Thanks Zulu, i had a lot of help along the way - nothing you can't learn

What do you want out of your mini?

I love my car and would do it again in a heartbeat, but we're also building a full blown A-Series cross flow for another car and both suit difference purposes. It depends entirely on what you are after and what you expect from the car.

Many people start conversions but dont finish them, you need to be very committed and understand the costs and challenges and the end result.

I wouldn't bother putting in a stock 4EFTE - for less hassle you can make good power out of the a-series and it will sound good.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Key info here. also if you want to race competively (rather than trackday fun) most classes for minis won't allow turbo'd engine conversions so do your reasearch if you are looking for a racecar.

A road car is different. You can make it anything from a reasonably calm, smooth quiet everydayer to a stripped out modified weekend weapon. Both will be huge fun!



I disagree. My engine was stock when I first installed it and to about 160kph it could keep up with my mate's 290kw FPV pursuit.
It was also much quieter than any worked a-series I've been in and averaged about 7.5l/100km on the highway (110kph) all with toyota reliability.

That said, turbo jap engines are so easy and cheap to modify for more power, its hard to resist temptation.
With only an aftermarket exhaust manifold and a touch more boost I got over 130hp at the front wheels. an it still ran (& idled) like a modern car. Try that with an A-series.

The only problem is the sound is nothing compared to a worked a-series.
I just floor it and soon forget about that, though.

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-James.

Toyota 4EFTE Powered Minivan.
102 Kw @ The Front Wheels....Oh What a Feeling!

Yep, I didn't say there is anything wrong with a stock 4EFTE, it's just that it's easier to use an A-series to get that kind of power and still keep up with that FPV ute, again it depends on what you want to do, but unless you are going to drive it daily i personally wouldn't bother for a weekend warrior - especially if you don't have the skill/patience to do it yourself.

A cross-flow A-Series will easily and safely make 130HP (stock 4EFTE power) be cheaper and easier to install, sound better with twin webbers and IMO have more charm and retain the special mini qualities.

Fuel consumption wont be great and it will be loud (again weekend warrior) and quick - and i think there is something special about that.

The benefit and choice of hybrid power comes into play when you want to up the power, with reliability and fuel economy (when pottering around) - My car has been dynoed with numbers ranging from 160-205HP ATW so i would say 220-240+ at the crank (double factory output) and much more than what i would try and get out of an A-Series personally.

The gearbox is also a lot stronger - you get 5 gears and you can cruise around in 4th gear all day and go from 30km/h to 180km/h in the one gear - very tractable - not qualities that i really care about in a weekend warrior mind you.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

I don't remember and there are way too many pages to go through to find out, but what are some of the mods you have done to the motor to get to the 200hp mark? What turbo/ exhaust setup are you using and are you still tuning the SM4?

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If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

4EFTE
- SM4
- TD04L @ Max 22psi
- 550cc Injectors
- Custom Inlet (Larger Throttle Body) + Exhaust Manifold
- Plazmaman W2A Cooler
- 2.5" Dump/Exhaust
- 4-Puck Button Clutch
- Quaife LSD to get the power down

_________________

Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Were the original injectors leaning out?
It looks like I'm basically on the right track

_________________
If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

They were out of their efficiency range and were recommended to be switched out - you dont need to go so large - the SM4 has no problem with them - i just got these cheap out of an EVO.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Fair enough then. Is that a road or track beast he has? Sounds awesome.

I like your mini a lot. Loved the watanabe's on it haven't seen it on it's 10's yet I don't think. Bet it would look fierce.

I wouldn't mind seeing the 10s either... The other rims were smokin!

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Zulu...

1967 mini Cooper S

Yea the RSW's are my favorite rims but i couldn't justify the cost of a new set ($4k) and i needed a specific offset to get the look i wanted in the 10's.

The car sits much nicer on the road and is lower and wider and tougher, but most importantly drives a hell of a lot better.

Here are some pictures:

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Very nice!!

_________________
If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

Ooo,,, looks like it Squats pretty heavy in the front

& have you looked at sorting the Bump-steer at all?

nice job tho, love the stripe/decal thingy, suits it nice

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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.

It's street registered in SA - but would not pass in NSW,



There isn't a hell of a lot of weight transfer to the front, most of it is left to right - i'm planning to put a sway bar front and rear to keep the body roll in check.

When i switched to the 10's the bump steer was almost eliminated and is not a problem for me now.

_________________

Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

that's actually quite interesting about the rim sizes. i remember seeing something on Top Gear where they races a VE HSV Clubsport around the track... The got better times when they replaced the superlow profile tyres and rims with a more standard tyre size... I remember it made seconds of difference.

Mad Mini, you say it's road registered in SA... I guess the laws are different between states. Do you still drive it on the road in NSW?

If you ever do get it on the roads in SA I'd have a squizz for sure.

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Zulu...

1967 mini Cooper S

Fairy Nuff... I've never been in a 130hp A Series mini so you are probably right.
I just think if you wanted to drive it everyday the conversion would be nicer and more reliable (if thats what you built it for.)

Looks good on the 10s. I've got 7.9" minisport brakes, so have been considering the change down also. Especially for the track.
Just got to try some on before I buy them, because they don't all fit over 7.9s apparently.

_________________
-James.

Toyota 4EFTE Powered Minivan.
102 Kw @ The Front Wheels....Oh What a Feeling!