23 replies to this topic

[ANDY J]

I WANT TO PUT A R 1 ENGINE IT THE FRONT OF MY MINI CONVERTABLE BUT HAVE IT REAR WHEEL DRIVR
IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT HAS KNOWN OF THIS DONE AND HAS ANYONE GOT ANY IDEAS
YES I KNOW YOU CAN GET THE KIT FROM Z CARS BUT THATS THE BORING WAY TO GO
ANYWAY I GOT 2 LITTLE BOYS THAT LIKE GOING TO THE SHOWS WITH DADDY AND SEE ALL THE GOOD MINIS OUT THERE AND IM NOT GOING TO DISAPOINT THEM SO I WILL DO IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER
PLEASE SOMEONE HELP

[miniboo]

Smudger is doing a front engine fronty wheel drive.

i dunno if you would be able to use an r1 engine for rear wheel drive though. Might need to use an engine that is prop driven.

[dan__wright]

could be done, if you mount the engine transverse and connect it to a propshaft, the a diff at the back to drive the wheels, as a bike only has one output that should make things easier but not 100% on how you would couple the box to the prop

[Steamo]

I know of a buggy racing place that uses bike engines transversly mounted with the drive flange from the sprocket mated directly to the flange on a cossie rear diff (umm flange to flange! - gotta get in there before jammy )

The buggies use a mid mounted confiuration but I don't see why you couldn't put a prop in between the flanges and run the engine in the front. Only thing that might be a worry is the gear ratios - but I'm sure it'd be possible to get the diff altered.

Worth a thought and I thoughly recommend trying the buggy racing if you're anywhere near notts/mansfield area!! Makes a brilliant alternative to karting.

[Wil_h]

Just look at all the westfield/cateram/locusts etc. that have rear drive with a bike power plant. that's where you want to start looking.

[minipip]

Just look at all the westfield/cateram/locusts etc. that have rear drive with a bike power plant. that's where you want to start looking.

dont forget under their bonnet is big enuf to lie in. take it ur up for a little extencion on the front?

[pikey7]

true, but the powerplant isn't exactly huge......

[The Matt]

yep, as said above I'd look at kit car mags.

I wonder if they use something like an Atlas gearbox, or if they retain the motorbike one. I guess they retain the motorbike 'box and just have a chain driven propshaft, with a traditional differential at the rear????

I know a guy who has a fireblade powered one (well, a guy I know, knows the guy with one). I wonder if I could try and have a look at it?

[ANDY J]

could be done, if you mount the engine transverse and connect it to a propshaft, the a diff at the back to drive the wheels, as a bike only has one output that should make things easier but not 100% on how you would couple the box to the prop

yes your on the right track, thats what i got in mind but the only thing is trying to find the conversion sprocket to go from the bike engine to the prop, ive got a prop lined up thats only 1 & a half inches in diam 2 piece got to get the diff and the set on fitting it all might even have a go about a turbo R 1
THANKS FOR THE REPLY

yep, as said above I'd look at kit car mags.

I wonder if they use something like an Atlas gearbox, or if they retain the motorbike one. I guess they retain the motorbike 'box and just have a chain driven propshaft, with a traditional differential at the rear????

I know a guy who has a fireblade powered one (well, a guy I know, knows the guy with one). I wonder if I could try and have a look at it?

yes i know they use the bike engine gearbox and there's an a adapter that they use but still trying to find 1

[The Matt]

You could always get something CNC machined to suit the sprocket? I'll try and have a look at that blade powered one soon!

[Leonard]

theres a front engined r1 mini on the ultimate mini madness dvd. i cant remember if its front or rear wheel drive though

[ANDY J]

You could always get something CNC machined to suit the sprocket? I'll try and have a look at that blade powered one soon!

cheers mate i was told that there is someone on eBay that does them but still looking i'm trying to get everything together while I'm rebuilding the misses mini . then mine will be full steam ahead get it done as soon as poss but without cutting any corners i got to make the wheel base wider aswell so i can fit some BIG wheels thanks again

[R1minimagic]

I dont think there would be much point having front engine RWD, the back wheels would be spinning all the time due to the lack of weight over them. My rear wheels will spin quite easily if i want them to and that is with a lot more weight on them.....

The yellow one on the dvd is front wheel drive which is much better way to go if you want the engine in the front.

[Alburglar]

The fisher fury is bike up front to rwd, but I think they use a sierra type 9 gearbox to do it, as does allspeeds xe conversion to rwd. However this box is mahoosive and would require alot of bulkhead and floor mods to get it in.

I'm guessing the point of front mounted and rwd is because you want to retain the rear seats?

[ANDY J]

I dont think there would be much point having front engine RWD, the back wheels would be spinning all the time due to the lack of weight over them. My rear wheels will spin quite easily if i want them to and that is with a lot more weight on them.....

The yellow one on the dvd is front wheel drive which is much better way to go if you want the engine in the front.

i didn't want front wheel drive i like the idea of rear drive because its different if the engine is in the front and i don't think its been done in a mini i hope
you've got a point but Ive thought of that the fuel tank is going in the back along with the battery ill be fitting much bigger wheels and wider 1s and ill be keeping the rear seats so ill not be losing that much plus I'm having a carbon front with the alloy doors and poly glass so if everything goes to plan it should balance it self out as it should be really light