Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 11 September 2019 - 05:09 AM
Can any one tell me how sport pack arches are attached to the wing and can standard arches cover any holes if sport packs are removed?
Super Mini Mad
Posted 11 September 2019 - 06:32 AM
Bit late to the party on this one, but as I had two MPI's (one with, one without sportpack) I thought I'd comment.
My first one was a 97 MPI standard Cooper on 12" wheels. I had it a year and then was lured by a deal to swap it for a the 98 Sport LE (Brooklands Green with the wide tramlines). I loved the LE and though I think the characteristics of the handling were worse with the Sportpack, I did like the more planted feel and they looked great at the time. They drove like completely different cars. Issues I found were that it could be a bit skittish in the wet when driving enthusiastically - as Cooperman says, probably a case of not enough weight over each 'wide' tyre. By comparison I could drive the 12" wheeled car much more aggressively in the wet with almost as much confidence as in the dry. The performance of the LE with the bigger wheels also suffered, especially with the long legged final drive. So although I loved the LE, I must say the standard cooper drove better.
If you're going to have a Sportpack, I think they need the usual performance upgrades (head work mainly, and a road friendly cam) to get the torque and power up a bit within the limitations of the ECU, and also fit a different final drive. Some of the later 'S' type cars with claimed bhp circa 85 were much nicer to drive, and had enough torque to move those heavy wheels and tyres! I never did drive one with any more power than that.
I think the Sportpack looked good in its day, and I wouldn't mess about changing a nice original one back to 10" or 12" wheels, but if I was starting from scratch (as I am) then it would be 10's or 12's with narrow section all the way.
So now over 20 years later I have another MPI but will be going archless with 10" wheels, plus the same sort of performance mods mentioned above.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 September 2019 - 02:15 PM
The reason why I ask is, I would love an MPI but with out sport pack and being as that most of them have the sport pack, it might be easier to by one and 'un-sprotpack' it, but wondered if the standard arches would cover the sport pack arch holes
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 11 September 2019 - 02:27 PM
The reason why I ask is, I would love an MPI but with out sport pack and being as that most of them have the sport pack, it might be easier to by one and 'un-sprotpack' it, but wondered if the standard arches would cover the sport pack arch holes
No they won't.
Speeding Along Now
Posted 11 September 2019 - 06:41 PM
why on earth did rover bother to do the sport pack? To appeal to a certain type?
Edited by roblightbody, 11 September 2019 - 06:41 PM.
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 14 September 2019 - 07:59 AM
I know it's a personal opinion, but I always think the cleanest and crispest Minis are the early cars with no 'embellishments'.
Once they started adding things like arch extensions and very wide large wheels the original superb clean design disapperared.
I saw a Sportspack on the road recently and it looked like a 'bitza' with the very wide arch extensions, etc, plus the big wing/door mirrors.
Look at the original 850 and see how smart and 'unfussy' it looks. It is functional and neat.
The only poor point with the early cars was the lack of interior trim. This did improve over the years, but the early cars did not even have a coolant temperature gauge, just a speedo and fuel gauge.
Im divided in my opinions here.
I also love the purity of a Mk1 on 10's as Issigonis intended (thats what I have now) but we also had a Sportspack MPI from new in 1998, sadly long gone. I thought that these last edition minis were great looking and updated the look and kept the old girl alive for its last few years. The steering was stupidly heavy at parking speeds and ours couldd do in a set of front tyres in 5000 miles. I like Rover's 13" minilight styled wheel and really dislike the 13" superlight style wheel that so many sportspack owners seem to change to.
Id happily have another sportspack cooper if the right one came along, a Tahiti blue one like our old one would be a nice stable mate for our Mk1.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 14 September 2019 - 10:23 AM
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 14 September 2019 - 11:00 PM
CityEPete
You so nearly got my full set:
My '63 Mk1 is Surf blue,
I had:
'78 Clubman estate in Russet brown
'87 City E in Targa red
'98 Sportspack in Tahiti blue
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 15 September 2019 - 09:21 AM
why on earth did rover bother to do the sport pack? To appeal to a certain type?
For the same reason modern cars have stupidly huge wheels - looks. For many, many cars, fitting smaller more suitable wheels improves ride, handling and performance.
The MPi was not really part of Rover's original plan as they had already decided in advance to end Mini production for good by 1996 due to falling Mini sales and strict new EU emission and safety legislation coming into force. Rover could not afford to upgrade the classic Mini or design and build a new replacement. When BMW took over in 1994 they could not believe Rover marketing were willing to kill off the iconic Mini as a car and brand known all over the world. BMW immediately funded the MPi upgrade to ensure the classic Mini could stay in production until at least 2000........by which time the R50 MINI mostly developed by Rover engineers at Longbridge and Gaydon could be launched also with BMW's backing. The R50 MINI launch was delayed until 2001 due to the sudden move of the new R50 Longbridge production lines to Cowley, Oxford but stocks of unsold classic MPi Minis were still available for sale until 2001.
The MPi style was a trend to 13" wheels and low profile tyres at the time.......still a very popular option on modern cars despite the drawbacks !
I have an R50 MINI which came with 15" wheels and was much nicer to drive on them than now on the 17" wheels with wide low profile tyres I later fitted.......
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 15 September 2019 - 11:51 AM
Up Into Fourth
Posted 15 September 2019 - 07:10 PM
CityEPete
You so nearly got my full set:
My '63 Mk1 is Surf blue,
I had:
'78 Clubman estate in Russet brown
'87 City E in Targa red
'98 Sportspack in Tahiti blue
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 17 September 2019 - 06:49 AM
Certainly know I wouldn’t enjoy my work commute in a mk1 as much aha.
Every day commute, you are probably right.
Occasional nice weather day in a Mk1? Absolute bliss!
Took mine into work on a super hot sunny Sunday last month. B roads at 7am deserted. Coming home after 4pm, still hot, all windows open, big smile on my face. The best commute to work and back all year! 
Mini Mad
Posted 11 January 2025 - 08:03 AM
My 97 MPI Sportspack came with 13x7's when I bought it and I drive it every day and she doesn't have an easy life, I've just replaced another set of ball joints and wheel bearings within a year!
HOWEVER!!! ... I swapped to 10x6 Minilites a couple of weekends ago and I have to say they have COMPLETELY transformed near enough every driving characteristic of the car! It picks up better, handles better, revs better, corners better, it just does everything BETTER! I am amazed at how much of a difference they made. Plus, interesting side note, Yoko A032's aren't a bad winter tyre!? Go figure!?
Having only ever driven Mini's on 13's ( Not out of choice they've always been on the car when I've bought them ) I will never change back!
I was worried about them no filling the arches because I didn't want to get rid of my Sportpacks but they fit perfectly! No spacers or anything! Super happy!
Sorry! Completely unrelated to 12's I know but just a suggestion if you're changing wheels.
Edited by Blumeanie, 11 January 2025 - 08:08 AM.
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 11 January 2025 - 01:58 PM
I loved the timeless look of the archess mini...
But also loved the sportspack from the first one I saw!
The wide stance gives the mini quite a burly look.
I am a big fan of the Rover sportpack wheels - (I do wish they were lighter!)and I tend to dislike all other13" wheels.
I have plans to add smaller brakes and a set of 10" wheels. I love that look too - but I need insight into what brakes and bits are needed to allow for 10" wheels.
10" wheels make a mini. I like the look with a wider stance and thos small + curved arches.
As far as looks, I believe the 12" wheelsare by far, the least attractive. Minis on 12"s look like a regular car...
BRAKE CONVERSION KIT 8.4" TO 7.5" BRAKES
"This kit will convert your 8.4" disc set up to the original Cooper S 7.5" discs to allow fitment of 10" wheels, kit includes discs, calipers, pads with split pins and drive flanges with new screws."
https://www.minispar...4-to-7-5-brakes
Minispares also do other cheaper and more expensive conversion kits for 8.4" to 7.5" disc brakes, depending what type of calipers, etc you prefer:-
https://www.minispar...brakes/15/1508/
If you have 'Sportpack' arches the front wings wheel arch profile is factory cut to clear the 13" wheels on full steering lock and the large arch stud fixing holes mean the smaller arches (or archless) used with most 10" wheels will require paint and bodywork mods.
Edited by mab01uk, 11 January 2025 - 02:12 PM.
Mini Mad
Posted 11 January 2025 - 07:53 PM
I loved the timeless look of the archess mini...
But also loved the sportspack from the first one I saw!
The wide stance gives the mini quite a burly look.
I am a big fan of the Rover sportpack wheels - (I do wish they were lighter!)and I tend to dislike all other13" wheels.
I have plans to add smaller brakes and a set of 10" wheels. I love that look too - but I need insight into what brakes and bits are needed to allow for 10" wheels.
10" wheels make a mini. I like the look with a wider stance and thos small + curved arches.
As far as looks, I believe the 12" wheelsare by far, the least attractive. Minis on 12"s look like a regular car...
BRAKE CONVERSION KIT 8.4" TO 7.5" BRAKES
"This kit will convert your 8.4" disc set up to the original Cooper S 7.5" discs to allow fitment of 10" wheels, kit includes discs, calipers, pads with split pins and drive flanges with new screws."
https://www.minispar...4-to-7-5-brakes
Minispares also do other cheaper and more expensive conversion kits for 8.4" to 7.5" disc brakes, depending what type of calipers, etc you prefer:-
https://www.minispar...brakes/15/1508/
If you have 'Sportpack' arches the front wings wheel arch profile is factory cut to clear the 13" wheels on full steering lock and the large arch stud fixing holes mean the smaller arches (or archless) used with most 10" wheels will require paint and bodywork mods.
Oooh. Thank you for that!
I had thought of such a conversion - but with some solid leads such as these, I may start spending money sooner than I thought!
I'll have to look for some pictures of sportpack minis converted to 10" wheels. I do not want to modify permanently. I want to maintain originality for the most part. Ideally, I would be able to go from 10" to 13" and back...
I believe the overall diameter is very similar for both cases - so it should look good. BUt I would need to find out details about wheel width and offsets.
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