68 replies to this topic

[Minilover1.3]

I am fitting this kit to my spi mini next week. She will be a fully tuned 1380 engine with not 1 piece of the engine standard. I've stayed wit the 45mm throttle body over the 50mm as I've been told il get more power from it.

Will keep u updated very soon over the progress.

I do also need to buy a Mpi fuel pump as the spi can't give enough pressure. But this is the only extra thing I need to do

[chris211083]

Ok as a wee update to this thread, the EFI system is still going great but i have noticed on very hard braking on a full tank the engine stumbles as if there is a vacuum in the tank. I will be removing the anti roll over valve to see if this fixes the problem As for the engine rebuild its now being sent to MiniSpeed. Ive decided to supercharge the wifes car. We are getting the engine rebuilt as said before but it will have some other bits suggested by Mini speed. The comp ratio will be reduced and a 295 head ported with bigger valves fitted. The 5port EFI system will be fitted to the inlet of the supercharger on a custom inlet manifold. This will insure we get the best power and driveability we can. Minispeed say 90bhp is expected from the +60 998. Currently the recon gearbox is on its wayt o Minispeed and the engine and bits will follow next week. The hole lot should be paid for by March and i hope to have it fitted by April the latest.Fingers crossed all goes to plan and we will have a very interesting car. Will let you know more once it happens.

Chris.

[chris211083]

There has been another change to the plans, she who must be obeyed (and the owner of the car) was worried the car would go too fast and get too little mpg with the Supercharger. So we are now going to get the engine rebuilt to fast road spec with the 295 head a nice cam and a few other go faster goodies. I'm a bit gutted but it is her car.

Chris.

[Gr4h4m]

Swmbo is correct about the mpg... Mine is just slightly better than a V8! I would guess with a good mapping session you should see reasonable mpg as you lean it out a bit at cruse, providing the kit can transition quick enough to what.

On a carb you will see about 25 mpg on the motorway. My car is better on the lanes on a long journey. Carb'd cars will be run rich on an sc setup to help with cooling and det.

Edited by Gr4h4m, 11 February 2013 - 06:48 AM.

[chris211083]

Thats what she was afraid of, bad mpg for a small car. Will be interesting to see what its like with the new engine.

Chris.

[Allrounder]

I've had the system on my 1310 now for a while. Best thing I've upgraded to. Only tested the mpg once, and that was fully loaded to an event (4 sets of tyres, spares and two up) and gave 44 mpg. Then on the event (1st&2nd gear stuff) it was around 18 mpg.

[t@z]

what about keeping the engine standard ish, lowing the compression and having a low boost turbo motor. I think that will return great mpg; well better than a fast road engine anyway and will easily make 100+ and some torque

Edited by t@z, 11 February 2013 - 02:15 PM.

[chris211083]

She has made her choice and I'm sure she will be happy with it. It's fun to drive as it is but will be good to see what it goes like with the new engine in. I suppose it's less work for me now and less cash too. Problem is when you have 100bhp you need to be able to stop and also go round corners quicker. This always costs more cash than you think and the car is a daily driver. She doesn't even use what its got so maybe it's for the best. Will let you know more when it happens.

Chris.

[james962]

Chris, when you fitted the trigger wheel and VR sensor bracket, how close what the bracket to the fan belt? I read reports about it being very close and possibly need modifying? This was back in 2010, so may have been changed since, just wondering. Thanks.

[t@z]

She has made her choice and I'm sure she will be happy with it. It's fun to drive as it is but will be good to see what it goes like with the new engine in. I suppose it's less work for me now and less cash too. Problem is when you have 100bhp you need to be able to stop and also go round corners quicker. This always costs more cash than you think and the car is a daily driver. She doesn't even use what its got so maybe it's for the best. Will let you know more when it happens.

Chris.

I like to go with the philosophy of an engine will only last as long as the care it receives. It really is a simple process and cause the engine is standard really what can go wrong other than if your engine is in bad condition anyway. All your doing is giving it a little tickle in the right places to help her say overtake on a motorway etc. Assuming you dont have 10"'s (mine has 7.5 cooper-s) std 8.4 brakes will more than be a match for stopping, my car has high lows and that's about it on suspension and drives fine and like you say she isnt going to be "racing it around"

Have a read, i dunno what your planning on doing anyway to your existing engine but you may find getting the turbo parts may also be cheaper
http://www.turbo-mini.com/62147.html

Sorry to go on but i hate it when people say turbos are unreliable etc; they really arent. Power to reliability a turbo is much better than a fast road N/A as the engine is basically standard (maybe the chambers opened a little for compression). And if your that worried on power you could just get a tiny T2 run 3 psi and it would be a blinder of a car and reliable and i think sub 100 ;)

Good luck with the build anyway, and i hope she is happy once done :)

Edited by t@z, 13 February 2013 - 11:13 AM.

[chris211083]

Chris, when you fitted the trigger wheel and VR sensor bracket, how close what the bracket to the fan belt? I read reports about it being very close and possibly need modifying? This was back in 2010, so may have been changed since, just wondering. Thanks.

No mods needed for the trigger wheel or vr mounting. The only thing you might want to do is grind down the lip on the engine mounting bracket to make fitting a new fan belt easier.

Chris.

[chris211083]

Engine, gearbox and all bits are at Minispeed for assembly. Work should be completed by end of the week/beginning of next week. Comp ratio will be 10.7 on +60 998 pistons. Parts are all lightened and balanced and I've also asked for Minispeed to convert the standard v belt and pulleys to serpentine type just like in the supercharger kit and on modern cars. Really looking forward to getting it fitted and running it in. Will have photo's of engine build and will post them once they arrive.

Chris.

Edited by chris211083, 06 March 2013 - 12:02 AM.

[chris211083]

Got a call from MiniSpeed today, Our enigne is ready and shall be sent on Monday for a Tuesday/Wednesday delivery. Unfortunately it would be installed till next month as funds are low. However I will put up some pic's that MiniSpeed took of the build. More once it happens.

Chris.

[Scott@minispeed]

Got a call from MiniSpeed today, Our engine is ready and shall be sent on Monday for a Tuesday/Wednesday delivery. Unfortunately it would be installed till next month as funds are low. However I will put up some pic's that MiniSpeed took of the build. More once it happens.

Chris.

Hi Chris,

The photo album is live on our Minispeed facebook page and you can see it here http://www.facebook....573794489310839

Enjoy, cheers

Scott

[chris211083]

Nice work guy's can't wait to run it in and see what she's kicking out.

Thanks again,

Chris.