536 replies to this topic

[Cisco]

Extremely nice project right there!

Its got the engine, its got the looks, and most importantly, the wheels!

Well done on creating such a beast. Thumbs up from me!

[The Matt]

Looking good Tom! I wish I was going to the Riv Run, I wouldn't mind seeing this one close up!

[TimS]

What did you end up doing with the speedo sensor on the rear drum? I see you have gone and change the cam cover too! Looks much better. Is it an E16SE one? How are you going to im guessing its still insured even though you've not been driving it?


Tim

[Purple Tom]

Thanks everyone! Not sure how many Mini's on 10's with hybrid conversions there are, I know of at least 3, but there's not many.

Tim its still insured and has been since August 06, its earning me no claims on a second policy so for £300-odd a year I keep it running. Then if I want to use it all I need to do is tax it.

The cam cover is off the later 8V's, engine numbers like Z16SH or something like that. All the SPi in the later MK3's had them and all the Mk4's as well. Looks much better like you say!

With the speedo I mounted the magnets onto the rear hub then drilled the backplate and mounted the sensor onto the backplate so it was level with the magnets. Exactly how you would with a bike computer. Took about half an hour and is a much better solution than having the sensor on a bracket and the magnet stuck to the drum like it used to be!

[TimS]

Don't forget to get your geometry set up, last time I saw it, it was miles out. It will eat through your nice sof stick tyres.

[Purple Tom]

Thanks Tim did that before I went to Germany last year.

[TimS]

Aw good, thoes tyres didn't last too long then
New set looks really nice though. If you ever need to get hold of a gearbox for a swap, have a look at my topic, Iv managed to get a list of which gearboxes came with which engines, may be usefull one day.

[Purple Tom]

They didn't do bad, put them on in January 2006 and they did a trip to Newquay and back, all the way to the Ring (5 laps round) and then back, some driving locally, all in all about 3000 miles I reckon. Can't complain at that! The backs are about 1/10th worn so they're doing fine. Not as bad as I thought. Nice list, cheers dude!

[Purple Tom]

Well it got to Newquay and back! Didn't use too much oil either, although it's still as smoky as ever on the over-run, definitely valve stem seals. Plus the oil pressure is becoming a bit more of a concern. I've decided that between now and Drag Wars I'm going to take the engine out again, rebuild it with new components (or better still get a low milage bottom end if I can) and tweak a few things on it. Its got a few vibration issues at times from where the gearbox touches the subframe, and a bit of a clunking noise from the front o/s suspension. Some new cones and a bit of a play around with the engine mounts should sort that. I'll also be rebuilding the head with new stem seals and re-grinding the valves to make sure its nice and ready for Germany. Oh yeah, and replacing the gearbox too.

Also, I was really really sad on the Newquay trip, because I wrote down all the milage's etc every time I filled up with fuel. Over the whole trip it averaged 41mpg!! The worst was the actual Riv Run itself through all the windy lanes etc where it was down to 33mpg, and the best was on the journey down where I cruised at about 75ish and it returned 46mpg. Can't complain though really!

[Sam]

hi tom, it still looks pretty as ever

nice to see she made it to newquay and back without any hassle, fuel economy is great for a car with that amount of performance

[Purple Tom]

Cheers Sam, got some things to sort on it though!

But I've made a start, got a Corsa Diesel F13 gearbox off eBay for 99p last night! Its in Shropshire so it'll cost me about £15 in fuel to fetch it in the Polo, so not bad, £16 for a new gearbox Shame the bloke hadn't described it too well, but a few questions later I knew it was what I needed

Just need to decide what I'm doing re: the bottom end, then I can whip the engine out, rebuild the head with new stem seals, get the new exhaust manifold made and bobs your uncle. Ready for Germany!

[8vAlan]

did anything come of the 'how to shuv a c16se into your ikkle mini step by step guide'? - would love to have a copy of this as iv just bought a c16se off of TimS.

and does anyone know what the FD of the f13 is?

Cheers bud

Al.

[Purple Tom]

Been a while since I posted, but there's been a few more developments!

It must have been divine providence or whatever but the day after I won the gearbox on eBay the one in the car went pop, so it obviously must have known...

Anyway, I let it sit in the garage for a few weeks to think about what it done, then took a week off between jobs and set to it! Ripped the engine out in a day and started to strip it, and found in number 2 cylinder a score about 3mm wide and a good 0.5mm deep, doesn't sound a lot, but it really was plenty to cause huge oil burning and loss of power. Scratched my head for a bit as I didn't know where to go, rebuild, 1.6 16V etc etc....(both of which expensive and time consuming!).

But then I remembered talking to Rob at Allspeed who told me about the brand new C16SE engine he got from Vauxhall for £1200 a couple of years back. Got on the blower to a few Vauxhall dealerships, and managed to get hold of a *brand new!* C16SE engine, including oil, filter, flywheel, spark plugs, manifold studs - basically ready to bolt a clutch and 'box to and drop in - for just under £700!!! Well chuffed!!

So I got it ordered and it arrived about 3 days later all crated up, and I discovered that I can actually lift a C16SE engine into the back of a Mk3 Polo on my own, but it isn't easy

So yeah, spent a little while under the car cleaning things up, then got the new engine fitted with my 99p eBay gearbox. I was a bit dubious about the 'box as I had no proof it was any good, but I fitted it, filled it up with oil and prayed. The engine started no probs, and the gearbox feels perfect. Waaaay better than the old one and it doesn't jump out of 4th so I'm happy Oh yeah, and the engine is sweet as too. Quite thirsty at the moment (35 as opposed to 45mpg) but I think the ECU is a bit confused with the new surroundings and is taking a while to acclimatise.

I've done about 400 miles in it now, slowly increasing the RPM and load on the engine as the milage increases. Another 100 miles or so and I'll change the oil and filter and then its ready to go.

Still got some more stuff I want to do as always, like an oil pressure gauge which needs a special fitting making to fit the sender, and some more wiring work, but its generally all good. I like my Mini

Thanks for reading, will get some pics up at some point!!

Al - I haven't forgotten about the step-by-step guide, and I'm definitely going to do it, hopefully soon! Its been a year since the conversion now, and I have plenty of pics and details now so I'm going to get started on it. Thanks for the reminder though, might be the kick up the arse that I need!

[ed4ran]

cool!! bet its good with a brand new engine

[Jammy]

Good to hear its all going to be ready for the 'Ring!