hey to all. this is my second post to aus mini. i am thinking of doing either a suzuki swift engined mini or a v-tec. which is better i dont know, can any one give me some pointers on these engines and which engine exacly goes into the mini. thanks to whoever can help.

Swift: will fit into a roundnose without extensions.. Not the most powerful engine (but I've got a video of a turbo charged swift doing 12.4 seconds on the 1/4mile).. Gearbox isn't the strongest either.. but as a stock engine it's up there with the big block A series, with more reliability.. I've heard they havn't got a huge amount of torque either, though.

Vtec: Apparently can be made to fit into a roundnose without extensions.. but I'm not 100% sure if it's possible on right hand drive cars. May be possible but it'll be very very tight.. Lots of power and extremely reliable, easily tuned to over 200bhp apparently.

If you're doing the conversion on a clubby or don't mind extending a roundnose I'd go for the vtec. Or even if you're up for a challenge, have a go at squeezing it in without extensions. But the swift will be easier to do, quicker and cheaper..

I'd go VTEC over the Swift due to parts availability. There are so many VTEC cars out there for parts and also so many after market parts. But either engine would be great. I know a guy who did a VTEC without extending the front, he had a custom intake manifold made up to make more space.

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It depends on how you want the car to go and look. I went Suzuki because there are no firewall mods required or extended front and I can use normal sized wheel arch flares. I didn't go Honda because in a roundy you've got to move the rack and modify the firewall, if you don't extend the front. Also, I've never seen a Honda conversion that doesn't use sportspack or group 5 arches. I don't really go for the big arch look or the steering kick-back associated with such wide track widths.
The Suzuki motor is less powerful and less common that the VTEC. However, in Aus it is the staple engine in the 1300cc class of off road racing and also sports 1300 circuit racing cars. In both of these classes the engines live for a long time doing high revs and putting out about 140 hp.
So Honda is faster, Suzuki is closer to the original Mini concept of light and fastish but not OMG fast.
M

Here is a picture of the Mini I mentioned in my last post. I don't think these flares are too big. This car is a good sleeper.

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Thats a nice mini TurboOrangie... The flares arn't too big at all. I doubt it'd be able to fit in right hand drive mini without extensions. Especialy with the radiator in the front..

thanks guys i am still not 100% sure which engine to choose but im thinking v-tec, considering its going to be a race car.

that one has an extended front....

just pick an engine and stick it in the front of the car, see what you've gotta do to make it fit and start welding - no-one is really qualified to tell you what can and can't be done until they've done it.

the people with big flares on a VTEC are the ones who have used a modified metro subframe as per the kits in the UK, these kits also suit the K series 2l motor. No need to do that as you can see from the car above... that motor is far enough forward to clear a left or right hand drive car

I say a VTEC can fit in a RHD mini without moving the rack or extending the nose, but I'm not qualified to say that cos I haven't done it, but I know it's been done...

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I know that Mini does not have an extended front, I know the guy, I've seen the car and part of his goal was not not lengthen the nose. He had a custom intake manifold fabricated so he could fit the VTEC in.

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no kidding - must be a trick of the light - I correct standed I didn't link your earlier post with the picture... sorry

well then, I'm even more sure that it can be done in a RHD car, cos the intake manifold is the bit that causes the clearance problems

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Thats Mike. Def not an extended front on that one Simon! You can even spy it yourself on his website.....

It may not be extended front but it is left hand drive and being that we are right hand drive it means without extending the front you have to move the master cylinders and also move the steering rack to clear the g/box/diff and driveshafts, not impossible but a lot of work
Jon

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

that doesnt look like the 2 litre vtech motor anyway??? correct me if im wrong but to me that looks like a late 80's sohc one?

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Potato

bugger... I shoulda picked that, nice pickup Meeni - it's a SOHC D series (1600cc variety), and not even a VTEC one... I have one not 5 meters from where I'm sitting right now (1500cc - slightly different rocker cover), the B series motors have a very different rocker cover... spark plugs go inbetween the cams.

The B16 motors are bigger, but I still maintain that they'll fit without stretching or moving stuff - there are 2 in melbourne

but I still don't know the guy - what's his URL?

that motor


vtec version of the same


you don't have to move the master cylinders on an RHD car with a honda motor, because the motor sits on the passenger side of the car, opposite to the swifts, starlets etc. The steering rack problems come from where the gearbox is, and combined with the size of the intake manifold meaning you can't lean the motor back as far as you need to to clear the rack, and clear the manifold - make a new manifold and problem solved.

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Here is the website for those who are interested.

http://minimikebc.tripod.com/

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67 Traveller - Needs restoration
www.victoria-chiropractors.ca