why would i race vs a v8 supercar?

lets not get into how much they cost

You can by a MED turbo or NA engine for less and import it from the UK and still get 100+ @ flywheel. I'd being shopping around mate.


But if you can justify spending that cash for what you've been quoted for then go ahead. I wouldn't till I found out exactly what I can buy then decide on what works best and is right specs for the cash spent.

Spaceboy....hehe, I think your writing cheques your new motor won't be able to cash.
Put it into perspective, your engine is a 1360cc built by Morris Mania. This would be a 1380cc built by Rhemac, there will be a big difference.

My engine and gearbox cost me $3,250, I got a good deal. But I paid for MK1 'S' numbers - not performance. And I have 3,250 worth of power. Or you could get a KAD twin cam head and webers for 15 grand.....I don't think so...

_________________
1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

ok i have decided to get rhemac to do the machining side of it and i will get the parts from minispares because they are cheaper and i will put everything in myself! and spaceboy is your name jim?

nar the names not jim

Dale,,, have you built a mini motor before?????

_________________
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.

You do realise your wife will read this?

_________________
One should never skimp on the zip ties.

no i havent built a mini motor b4 but im willing to try anything plus i know 3 mechanics that could help!

if you're attempting a build for the first time I fully recommend buying the Bill Sollis DVD where he goes through every step in great detail of a 1380 build including a gearbox rebuild

I watched this after building a couple of motors and it was good even for me just to see that I was doing it all right

not to be nasty, but what is your mates (all of them) experience with building motors - I know mechanics who I'd barely trust to change the plugs on a mini....

what is the value of the parts that'll be machined by Rhemac, then put together by you and your mates, thus voiding any warranty you'd have on the machined parts, what is the value of the gearbox that might fail if you don't do it spot on

it sounds to me like Rhemac have quoted for a basically brand new motor ready to run with all the bits ready to drop into a car - if you've got the cash for it, then do it... a lot of people say they can do this that or the other cheaply - but you're buying something that needs to last you for a lot of years, and be reliable and everything you want out of it.... and you also want to know that if something goes wrong that it'll be fixed.

What I'm saying is don't be put off by people saying "that's too expensive", until you present a list of everything that is to be done to someone like TheMiniMan, or Spaceboy's "Morris Mania" to get a same-for-same quote, use us on here for options (IE "get a $140 dellorto instead of the $1000 twins"), but we don't know the full story.

Your idea of sourcing parts from elsewhere is a good one, if Rhemac are happy for you to do the legwork you might save a good bit of money, as long as they're happy with what you buy.

if you're confident you and your mates can build it up, and happy that if it fails the onus is on you to fix it, go ahead, if you're not confident, spend the extra $$ - don't let us on here make up your mind for you.

Lillee's engine might have cost him $5-6K, but (correct me if I'm wrong) that's just the engine, no SC/CR gearbox, no brand new carbs, no extras... its not same-for-same. GR who helped him build that motor might give you a $13K quote for your setup too. Lillee isn't going to get 100bhp at the wheels either... have Rhemac guaranteed that figure?

This is getting really interesting. I like the path Dale is taking. And Rhemac are said to be no. 1 in SA for performance machining.

When this is all starting to go together post pics and have a "Dale 62 engine build thread" and go with it like that. I would still recommend the s/c gearbox, but I've never used one, only heard about them (and actaully heard them lol). Keep us all posted!

<edit> I just thought of something. Go ahead with Rhemac, but first get a full list of prices for every part (eg. not labour but parts). Then you can go through it and out-source. Like said above take out the $1000 carbs and rebuild some others for around $200-$300. Things like that, because the little bits add up!

_________________
1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

dale, pm me if you want to know how much my engine build is costing, it might enlighten you

Please don't assume what you don't know for certain. The only reason why it is not making 100hp atw is because I choose it not to. If I did it would be a very difficult car to drive for the road which is what my car is, and reduce the reliabilty dramatically. The amount of machining, work and hours put into my engine will be equal to anyone else's heavy modified build.

I am VERY skeptic (as many of us here are) of rolling road ATW hp measurements of hp. You only have to read UK magazines to figure out that they are no way uniform. I can throw on a 3.67 diff and mirraculously make more atw hp, but tell everyone I am running a 2.9 diff, honestly I am.

120hp is what I am making flywheel using a fast road RE13 cam in a 1330cc running relatively low compression at 10.2:1 with stock medium bore LCBs. It would not take much to make more hp by changing cam to a race profile, take compression to the roof, buy a $X000 custom exhaust system (such as those used on Nb cars) and going out to 1380 among other things, which is what it sounds like the engine in question will need to do to achieve such high output.

I am not here to defend my engine in some sort of testosterone contest, hence why i built mine sanely, for reliability.

If you look hard enough you will save money. BUT if you want to go and blow $15,000 on a mini engine that may last you afew miles be my guest, i won't be losing sleep over it. Many people do, they race them for 1 season and throw more money at them.

No contest, you win.

_________________
Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

i have looked on the ner at a rebuild kit for the gear box.. that they quoted me three grand for including the straight cut gears just under 300 bux for the rebuild kit..round 800 for the straight cut gears...bout 420 for crossed pin diff. 1520 instead of 3000 grand plus.. 800 for brand new hs4 carbies with no modifying of the manifold needed but they are one hs4 not hs6 probably just saved a fair bit of damage there $$$

Dale,,, do what ever you`re going to do,,, what ever that may be,,, all i see happening here is a bunch of guys trying to enlighten you on the avaliabilty of being able to build your engine cheaper than what you`ve been quoted,,, They all really do mean well by it & are not knocking you ,,, that`s the truth, you can feel it,,, but the difference is that they are all scabs (yes you all are) & try to save as much money as they can on an engine build & rarely do any of these guys buy new @ new list price... Now that`s not a bad thing & they`re just lending their support for the same for you ,,, they only mean you well & are trying to help (well some of them anyways )... if you look back you will see that i have said that i reckon that `s cheap for what you`re talking about as a package (if it ends up as they have said) ,,, add up what you said you`re getting & that`s about right ,,, others can, & have, & will do it cheaper, don`t let it get to you,,, if you want what you want, then go for it... you can wave to them all as you pass them on the club race circuits (if you can drive it to it`s potential )

be carefull tho,,, that`s the theme here,,,, everyone here is only trying to look out for you,,, plenty of people have been burnt buy doing what you`re saying, both in getting some mob to do it all for them,,, &/or by doing it all them selves,,, &/or half/half,,, i`ve been spoilt buy being born into the game & built & raced minis since i was a kid,,, not all of us have that blessing

Don`t be scared, but by all means try to be wise about it, there are plenty of things you can do to save money, but please try to do the things that don`t wreck reliability & cost you more in the long run... & most here know that "new-bys" in the mini engine building game tend to make some mistakes & usually they`re expensive dis-heartening ones.

& to tell you the honest truth,,, there`s not many minis out there,,, on the road,, that produce anywhere near 100HP at the wheels---> "RELIABLY",,, THAT`S A FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most "FAST" minis that are road registered & driven daily are barely able to produce 60-80HP @ the wheels,,, 90HP "REAL LIFE" @ the wheels is a very fast road mini , if you can get that "RELIABLY" on the dyno that i use, then you have very good value for money at $13K ,,, & anyone wanting to argue with me then bring your minis up here & put them on the dyno that i use & we`ll see, ok??? hee hee

There are a very small handfull of mini gurus in this country that really "KNOW" their stuff & that can produce the goods,,, many "SAY" they can,,, not as many of those make the grade when it comes time to test the goods... less than that many actually make that a reliable engine as well.

as an example,,, i built a 1510cc engine literally years & years ago by boring the block myself, used 2nd hand triumph 74.7mm pistons that were given to me for free, set the whole lot up for next to nothing & i mean that, anyone who really knows me & that particular engine will verify it & i raced it & road thrashed it for well over 8 years,,, chucked the keys to anyone who was keen for a thrash ,,, & THEN went to Targa Tasmania Rally with it ,another 2000kms of thrashing, won 2nd in the 0-2litre class first time there with no pace notes & rock hard tyres (story here--> http://www.miniman.com.au/targa.htm ) with it & it kept going for another year of club racing & road thrashing after that, till the rings & bearings were well & truely past their use by date,,, i stripped it down , shoved new rings, bearings , gaskets & seals back at it & it`s a go-er again easy-peasy & cost me next to nothing to do it,,, (EG: $74 for a set & a half of rings --> 6 cyl triumph, gotta love that hey?) far far cheaper than i`ve heard anyone producing an engine of anywhere near this calibre/HP/Torque output & reliabiltiy --->FACT!!!

But!!!! not eveyone can do that, most only "SAY" they can.

sorry but i won`t build an engine like that for a customer, it was supposed to blow up years ago, just that the bloody thing didn`t

lots of people "SAY" lots of things,,, take it all with a grain of salt,,, go with your gut feeling, most times your gut feelings are right, that`s what gut feelings are all about--> "INSTINCT",,, if you were a women who hates minis, then your gut instinct would more probably be to buy a new pair of shoes instead

Do you want a new pair of shoes??? --->or a wicked hot mini???



& don`t worry,,, i just "SAY" lots of stuff too,,, i just "SAID" all that above,,, it`s all easy to "SAY" especially over the net where no one can really "PROVE" diddly squat,,, i could have just made it all up hey???

but i didn`t,,, & many many people actually "KNOW" that

go with your gut mate, if you have the money & can afford what you want, then go for it,,, life is too short.

As my old mate Peter Brock has allways said--> "Live your dreams" ---&--- "Bite off more than you can chew & then chew like hell"

_________________
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.