23 replies to this topic

[Minigman]

Might as well chuck in my two penneth!

Over 30 years of mini ownership I have had all sorts of minis with all sorts of engines from 850 upto 1330 and I’ve messed with all sorts of cams and final drives over that time.

It depends on the engine size but I think anything higher than a 3.44 in a 998 kills its ‘performance’. And anything higher than 3.1 in a 1275. But I live out in the sticks in Devon and rarely see a motorway. Even if I do go motorwaying I’m happy sitting at 5000rpm. I actually ran a 4.1 in my 1330 and it went like stink and was still ok at 70mph.

My motto is Rev them that’s what they were designed for.

Edited by Minigman, 31 August 2018 - 07:28 PM.

[Cooperman]

The big question is 'Why did you buy a classic car'?

 

If you buy a classic expecting it to go like a modern car then you bought for the wrong reasons and will always be disappointed.

 

If you bought it to experience motoring as it was many years ago then you bought it for the right reasons. It comes with increased maintenance, less comfort, slower cruising and old fashioned road-holding. It brings pride and pleasure. It's not just about Minis, it's about all real classics including the contemporaries of the Mini - Ford 105E Anglia, Morris Minor, Triumph Herald, VW Beetle, Renault Dauphine (Ugh), Hillman Imp, Vauxhall Viva, etc., in fact all the small cars of the 1960's. They all have relatively low ratio FDR's. That's what it was like back then.

 

I bought a new Austin Cooper 998 in 1964. It was my only car and my fiancee had an 850 Mini Van, so when we married in 1965 we had two Minis. I used to cruise my 998 Cooper at 5000 rpm which was 75 mph. I drove thousands of miles each year. In 1966 I sold the Cooper and bought a Mk.1 Cortina GT which I cruised at 80 to 85 mph which was around 5000 rpm. That is what cars were like in those days and why driving them now is driving as it used to be. That is also why classic cars now are such fun. Not fast in the cruise, just FUN. Especially the classic Mini.

[happydude2012]

These cars are noisy enough without having the engine all wound out......however, horses for courses........here in the middle of the US where I live it's a long journey (600 miles one way to Denver, 500 miles to Dallas for example) to any of the shows or meets and our highway speed limit is 75 mph or higher, so having the reduced revs really quiets the car down and makes those long trips more palatable. If I'm just going to something less than 3 hours away the 3:44 is fine. For a big motor the taller ratios work fine, and I think the 3:1 is a perfect blend of good acceleration and quieter running with a well tuned 1275 or bigger. I haven't driven a 3:1 in a 998 but I expect once you get into hilly country you'd be spending a lot of time in 3rd.

ha ha dude, youre sense of scale in the USA is so much vaster than on our little island ha ha. -  sometimes i cant believe how big the US is.

if you drove 600 miles in the UK you would fall off into the sea 

[timmy850]

We have long distances and 110kph is the highest speed you can go on the freeways (and all local highways are 100). With a 3.44 that's just over 4100rpm, which is right in the meat of the engine power/torque. I did 800km two weekends ago, sitting above 4000rpm for hours is not a problem

 

My 998 has the standard 3.76 and it suits it perfectly. Yes the RPM is higher on the highway, but again it's in the most powerful band the engine has and it'll power up hills fine. 

[Magneto]

I bought my previous Mini on the east coast of the US and drove it home to KC - 1100 miles one way. At 4K rpm it was a long drive at 60 mph.......I changed the final drive to a tall 2:76, I also bored the engine out .060, did the head and added a nice cam.  the 2:76 was great for long drives - at 75mph I was turning about 3400 rpm and it pulled hills effortlessly and gave 37 mpg (remember our gallons are smaller than yours) But for town driving it was a little too tall, so the next time I did a 3:1 and I think it was a good compromise. 

 

I see Cooperman's points but I don't think high revs are a requirement for enjoying a classic car on modern roads and in modern conditions.

[RooBoonix]

I have a 3.1 in my SPi and I find it fine, with a few more engine tweaks it'll have enough acceleration to make me happy and it cruises nicely on the motorway.

[imack]

It's all a compromise, gain in one area and loose in another. Got to decide what best suits your engine specs, gear box ratios and general driving requirements.

[Ethel]

We have long distances and 110kph is the highest speed you can go on the freeways (and all local highways are 100). With a 3.44 that's just over 4100rpm, which is right in the meat of the engine power/torque. I did 800km two weekends ago, sitting above 4000rpm for hours is not a problem

 

My 998 has the standard 3.76 and it suits it perfectly. Yes the RPM is higher on the highway, but again it's in the most powerful band the engine has and it'll power up hills fine. 

This a good point, it's also stressful wondering if you can make it up a hill or overtake without having to change down and it'll mess with the economy you might have been chasing with the tall gear.

[germini30]

I just put my 998 with 3.1 back in the car. Much nicer than the 3.44