43 replies to this topic

[jmmini]

These are all minis on engines haha not engines 'in' minis

[jt19]

would any of these v8 mini's handle good? or are they just for straight roads?

[Artful Dodger]

would any of these v8 mini's handle good? or are they just for straight roads?

 

no.

 

so much no. would be so so rubbish to drive anyone who says they handle well obviously doesnt know how to drive fast, the weight of the carwill be so wrong its funny and it will want to swap ends all the time

 

no thanks

[mab01uk]

When the alloy 3.5 Rover V8 engine (ex-Buick) was fitted to the production MGB GT V8 by British Leyland there was very little extra weight compared to the cast iron 'B' Series engine, so the weight difference to the cast iron 'A' Series may not be as great as you might expect. Important in the case of the MGB because the MGC fitted with the straight 6-cylinder 'C' Series engine had never been popular due to the heavy engine ruining the MGB's handling.

 

The Rover V8 was a popular engine upgrade by BL to older existing model ranges due to its light weight, eg. Rover P5, Rover 2000 to 3500 and was also later fitted to the TR7 as the TR8.

Unfortunately BL designed an unreliable Triumph V8 in-house for the Stag which made no sense at the time.......

[mab01uk]

 

yeah there are a few V8 minis. mostly 3.5 rover v8 units.
 
pretty pointless if you ask me..   stick a small capacity engine with a turbo on, much better and better power capabilitys really.

Plus with the wheelbase of a mini the v8 is wasted imo

 

 

V8 Mini's are more to do with the challenge of the project and engineering required than being a sensible idea for extra performance.......after all Mini's have always been about fun and not being ordinary or normal.

[Artful Dodger]

Yeah they are awsome in a big (comparing to a mini) RWD car. I'd love a sunbeam tiger. So so much.

But in a mini.. Bah silly. Small with a turbo please;)

[3ltrmini]

Im reading this thread with great interest ! my clubby has a V6 Cosworth and is rear wheel drive,its kerb weight is 875 kilos which is no more than a standard mini ! When corner weighted it was 510 both sides at the front and 500 both sides at the rear.( note unless you know how to corner weight a car these figures might confuse you )  that makes it a very well balenced car which goes where ever you point it,coupled to the fact its very stiff with no body twist at all its very driveable at all speeds.

[Artful Dodger]

Bloody hell that's good corner weights!!!

Is that with you sitting in it?


What horsepower does that have?

[3ltrmini]

No i wasnt sitting in it at the time,i was doing the corner weighting.hehe..

BHP is not that good really,the engine is bog standard apart from an Emerald ECU and 6x48mm throttle bodies and a full race stainless system, 195bhp at the back wheels when it was on the rolling road two months ago,but its enough as it has bucket loads of torque.you can be doing 20mph in 5th gear at 400rpm right up to ???mph at 6500rpm without having to change gear.it runs a 3 to 1 diff so is really high geared.

[Artful Dodger]

Oh right, probably best doing it with your weight in the seat, or else it's great when youre not in it but as soon as you sit in it, they all go wrong!!

Not bad, but for the effort of putting that engine in surley you can get more power from it?

Must be able to cope with more power, our rule of thumb at work is that if it wheelspins in a straight line in the dry in the morning, when the tracks slightly greasy, that's enough. With our rs500 that was 570:D ;)

[Chris Jones]

I'm guessing it's the lump from the Scorpio etc? Seen these put into Cortinas and such. ~200bhp sounds about right without a great deal of effort and money. Tuning big N/A engines is a slow process.

[Ivor Badger]

 

would any of these v8 mini's handle good? or are they just for straight roads?

 

no.

 

so much no. would be so so rubbish to drive anyone who says they handle well obviously doesnt know how to drive fast, the weight of the carwill be so wrong its funny and it will want to swap ends all the time

 

no thanks

 

 

which is why BVRT gave up on its V8 mini. It was no faster round Mallory than their normal racing1275 and Mallory would probably be its best track after Silverstone.

 

Modern tyres would probably help a bit, as the car was built before really suitable racing tyres were available.

 

The Rover V8 has got to weigh less than a B series, which was only out weighed in its class by a Hillman Hunter engine.

[jmmini]

The wheelbase is too short for any fast RWD imo, all the famous cornering ability will be rendered pointless with a heavy FE-RWD set-up unless you're talking big power then a small, blown engine up front is the I'd do things

[3ltrmini]

Yes the engine is from a Scorpio,the Scorpio was the only car that the V6 Cosworth was fitted to they never fitted it to any other Ford at all.

I could put 150 of Nos on it but whats the point ?? that would only be any good in a straight line and thats not what the car is about ! .

The car was built because i wanted a totally unique Mini that no'one else had got,and its only a TOY,its not a show car,its a toy to take out and have some fun with and not worry about scratching the paint. I have done 17000 miles in 4yrs and its all been a lot of fun.

Ref the handling,At Lydden race circuit which is the tightest track in the country for its size ( 1 mile ) it held off a full race MGF cup car on slicks for 15 laps,and mine on standard road tyres !!!  so it cant handle too bad

If you dont know how to drive a rear wheel drive car properly,( no offence to anyone ) no matter what make it will bite your arse and it will be facing the wrong way at some point,

BUT hey if i take it out and come home with a smile on my face in my opinion thats what its about. FUN   FUN   FUN.