1065 replies to this topic

[Kam]

Right, not much been happening on the 'mini' side of things, its mainly been on the paintbrush side of things! I had no intention of painting stuff but as I'm still waiting for the head and flywheel (mainly the flywheel) I'm trying to do whatever I can on it as I am pretty pumped up to get on with it now, which lets face it this time of year its difficult to get motivated..........but I am

One thing that was bothering me before with the last engine (1.6) was the noise, rain, fumes, heat and pretty much all the other crap you can think of making its way through the air vents in the firewall, was a nuisance but I couldn't find anything suitable to block off the holes and most of the stuff I used just fell off anyway.....



So thanks to Jamie's idea I went and drank some kangaroo wee and chopped up the cans, job done!



Good thinking Jamie!

Sump was looking a bit dowdy and tired so threw some paint on that





Paintbrush was still eager to carry on so put some on the gearbox support bracket



Got some on the starer motor and alternator





Chopped off the two pipes off the main coolant back pipe and also off the top hose housing next to the bleed screw



Took them down to a local fabricators and they welded some plates on the coolant pipe and blocked off the hole on the top hose mounting near the bleed screw, I'm blocking this off as it would normally get its coolant from the thermostat assembly but I'm using the b20 one so its got no pipe on that so the top hose feed point aint needed, I'm still keeping the bleed screw on the top hose though as thats a big help

Threw some paint on them aswell



Then decided to make a little change my head is being built up using standard type-r valvetrain but with buddyclub kams they probably would work well together as I'm not gonna be revving past 8k anyway as thats where my mini counter runs out anyway! but I still started getting a bit paranoid whether the factory dual valve springs could take it so I got some buddyclub dual valve springs for peace of mind



I'm still gonna be using the factory integra type-r valves and retainers but at least these springs will put my mind at ease

I didn't want to get involved with anything engine related but I'm gonna install them myself once the heads back.........

Edited by Kam, 05 November 2011 - 12:44 PM.

[Jamie_hail]

Glad to see the idea worked for you! Good fit, aren't they? Looking forward to seeing this back in one peice!

[Kam]

Glad to see the idea worked for you! Good fit, aren't they?

Top marks to you there Jamie, it was a moment of genius I have to admit

[Kam]

Its xmas here again!



Picked up my head and flywheel, so everythings here to finally get cracking on

This is my old ACT lightweight flywheel I was using before with the b16, it only had 2000 miles on it, I gave it to be refaced but was told its still in good condition so didn't really need it but surface area was cleaned up a bit anyway



As for the head



This is the integra type-r head I bought, initially I wanted port and polishing and some valve angle jobs but he said its not really needed for my application as the ITR head is pretty much bang on straight out the box so we scrapped the idea, he had the head to give it a light skim and do all my valvetrain and clay the pistons etc but as it all took some time it worked out better for me as I'm changing the springs anyway and its alot easier for me to carry the block n head separate than both bolted up

I'm still a little bit worried about my flywheel though, I was thinking the other day should I get a stock one? I know what this is like with the b16 and its VERY rev happy, it hits the redline quick which was good with the b16 as there wasn't alot of power throughout the whole gear but I'm not sure if I need a heavier one now........I think I'm gonna have to take a gamble with this one......

As I'm changing the valve springs myself I need a valve spring compressor, now for the few of you who already know this will not make sense but for everyone else I've bought (another) one



Its good but a very long winded process as its all bolting in and out and in and out, heres how it setup on my old head, tighten the center bolt and remove the keepers with the magnetic pen etc etc



Another bolt and center cage would speed it up a bit but hey who am I to complain

I'm gonna crack on with the car tomorrow, I could start it tonight but gonna work at a easy pace now, providing I don't hit any snags I should have the block/gearbox in and hopefully get to try out my custom rad with the front end on to set final engine clearance and also see (part 1) if my custom rad clears everything, part 2 is whether its efficient enough....but that worry can wait, if its not enough I'll shoehorn a bike rad in there if need be!

All fun, finally

[bcjames]

Mmm painted bits Looks good Kam.

I like that spring compressor. I like the idea of it being secure, rather than precariously stacking sockets like I have to on the one for the mini

[Kam]

Cheers mate, yeah its all secure, I think most car springs can fly at a pretty fast rate when compressed and something slips, I'm glad we don't have macpherson struts as they look like they could do some damage when compressed!

[crazirob]

kam how much have the b16/18 affect the handling ? just out of interest ?

[Kam]

kam how much have the b16/18 affect the handling ? just out of interest ?

Compared to an a-series? If I'm being honest I'm the wrong person to ask, my b16 was still using a mini track and mini suspension and mini wheels, basically what I had on the b16 was the same setup as I had on the a-series beforehand so to me it still felt mini when the b16 first went in, people that have been in mine have said the same but as I've still got a standard interior I reckon that plays a part aswell and makes it feel like "home" to them

I've taken both on track - but I've never pushed mine on track as I only ever feel safe in a cage with a harness and mine is a road car, lets face it not everyone around you on a track is a pro so when you put everyone together you get allsorts on the track at once, a bit like on a motorway where everyone is going all kind of speeds and you don't know what that person going alongside you is gonna do, so I'm still a careful type on a track, I have fun yeah but its not what the car has been built for. Also I ran donuts and then switched to coil springs with the a-series and the difference was like night and day, but when I first put the b16 in I still had these coil springs in and the back just wasn't talking to me if you know what I mean thats why I'm going back to donuts (minispares red dots) as I think the coil springs were out of there depth seeing as the honda lump weighs a bit more than the a-series, its not nose heavy its just the springs are not engineered for that weight

The honda dohc b series weighs give or take around 25-30 kilos more than an a-series thanks to its ally block, I don't think thats enough to upset the handling, the vauxhall lads have cast iron blocks and they have no problems

I think anything on four wheels will go round a corner, as its more to do with your wheel/suspension setup and only a little bit of skill and alot of bravery

People thought I was nuts keeping my steel wheels with the b16, I've posted enough vids on here to be able to sit back now and smile and show thats not the case it goes where you want it to, on a track you would need a good driver in my office chair to show me how its done properly but as theres alot of blood sweat and tears gone into building it I won't let anyone else drive it, I might one day, but not yet, I'm happy doing my driving miss daisy thing on a track. However this b20 is a huge can of worms though so we'll see how that pans out even going in a straight line.......

You have to remember with say an average bhp of most minis of around 60hp (guess work here) you can literally throw the car in a corner and nail it all the way out, when you start putting 130+ hp and start going outside the box with changing the mini track and size of wheels you can't expect the car to be the exact same as before, something has to give or be nurtured, its all trial and error seeing how the car works, also what works for one person won't work for another

[Kam]

I was starting to get eager/paranoid to see if my custom rad fits so got final engine positioning finally done and put the front end on, incase your wondering why I was paranoid about the rad fitting its because my mock up rad (toilet seat box!) was around 41mm depth as thats all I had to spare but to get a single core the guys had to make it 45mm depth, I know the extra 4mm depth will help and don't sound alot but as people who have already done an engine swap will know 4mm in a mini is like 4 bloody foot!

Hit a small snag before all that though, for some reason my lower flywheel cover and the gearbox support section or engine stiffener if you want to call it that wasn't playing together for some reason, so had to ask Mr Grinder to pop out to play and help out, got them sitting flush with one another



The lower flywheel cover is from my b16 and the gearbox support is from my b18 type-r and they are going on a b20 block so should be plug n play right? I thought so but no, the b16 and and b20 have just the lower flywheel cover with a couple of L shape brackets in place, the b18 type-r just has the large gearbox support with no lower flywheel cover atall, I think thats right? I can't seem to find one for the type-r anywhere.....

Either way this now has both as that gearbox support didn't look like it fully protected the lower section of the flywheel, this really is a frankenstein engine......

I chucked on my old b16 head and gasket just for mock up purposes as my b18 type-r head that I'll be using is all stripped down, and put the front end on and finally got engine positioning done, then chucked the rad in





Because the rad has now 4mm extra depth I can't get it sitting flat as planned, this is the best I can do now with the fan behind it, the cam cover does fit with a little clearance



Then mocked the grille up and put the bonnet on and slammed it down!



The bonnet is only temporary in place hence the raised section, I just wanted to see if anything hit, only the grille popped out a little so need to shave some more 'fins' off the back, theres about 3mm or so clearance between the filler cap and bonnet but my engine mounts are proper solid so we'll see......famous last words eh?

I'm gonna tackle the head next as I'm changing the springs and also I want it on and torqued up so I can run some heater hoses and get this bleeding alternator business finally done and dusted to see if thats been a waste of money and then I got the rest of the wiring to sort out

All fun, still

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Excellent progress mate!! So glad to see it underneath a steel roundnose front again. What a cracking little car... a true legend I think

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 20 November 2011 - 09:57 PM.

[toyboy396]

She's looking pretty good mate... (apart from the round front)

One question.... whats taking you so long ?

[Burnard]

spends all his time messaging me on 16v mini

[toyboy396]

spends all his time messaging me on 16v mini

Why are you on there ?? do you have 2 engines in yours

To be fair, i'v been having a nose on there too

[Burnard]

not really sure why its called 16v anymore haha. More people seem to be doing 8v's than anything else atm haha.

I think i could add up all the valves on mine and come up with about 13... lol.

[Kam]

Craig, legend? easy tiger

Cheers Lee I know your clubby man, at least you seen it with a clubby front eh?

Burny, its called 16v because most people that do a 8v end up doing a second conversion