engine conversion we have been approved to do, but thats here in Qld....
& may be different in other states but i couldn`t imagine why tho.
they do need some sort of reversing system & we`ve been approved to run a small ring gear off the side of the driven sproket with an electric starter motor.

sorry i have way too much on currently to help you make a frame but if you listen to half the stuff people say about how they jump a lane when you floor it cause it`s got so much power
well,,, best to take (More likley) as--> """i`ve made a frame & got it approved but it`s so poorly designed & built that the torque steer & bump steer & torsional/lateral weeknesses due to that poor design & half-arsed fabrication makes it walk/leap/twist steer allover the shop when i floor it"""

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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.

Thanks for the info!!

So basically if your not prepared to much around with the subframe and all that then it's better to stay a series

Yes, you can get well over 120HP from a road A series with pretty good drivability & reliability. I'm driving one.

I'm not against transplants, but to do it properly you need a custom designed replacement subframe with coil overs, not a butchered Mini one with RHS tubes just welded hopefully onto the tower tubes.. which have the rigidity of a wet paper bag.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Here is an R1 powered mini that got through rego in Vic.