701 replies to this topic

[fuzzy-hair-man]

I would still like to use 10" wheels and I'm not sure what the RPM will be at 100km/h in fifth, I personally think the Mini looks best with 10" wheels.

3222rpm according to my excel speadsheet, using a CG13 gearbox and final drive and a tyre with a circumference of 1.52m (can't remember what tyres they were but they were for 10" wheels).

I agree IMO the mini belongs on 10" wheels.

[rids]

the almera diesel geaarbox runs a higher final drive and supposedly fits the k11 engine. it will suit 10's better

[Roelandt]

Thanks fuzzy-hair-man and rids, 3200rpm at 100km/h is pretty good. My Corolla GT does more than that. Right its time to look for a suitable Mini (prefer Mk1) and track down an engine/box. Here in New zealand we have very strict modification laws, Basically any modifications have to be certified during the build. I will keep reading the threads

[fuzzy-hair-man]

Thanks fuzzy-hair-man and rids, 3200rpm at 100km/h is pretty good. My Corolla GT does more than that. Right its time to look for a suitable Mini (prefer Mk1) and track down an engine/box. Here in New zealand we have very strict modification laws, Basically any modifications have to be certified during the build. I will keep reading the threads

Cool, go for it!
Try to get the whole Micra if you can it makes the whole process of finding parts easier. Are you going EFI?

I presume it is a bit similar to Australia? some things I found helpful with the process was speak to your engineer early before you even buy stuff maybe...
Different engineers will have very different ideas about what's possible and what you will be required to do, I had opinions ranging from "it's impossible give up before you spend lotza money on something that you won't be able to drive" to 'yeah I don't see a problem with that" try to find someone you can work with and preferably has an interest in what your doing.
Try to familiarize yourself with the requirements ADRs here but whatever the NZ equivalent is.

Things going in the Micra conversions favour are:

• There is no capacity increase beyond the standard A series.
• The engine is lighter, so handling won't suffer as a result and braking doesn't have to be stepped up.
• The CG13 at standard isn't much more powerful than an A series so power won't make the engineer nervous.
• No need to modify steering, suspension so the scope of mods are limited.
• No need to chop the firewall or the inner wings, both of these especially the firewall seem to make engineers here hyper nervous.

Mine will need to pass an emissions test for the age of the engine I'm adding not the age of the car, there was also debate about the steering column not being collapseable.

[Roelandt]

Thanks fuzzy-hair-man,
I have to find out to what degree the mods would have to be certified, But I think it would only have to be the modified subframe and how the engine is mounted. I would say the modified subframe will be stronger than the original. I'm not sure whether to go for carbs or EFI, I'll get the engine mounted first. It will be done by a local garage which does car modifications and race cars. I think the certification will be fine, like you say, no big power increase, lighter egine, no body mods etc.

[Roelandt]

Wow. its been a while since i updated this thread.
By the time i post more pics we would have completed 4 more CG13 conversions as well as an MA10.
We have also completed our first Roundnose Toyota 4efte in our mini '3679'.
I will have to do a separate build for our [in my avatar] car as its really crazy ( Nissan Skyline GTR brakes, 17 inch wheels)...
here are two teaser pics, one is of our engine bay and the other is of the Three CG frames recently completed. enjoy................

 

Hi Mini Mad,

have you thought about making the subframe kits with engine mounts commercialy? I live in New Zealand and I am really keen on doing a cg13 with motorbike carbs conversion. I just haven't got the skills to fabricate a subframe, I can do all the other stuff, although I would have to get the driveshafts done by a professional. Looks you've got the conversion pretty sorted. I would be interested in buying a kit of you, depending on costs ofcourse. Cheers

[Neildanks]

Anybody got  a mini going cheep I fancy doing one of these now

[monkeyjim]

Hi all ,

It's been over 2 years since I last posted .
I moved house and new place had no garage , project was then put in a lock up I was not able to work in , so the project stopped.

I have now built a garage and am going to get back on with Micramini project .

I had a complete L reg 1.3 donor Micra .
It uses a Allspeed frame i bought about 6 years ago for a Rover Mini project, now modified for Micra mounts .
I am using the entire Micra loom , my Mini one was shot so it made sense.
Mpi Mini tank .
Rear mount bracket bolts to Micra diff housing and has the normal Big chief Micra rubber mount for bracket to attach too on subframe.
At time project stopped in early 2011 the front engine mounts were done and rear was 90% done . Engine was in and I was working
on pulley run and alternator mount .

Car has rebuilt modified shell , tubbed rear arches , modified front wings , Mini Miglia style upper bulkhead , Sports Pack arches and
6x13 Ultralites for long runs in uk and France , i have 10 inch Mb splits for shows .

Going to sort garage out , get all project bits together and get back on the project .

There has been loads of new projects started since I stopped mine , keep up the good work . This conversion on paper is not that powerful but if you were to compare the drive ,5 speed motorway cruising and smooth power of the Micra against the Mini you realise it
Is worth it , especially if you do regular high speed longer distance runs .

Dave

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

I like the idea of this very much indeed 

 

my 998 a-series is on its last legs I think so I'm now planning on getting a 1litre micra simply because i wrote off my dads car 2 years ago and insurance wouldn't like me putting a bigger engine in

 

because my mini is my daily driver and i do not intend to take it off the road im going to hopefully acquire my mates old bulkhead, tunnel and subframe and then build everything into it to check clearances and have everything ready so i can simply roll out my current engine and subframe and then roll in the micra engine and subframe and hopefully only need to take a couple of days off work to have everything linked in and finalised

 

from reading various threads on the subject ive got together a list of parts that i need or modify to complete the conversion, can someone please tell me if this is correct?

 

·         Nissan micra, 93-98 with smaller gearbox and inlet manifold and no NATS (Nissan security system?)

·         Front subframe or 2

·         Old bulkhead preferably with inner wings and the front panel section along with tunnel to gear linkage. Or a spare shell depending whats easiest acquired and cheapest

·         Spare fuel tank. Either MPI or a tank modified to take micra fuel pump (would like to keep my 5.5gallon tank)

·         Box section steel/ steel plate

·         Set of mini driveshafts depending on micras cv joint fittings

·         Spare pedal box to modify clutch pedal for cable fitting

·         Another mini wiring loom to connect electrics before install

·         Rover k series 4 branch exhaust manifold to modify and weld for micra fittings

·         Steering rack to check clearances (got a LHD steering rack I can use to check clearances)

·         Landrover gearbox mounts

·         Modify inlet manifold or I will make my own 

 

is this a reasonable list? as i said i would like this to near enough be a kit to just swap straight into my mini with no body mods except maybe a few holes drilled for wiring

 

this thread along with several other peoples threads some of which i need to read still have inspired me to take the leap

 

thanks, Adam

 

edit: just thinking, has anyone in northern ireland or ireland completed this conversion? wouldnt mind taking a wee look

Edited by Mini Mad Drakeley, 27 January 2014 - 02:48 PM.

[Artstu]

 

NATS

 Nissan anti theft system.

 

 Old bulkhead preferably with inner wings and the front panel section along with tunnel to gear linkage. Or a spare shell depending whats easiest acquired and cheapest

Just very minor bulkhead mods if you retain the standard fuel-injection.

 

Modify inlet manifold or I will make my own 

no need for bulkhead mods if you do that then

 

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

I was thinking about the wiring for the mini with the micra transplant. if you were to use the loom from an MPI mini could you simply just plug the micra ecu in if you change terminals and such? that way you only need the micra's engine wiring and the rest would be mini?

 

has anyone tried this or looked into it?

 

my thinking is then it wouldn't matter if it had NATS installed as it would all be done away with

 

 

thanks, Adam

Edited by Mini Mad Drakeley, 03 February 2014 - 01:14 PM.

[lucas1amps]

Not sure if it will work like that to be honest better off just buying a whole car and pulling all the loom out or  isolate it via a mega jolt system or something simular

Edited by lucas1amps, 03 February 2014 - 07:19 PM.

[ibrooks]

 

I was thinking about the wiring for the mini with the micra transplant. if you were to use the loom from an MPI mini could you simply just plug the micra ecu in if you change terminals and such? that way you only need the micra's engine wiring and the rest would be mini?

 

has anyone tried this or looked into it?

 

my thinking is then it wouldn't matter if it had NATS installed as it would all be done away with

 

 

thanks, Adam

 

Errr no.

 

The Mini injection system is quite different so the wiring is almost guaranteed to be different. The sensors and whatnot are at different positions on the engine so some wires will be too short and others too long. Trying to cobble a hybrid of the two systems is going to be a world of pain for almost no gain.

 

There are a couple of versions of NATS.

 

The simplest one can be removed fairly easily as I understand it because the reader that checks you have the correct key is seperate to the ecu and supplies a fairly simple yes or no signal to the ECU. From what I've heard it's relatively simple to give the ECU a false yes whether you have the NATS module in place or not. I've only anecdotal info on this system so don't come asking me for specifics.

 

The next is the one I have and the ECU is coded to the key. No amount of wiring changes are going to get around the fact that the ECU needs to see the correct key before it will run the engine. There's a reader on the ignition barrel and when you start the engine the ECU uses that reader to check that you have an allowed key. The part on the barrel is purely a reader - the check is done inside the ECU so messing with the reader or not having the key means the engine won't run. There is a place that will de-NATS an ECU so that it no longer does this check but you need to send your ECU to them for it to be modified. I've got the necessary wiring diagrams for this and have my engine running with this system intact but no longer in the Micra. The original Micra key is now an immobiliser fob.

 

The later system I believe also has an element of coding in the instruments and you need the key, the ECU and the clocks all from the same set or it won't run (you can re-program them with specialist kit if you need to replace one part but you can't just mix and match from scrap yard cars at home). I've never had any involvement with this system but understand it's similar to Ford's PATS in the later Scorpios (and no doubt others). I have seen it transplanted complete to another car but it was done with very little understanding and just keeping everything in case.

 

Iain

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

ok well it was just a thought, pity it wont work. thanks for the info ibrooks, i didnt know much about the NATS system but at least now i can expand my search range a bit and get the right one

 

thanks, Adam

[RogerMills]

Wow that was a lot of info to read!

 

Excellent though, really inspired to do this as perfect for my good lady's car.

 

Any further updates or are there other threads that have taken over or indeed are worth reading?