19 replies to this topic

[samanthamannell]

Hey all

 

I have a 1978 Austin Leyland 998cc Mini

 

What can I do to make it faster? What would you recommend? What are the cheapest options?

 

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

 

 

 

[Spider]

Hey all

 

I have a 1978 Austin Leyland 998cc Mini

 

What can I do to make it faster? What would you recommend? What are the cheapest options?

 

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

 

 

 

 

Put a 1275 in it.

[sledgehammer]

as above & make it lighter

 

what spec is it now ?

 

what carb , manifold etc

[MRA]

You turbocharge the 998, there are those that are getting 200bhp from turbocharged 998's but it won't be cheap, cheap is fitting an LCB and new exhaust system that flows better then standard and also a new inlet manifold and freer flowing air filter.

[KernowCooper]

As pointed out fast is expensive, how much have you in mind ? and whats the car going to be used for?

Edited by KernowCooper, 29 February 2016 - 11:53 PM.

[samanthamannell]

Okay can anyone recommend where to get a 1275 engine? Can't seem to find any for sale in NZ.

And are they a direct replacement?

 

Don't really have a budget in mind just wanting to compare the costs of different ideas as i'm selling my other car soon so will have some more spare cash.

 

Car will be my everyday but also used for road trips and car meet ups. (Don't want to be left behind)

 

 

Cheers

[Cooperman]

First of all sort out the suspension and braking system. Set the car to standard ride height, adjust all the suspension settings to give the very best road-holding combined with predictable handling. Make sure the brakes will not fade when the car is driven quickly and that the tyres are top quality. Fit adjustable dampers and set them to suit your type of road conditions. Fit top quality suspension bushes. Ensure the steering is in top condition including rack and track rod ends.

 

Once that is all done the car will be seriously quicker as it will not be necessary to slow down much at all for most corners. If you can brake later for a corner, go around the corner 10 mph faster and exit the corner 10 mph faster, thus being 10 mph faster all the way down the next straight bit, the car will be, by definition, faster.

 

Once the car is set up correctly, then you might look at some engine improvements to make the classic Mini, not quite so slow.

[timmy850]

1) Do a full service on the car and get it tuned up by a professional

2) Fit a "stage 1 kit" or similar, then do step 1

3) Get a performance modified head, camshaft, diff ratio to suit modifications

 

Or get a 1275 

[MRA]

First of all sort out the suspension and braking system. Set the car to standard ride height, adjust all the suspension settings to give the very best road-holding combined with predictable handling. Make sure the brakes will not fade when the car is driven quickly and that the tyres are top quality. Fit adjustable dampers and set them to suit your type of road conditions. Fit top quality suspension bushes. Ensure the steering is in top condition including rack and track rod ends.

 

Once that is all done the car will be seriously quicker as it will not be necessary to slow down much at all for most corners. If you can brake later for a corner, go around the corner 10 mph faster and exit the corner 10 mph faster, thus being 10 mph faster all the way down the next straight bit, the car will be, by definition, faster.

 

Once the car is set up correctly, then you might look at some engine improvements to make the classic Mini, not quite so slow.

 

Totally agree, after all you don't build an extension to your house without first uprating the foundations.

Edited by MRA, 01 March 2016 - 12:48 AM.

[inim_repooc]

Minis are not 'fast' cars and they never will be. (Road going anyway) in relation the other things in a similar class then they can be very nippy and you will probably be able to observe plenty of saxos in the rear view with a good 1275 and a suitable FDR. Keep in mind that speed is number and the feeling you get when thrashing a mini down a twisty lane is second to none! As cooperman says, sort the basics then look at a few modest engine upgrades to give it a bit more pep

[MRA]

Minis are not 'fast' cars and they never will be. (Road going anyway) in relation the other things in a similar class then they can be very nippy and you will probably be able to observe plenty of saxos in the rear view with a good 1275 and a suitable FDR. Keep in mind that speed is number and the feeling you get when thrashing a mini down a twisty lane is second to none! As cooperman says, sort the basics then look at a few modest engine upgrades to give it a bit more pep

 

Really ?  the amount of turbo and 16v Minis out there will beg to differ...

 

The fastest Mini round the nuremburg ring is still a classic Mini that had a top speed of almost 200mph.

 

And then there is this one ... https://www.facebook...xtyFour?fref=ts got to 168mph

 

Now my question is what do you call fast ???

[James_eaton_thewholething]

Sell it and buy something faster 🤔.

Just joking why don't you just tune the 998 one you already have it so don't need to out source anything and that's money you can save to change head, cam, carb, exhaust and inlet manifolds. Then get it setup properley. I would still do what cooperman suggested first. In my stage 1 998 I used to out run some quicker cars on back roads because of the handling and being able to brake later. Still do it now in my 205 gti as its a lot better since I upgraded brake pad material and stiffened the suspension slightly and it made a big difference to how the car handles.

[maccers]

If you want to get the sensation of speed, sort of as said above, why not consider keeping the mini and as standard, and buy a sensible 600cc motorbike, you can get some great bargains this time of year. I bought a ZZR1100 last year in 95% perfect condition for £650! Summer on the way etc so now a good time if you need to pass your test, ie not too cold. Just a thought.

 

I spent a small fortune getting my 1275 rebuilt to 1293 and supercharged (plus supporting brake/suspension/wheel/tyre mods) yes its certainly made the car faster, but had I realised how much it would cost I would have kept it standard 1275 twin carbs and put some of the money into restoring the engine as standard.

 

With summer and show season round the corner be quick what ever you do!!

[inim_repooc]

Minis are not 'fast' cars and they never will be. (Road going anyway) in relation the other things in a similar class then they can be very nippy and you will probably be able to observe plenty of saxos in the rear view with a good 1275 and a suitable FDR. Keep in mind that speed is number and the feeling you get when thrashing a mini down a twisty lane is second to none! As cooperman says, sort the basics then look at a few modest engine upgrades to give it a bit more pep

 
Really ?  the amount of turbo and 16v Minis out there will beg to differ...
 
The fastest Mini round the nuremburg ring is still a classic Mini that had a top speed of almost 200mph.
 
And then there is this one ... https://www.facebook...xtyFour?fref=ts got to 168mph
 
Now my question is what do you call fast ???

talking about daily driver stuff with the a series here.. Sure the turbos are quick but in comparison to really fast cars, not so much

Edited by inim_repooc, 01 March 2016 - 08:57 AM.

[MRA]

 

 

Minis are not 'fast' cars and they never will be. (Road going anyway) in relation the other things in a similar class then they can be very nippy and you will probably be able to observe plenty of saxos in the rear view with a good 1275 and a suitable FDR. Keep in mind that speed is number and the feeling you get when thrashing a mini down a twisty lane is second to none! As cooperman says, sort the basics then look at a few modest engine upgrades to give it a bit more pep

 
Really ?  the amount of turbo and 16v Minis out there will beg to differ...
 
The fastest Mini round the nuremburg ring is still a classic Mini that had a top speed of almost 200mph.
 
And then there is this one ... https://www.facebook...xtyFour?fref=ts got to 168mph
 
Now my question is what do you call fast ???

talking about daily driver stuff with the a series here.. Sure the turbos are quick but in comparison to really fast cars, not so much

 

What do you call a really fast car ?  sub 4 seconds to 60mph in a Mini isn't bad and that is a road going Mini especially if we are talking for road use they only need to get to 70 mph first and they are then the fastest .....  if you are comparing them to super cars some of them do 0 to 60 in 3 to seconds which isn't that much quicker, if you are talking top end at 200mph+ how many of these cars are there in the real world ?  most people seem to drive mondeo's, focus, astra, etc etc fastest is what 0 to 60 in 5 seconds ?  that means the Mini can be up there with the best, I understand that not everyone Mini will do this but there are quite a few that can and that are used daily.  Not to the same extent as the Mini was used in previous history, unfortunately they stopped making new ones :-(