Project MiVic-CANCELLED

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Right, so ive decided in the time between me being able to drive and now, ive decided with my next door neighbour to do a project, we are putting a Honda Civic engine into a Mini Special, im having the subframe welded at work, by someone at work, i am doing all mechanical work whilst my nextdoor neighbour is learning it from me, and he is doing the bodywork from what i have taught him.

i will post pics when i know how to. if anyone can tell me how.
Dan

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

sounds like a nice project.

for pictures, just go to the gallery and upload them to the 'random pics' gallery, or even better, ask chet to create you a gallery of your own.

Then for them to display in your posts, just find out the gallery URL of the picture by right clicking it and going properties. Then put that in your post between the tags [img] and [/img]

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

whoops double post

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

its a 1500cc SOHC VTEC engine, with a skimmed, ported and polished head. wont have as much punch a DOHC but the shell is fully stripped out and only takes 2 of us to lift the shell.so that will be an advantage. 0 -60 should be around 5 sec Very Happy

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

i saw a mini once with the astra GTE engine in it..

i expect that was rahter nippy.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Yea, they are, but the vtec always has the edge over it because of the cam change over at 4500, thats the part where the wheels are going to struggle for grip, as at the cam change, it goes from 80 odd bhp, to 135bhp lol Cool

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

danlp6 wrote:

the wheels are going to struggle for grip, as at the cam change, it goes from 80 odd bhp, to 135bhp lol Cool

Hhmmmmmm

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Wha?? below 4500, the engine is calm and has next to no power and is extremly economical, i have been told all of this from a friend who is really into honda's and knows the vtec system pretty well.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Here are some pics of the project
Getting Engine ready for coming out

Engine on hoist on its way out,with front panel.

Engine on its way out with out front panel.

Engine out 2 hrs and 50mins later.

Me spraying the primer :

And the mini in primer :

[/img]

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

mivic, I thought you were gonna be putting up a mitsi post.

If your honda mate knows anythign about the VTEC then he will tell you to swithc it so the vtec cuts in earlier so you get a better power band.

And it doesn't just go from 80 - 135bhp either.

Goo project, mate simon has a mini van. I tlaked him into a vtec conversion now hes trying to get an 8 port head for the a series, some people never learn.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

cheers mate,
I was hoping for it to be ready for may 15th, the 20th aniversary of the london to brighton mini run, but its not gunna be ready, but hope for it to be ready by august.

It wont have any work done on it this week as im doin me mates headgasket on his xr2i, so that has to take priority obviously.

More pics soon

Site Subscriber Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 1139

nice project m8! i do love mini's brill wee cars

like the idea of the VTEC conversion Idea

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Cheers, it is nice building a car on someone elses pocket lol, thats the person whos payin in the first pic, im doing all the spraying, and mechanical work, hes getting a learning experience from it.

Level 3 User Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 70

ooooo another mini

my little baby is a 1963 Cooper im restoring fully, every panel is new execpt the roof and bulkhead Shocked

considering a vaux 16v engine to go in, while leaving the shell standard so it keeps its originality for when it goes back to standard

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

yea, we're only having sports pack arches on it, thats the only body mod.we need a new floor pan and sills on ours. ours is a 1978mini special...it is going to be very special Razz

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Right, well havent updated it recently, from next weekend, i will be back working on it again, now i have got my 19 sorted, a quick update:

-sunroof now filled and looking smooth,

-Subframe all welded up and painted, still needs a slight bit of adjusting,

-need to find a way of fitting the shockers as the subframe interfers with the way they should route.

-New Clutch, and gaskets fitted,

-Wiring loom being soldered by my next door neighbour.

-12" mini lite alloys now alloy us to fit the metro brakes!

this is all, will post pics when the gallery is back up.