I'm looking at options for different engines in a Coupe and just soliciting your opinions/ideas. I know people on here have done V-Tec and 4age lumps but before I leap I'm just looking at the options and pro's and con's that people are already aware of. I'm reasonably handy with the metal glue and I can follow a wiring diagram so as long as I can get the information I can sort the wiring and a subframe or modifying an existing one shouldn't be a problem.

My current lump is a pretty hot (well fast road) 1380 A-series which does the job pretty well but I'm after a little more and hopefully in the process something a little more reliable and a fifth gear for better motorway cruising. I've been slowly collecting parts to put BMW K100 head on an A-series and whilst the results I've seen first hand are impressive you are ultimately limited by a 3-bearing crank, max displacement of around 1400cc and the Mini gearbox. I know all these things can be beefed up but it gets a bit pricey and the bits aren't getting any easier to obtain and that starts pushing the price beyond what it would cost to just replace the whole lot with a more modern lump.

Anyone looked at Zetecs? I'm also wondering about the K-series as there should be a wealth of info here about putting them on the "wrong" side of the gear linkage and they are pretty cheap and easy to come by at the moment despite the ubiquitous head gasket stigma.

Opinions/suggestions/alternatives/experiences?

Iain

the gtm was origonally designed around a mini in the sixties with the humble a series,if you are happy with the performance of your coupe leave it alone, if you want more power then i suggest you look at other kits to satisfy your hormones, leave the classic and get a westie.after all their arent many good coupes left. it would be ashame to see another destroyed with too much power,sorry to be negative but i do love the car,i know of one,an original cox with a 1340 that did beat cosworth sierras around knockhill.hopefully soon the owner will have it on the track.seeing that was my insperation to buy a coupe. and it only took 20 years to actually find and buy, which ive owned for two years and is still moted and taxed and on the right road can and did see off an audi a6 quattro with a smokey,worn out 1293. now i am working on a new 1340,

Put a sc/cr box under the lump and You will see the difference. Also much can be seen from suspension mods (road legal slicks are now affordable). Make Your car quicker by leaving it original.

If You beat a new BMW and at the next fuel station You tell him that the engine construction is nearly 60yrs and the car is over 40 yrs old ...

I'm not overly interested in beating a Cosworth around Knockhill or anywhere else for that matter - I've got a different motor which does have a Cosworth engine that'll wipe the floor with most of the supercar brigade for both handling and outright speed.

As for buying a Westie - been there and done that (not Westfields but I have had a couple of Lotus Seven lookey likes). I got rid in favour of the GTM because I simply didn't use the things in our climate. Although I use the GTM a lot more it's tiring on long distances because it's not really at home cruising on the motorway. A straight cut box is only going to be worse.

An A-series will make the power I want if I spend enough time and effort on it but it'll be on the edge of reliability and wearing out parts that are becoming harder to come by all the time. It's also getting unpleasant at that sort of power level - it needs a free flowing exhaust which equals loud, it needs a pretty hot cam which equals not happy pottering around town. A more modern multi-valve engine will make 100+bhp effortlessly and quietly without any fuss whatsoever.

The biggest failing though is the gearbox and it's lack of an overdrive. I've got a relaitvely tall diff on it to try and give acceptable cruising and the tradeoff for acceleration isn't too bad since my engine has the balls to pull it off the line with the wheels spinning but it's still just not comfortable at 70+MPH. I know I could get a 5-speed A-series gearbox but I could probably have a V-tec in there for what the gearbox would cost and at best they are weak.

"Destroying" a Coupe - my stated aim is to make it a "better" and more useable car so it's a bit of a silly comment. "Leave the classic and get a Westie" - what's the Westie supposed to look like? and when were they designed? around what engine? but what do they tend to be powered by nowadays? Quite apart from that it's my car and I'll do what I damn well please with it.

Iain

opinions/suggestions/alternatives/experiences.your words ian.if you dont like the response then why are you asking on this forum?it seems to me you wont like any response and these cars were never designed for motorway use anyway.

Researching is key, if you change units, I spent about 18 months looking at different power plants for example are there suitable gearboxes available or ratio swaps without resorting to huge wheels/tires, weights, this is one where the Anticlockwise rotating Hondas are very good in my view as the engine is biased towards the Passenger side. Mine has come out very nicely upon the corner weights, i.e balanced. Does it actually have a chance in fitting etc etc, also will it be possible to service it without resorting to drastic strip down every time. and are ecus/imobillisers and issue

As some of you know I Use my car and regularly do 120 mile trips in it and 300+ miles a week. They can be made comfortable will never be a rolls royce but can be made sensible. My Coupe is doing approx 3700 at 70mph in top, and is actually the same rpms as a Civic aerodeck and lower than a Integra type R. I could make it even lower but I like the compromise I currnetly have its not too ridculous yet still very spirtive on track. It has enough torque to be pottered aound in 5th.

A couple of pub figures
My old 1600 Honda did 0-60 in 5 dead, 1/4 mile in 14 dead Mpg around 38-40 with mixed driving

The VTEC 1800 I have 0-60 in 4 dead 1/4 in high 12-13.2 mpg 37-39 on same sort of trips as the 1600 and have seen upto 43 on a run out of it

In total under honda power I have covered 60+K miles since 2004

West

Peace Gentlemen.

Your quite right when You say, You have the right to do whatewere You want with Your car. Do it.

But again, I agree with Clubby: theese cars are not safe to use at hight speeds on public motorways. If anybody hits You at speed, you will quit instantly. They dont have the mass to be safe over 60-70 mphs.

They are brilliant for cruising at serpentines/minor, curvey roads to enjoy pure motoring.

This is just my opinion. Do whatever You please.

Although personally I like the 'period' nature of the car and an A series ... I agreed do whatever you like, and I must say West's experiences are quite appealing!
One of the reasons I've got the coupe instead of another Mini is I wanted to get away from people saying 'oh they're the wrong cills and you've got too many spot welds on your wings etc ... etc '

It's a kit car, NO ONE can tell you ANYTHING is wrong!

Ditto that... Wasn't this part of the component car idea anyway, building up a unique car to your tastes? Each to their own of course, and fair play if you've managed to buy and keep 'original' a Coupe from new... My Coupe's 'glass bodywork was totally melted during a fire, as some will know from my previous posts, how can I rebuild it and say it's original etc. with body parts sourced from other used/dismantled Coupes? And how can it be considered 'original' when it's got used Mini parts on it anyway? As a result, I'm not going A series (down to costs mentioned above!) but still haven't decided exactly what to use... maybe a 12.6ltr engine and 16 speed 'box from one of our works trucks would fit... torquey and great for towing...

Perhaps if your particular car had some historical significance, then keep it as GTM intended it to be, but otherwise do what you like - you're the one paying for it and driving it.

That's my opinion anyway, so there...! Nothing like some healthy discussion on a Sunday evening!

ian was asking for opinions and experiences,that was my experiences,and my opinion now is do what you like your car it dosnt matter to me.what gets up my hooter is his response to a question he asked in the first place.ps epuoc would you be interested in an o8 reg 480 daf xf with 16 gears i will through in a free jig saw for cutting the body

Don't go 4a-ge. The only 2 good things about it are price, and the gearchange, other than that, the swap is an ache in the cojones.

If I were to do it again it'd be Nissan CG13DE slightly tuned (1275cc!!!)

And mine could be putback to "standard" easily, but why?

You mean I wouldn't just be able to extend the engine cover hump to clear the intake manifold?

naw that fits fine, the jigsaw was for the arches for your supasingles

From what you say you want to use your coupe for, My veiw is you need to go for the "D" series Honda. speak to west for the mods needed


"Slight post highjack"




Phil, Once you get it finished, You'll know it was worth it, and then you can save up for the supercharger

This post has saved me asking you how its comming along anyway ?
Sooooooo update phil please!

What got up my hooter was the negative response from you - I'd assumed I didn't need to add the rider that the opinions I wanted were constructive ones. I've explained my reasons for moving away from the A-series so unless you can tell me realistic ways around them it's a done deal and as/when/if I change the engine then it won't be an A-series engine that goes back in. I've had this conversation with a few of the Mini club members recently and we've all pretty much decided that unless it's for simplicity or originality we wouldn't be using an A-series in any other Mini we build.

I've been looking at Zetecs and the conclusion is that they are just too big. From the helpful comments here it looks like Honda is the way to go although I'm still looking at Suzuki - a mate has a swift 1300 turbo lump in his Mini which I reckon would be do-able and posibly even more so if I go for the N/A version. I've also had a suggestion of a Cappucino engine on the end of a WagonR gearbox (I think) which definitely warrants looking into as the Capp is a hoot to drive (if a little surreal when you hit the speed limiter) and it's a VERY compact engine. Vauxhall is another contender still on the cards which has again been done with Minis and hopefully a lot of that experience could be carried across.

Iain