40 replies to this topic

[thelegg]

Make sure you check your windscreen still fits lol especially if that's not a heritage scuttle

[callumensor]

Make sure you check your windscreen still fits lol especially if that's not a heritage scuttle

I got a heritage panel! Originally I got two end pieces but they were crap so got the full piece and welded it back exactly where it came off ☺️

[callumensor]

All welded in and the plug welds ground down flush :)

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[callumensor]

Frame for the Abarth engine is now done, massive thanks to Ryan @ RCL Frames! Can’t wait to get the body work / paint sorted and get the engine into the frame.

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[callumensor]

Had the frame powder coated black, just ordered a few bits for the suspension to get it built up and sent the top arms and adjustable hi-lo springs off to be powder coated.
Once I get the frame built up the engines getting some attention then going into the frame.

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[DeadSquare]

I don't intend to be unkind, but 100-120 BHP in a Mini is all you need.  Anything more in a road car spoils that magical Mini drive, 

If you want to open the bonnet at the pub and show off your shoehorning, go for it, but if you want be propelled by an Abarth engine, why don't you drive an Abarth ?

[SomethingNew71]

I don't intend to be unkind, but 100-120 BHP in a Mini is all you need.  Anything more in a road car spoils that magical Mini drive, 

If you want to open the bonnet at the pub and show off your shoehorning, go for it, but if you want be propelled by an Abarth engine, why don't you drive an Abarth ?

People don't engine swap cars because its what "you need" haha. Engine swaps are fun, engineering and mechanical challenges and people who do these types of things do it for the experience as much as it is for the finished product. Also as someone who owns a 220hp turbo A-Series I can assure you the extra power in a road car certainly does NOT spoil it. Let people have fun on their projects man

[surfblue]

Normally not a fan of non A series Minis but I do love the Abarth. Interesting project.

[stuart bowes]

I'm all for mad engineering projects 'just because you can' so I say go for it and watching with interest

But there still is a point to be made in there where you're talking about a turbo A series, you don't alter the weight over the front axle or change any of the geometry, etc hence the handling isn't affected

I think there is a difference between that and putting a much bigger heavier lump in the front which definitely will make some noticeable differences to the handling and so on

Again though not against the idea at all

Edited by stuart bowes, 25 September 2024 - 12:17 AM.

[callumensor]

I don't intend to be unkind, but 100-120 BHP in a Mini is all you need.  Anything more in a road car spoils that magical Mini drive, 

If you want to open the bonnet at the pub and show off your shoehorning, go for it, but if you want be propelled by an Abarth engine, why don't you drive an Abarth ?

Same could be said for all the people that do Honda, Vauxhall and whatever other conversions there are out there no?

I've done this because the abarth engines are relatively small (similar size to a Rover K series and have a decent HP output.

I came from having a fully forged F56 Gen 3 (BMW) Mini with approx 400hp so you can imagine what the difference is like. 

As SomethingNew71 mentions, its an engineering challenge and im all for it since everything is bespoke and a one off. 

As stuart mentions theres going to be changes to the handling but then im all for trying to come up with a geometry setup which will complement what im doing. 

Its a fun project and one that hasnt been done before (completed).

[callumensor]

Bought new stoppers from one of my good friends who is sponsored by Tarox on the Time Attack Series so got a good deal on these beauts!
Overkill… maybe but why not

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Edited by callumensor, 30 September 2024 - 08:58 PM.