31 replies to this topic

[roofless]

 

 

Mini Spares were talking about a new 1275 A-series block. However, although I've not costed it out myself, at a guess I reckon a new 1275 block would cost at least £5000 each in view of the limited market for them.
Let's discourage people from going bigger than 1330 cc in future.

In the last special tuning catalogues that were published in the late '90s they listed bare blocks for 998s at around £1000.00. These were leftover stock from when 998 production ended in '92 and had been made while production was in full flow, so I think even £5000.00 may be on the low side of the price range.

 

Watch this space.......

 

this isnt going to be another re-make by cheaper oriental manufacturers is it ?

[Captain Mainwaring]

Mini Spares were talking about a new 1275 A-series block. However, although I've not costed it out myself, at a guess I reckon a new 1275 block would cost at least £5000 each in view of the limited market for them.

Let's discourage people from going bigger than 1330 cc in future.

 

 

Nothing like so expensive.

 

Or...... to be more precise...if they are, and they are being made out east, then someone will have the cream off the gold top.

 

Casting a block ain't as easy as it looks....lets see if they can do it...my guess is that there will be some tears if they do.

Edited by Captain Mainwaring, 13 June 2014 - 02:17 AM.

[Captain Mainwaring]

 

 

 

Mini Spares were talking about a new 1275 A-series block. However, although I've not costed it out myself, at a guess I reckon a new 1275 block would cost at least £5000 each in view of the limited market for them.
Let's discourage people from going bigger than 1330 cc in future.

In the last special tuning catalogues that were published in the late '90s they listed bare blocks for 998s at around £1000.00. These were leftover stock from when 998 production ended in '92 and had been made while production was in full flow, so I think even £5000.00 may be on the low side of the price range.

 

Watch this space.......

 

this isnt going to be another re-make by cheaper oriental manufacturers is it ?

 

 

 

You might get an extra cylinder slung in free if it is.

 

Where I live now is a hard environment for cars - but the only ones you see smoking come from....guess where?

No wonder no one buys them.

[[email protected]]

Mini Spares were talking about a new 1275 A-series block. However, although I've not costed it out myself, at a guess I reckon a new 1275 block would cost at least £5000 each in view of the limited market for them.
Let's discourage people from going bigger than 1330 cc in future.

In the last special tuning catalogues that were published in the late '90s they listed bare blocks for 998s at around £1000.00. These were leftover stock from when 998 production ended in '92 and had been made while production was in full flow, so I think even £5000.00 may be on the low side of the price range.

Watch this space.......

this isnt going to be another re-make by cheaper oriental manufacturers is it ?

Like our 8 ports, it will all be done in the UK.

[dennismini93]

Once you get the basic block Simon I guess there's possibility to develope the engine as well? Look forward to seeing the results :)

[Cooperman]

Before you all get excited remember that the cost of the tooling and development will have to spread over a relatively small number in modern production engineering terms.

1275 blocks are still fairly plentiful, despite many being potentially ruined by large over-bores.

You can get a good 1275 block for under £250, often less.

Imagine being asked to pay, lets take a 'ball-park figure', over £5000 for a block, plus the cost of a new crank and rods and see how many on here will write out a cheque.

The people who might pay big money for an A-Series block will want a thick-flange Cooper 'S' block plus a billet-crank and 'S' rods. If you need a new engine for a potential £30,000 Cooper 'S' then new engine cost might be within scope, but for a road-going Mini it will probably not be viable.

Just my thoughts.

[69k1100]

What happened to the Chinese company remaking the Moke? What were they planning on using?

Why would tooling be expensive? What was so specialised about the a-series blocks anyway? Companies can and do mill entire blocks from aluminium blanks (aluminium transfers heat better anyway)

But if you go to all that trouble what does a re-manufactured block bring to the table anyway? Nostalgia and a 100hp reliability ceiling?

You make a better block but stick it on top of the same laboured gearbox? Or get 5 good gears ad turbo from a 4EFTE conversion, or six speed sequential from a bike engine, or VTEC yo!

The blocks aren't going to be the problem with the a-series, or heads. It will be the ancient gearbox/sump arrangement. Not because it's particularly bad but because it's not particularly brilliant.

[Cooperman]

What happened to the Chinese company remaking the Moke? What were they planning on using?

Why would tooling be expensive? What was so specialised about the a-series blocks anyway? Companies can and do mill entire blocks from aluminium blanks (aluminium transfers heat better anyway)

But if you go to all that trouble what does a re-manufactured block bring to the table anyway? Nostalgia and a 100hp reliability ceiling?

You make a better block but stick it on top of the same laboured gearbox? Or get 5 good gears ad turbo from a 4EFTE conversion, or six speed sequential from a bike engine, or VTEC yo!

The blocks aren't going to be the problem with the a-series, or heads. It will be the ancient gearbox/sump arrangement. Not because it's particularly bad but because it's not particularly brilliant.

The need for new blocks to the original specification will be to enable the classic Mini to continue to be kept on the road and used in classic motor-sport..

There is little point in fitting a different type of engine when building, restoring and owning a true and original classic. That is what classic cars are about.

In 1959 the engine and gearbox-in-sump arrangement was simply brilliant. As was turning the A-series engine through 90 degrees.

Nostalgia, retro driving and the joy of owning what was and is a true British design classic is what it is about for most owners. period modifications are also great and the continued success of our little cars in historic motor-sport is fantastic.

Non A-series engine Minis are not really classic Minis at all. In American terminology they are 'hot-rods'. If I wanted more performance I would buy a modern car. You can buy a good Subaru WRX for the price of a rust-free 100+ bhp Mini with a non Mini engine & I know which will be better on the road.

[Ethel]

As far as I know those Chinese Mokes are still in production, just not sold where more stringent regulations that make an issue of all those sharp corners. If you find the manufacturer's site they are offered with other powerplants, including a 3 cylinder & a leccy motor. 

 

I'm sort of with Cooperman, but if there's a market for fancy cranks & heads that cost thousands, a block that offers advantages over the original could find a big enough market.

 

New, "S" blocks could open a can of worms 

[phil hill]

Double post, damn it !!

 

Phil.

Edited by phil hill, 13 June 2014 - 01:59 PM.

[phil hill]

 

 

New, "S" blocks could open a can of worms 

 

Not necessarily.  It would have to be a true re-creation of the original item to pass as "genuine", and may take some of the heat out of the existing old "S" engine block market, or not depending on the cost as Cooperman and others have said.  You can of course re-liner an old block now if you so wish.

 

At least if you *really* wanted to build the next best thing to an original S engine you could without having to worry about 40+ year old block.  I guess this is where Swiftune have gone with their re-cast 12G940's for their fabulous Historic racers.

 

It's abit like the "new" heritage shells, yes they are expensive and yes they are far from perfect (from experience of an MGB Roadster shell) but they help keep our cars and our passion alive.  

 

Phil.

 

[mab01uk]

The Swiftune crankshafts are works of art but quality and low volumes costs !

 

http://www.swiftune....crankshaft.aspx

 

 

 

http://www.swiftune....piston-set.aspx

Edited by mab01uk, 13 June 2014 - 10:48 PM.

[roofless]

 

 

 

 

Mini Spares were talking about a new 1275 A-series block. However, although I've not costed it out myself, at a guess I reckon a new 1275 block would cost at least £5000 each in view of the limited market for them.
Let's discourage people from going bigger than 1330 cc in future.

In the last special tuning catalogues that were published in the late '90s they listed bare blocks for 998s at around £1000.00. These were leftover stock from when 998 production ended in '92 and had been made while production was in full flow, so I think even £5000.00 may be on the low side of the price range.

 

Watch this space.......

 

this isnt going to be another re-make by cheaper oriental manufacturers is it ?

 

Like our 8 ports, it will all be done in the UK.

 

in Coventry then ;)

[Jon937]

If swiftune could make a aluminium a series block it would be amazing

[Cooperman]

But who would buy it.

It would not add value to a classic car as it would not be an original engine.

It would not be allowed for historic motorsport.

it would be very, very expensive.