I'm probably going to get a classic mini within the next couple years, and I was doing some research today on the kinds of engines that fit into them..but I couldn't find anything specific except for the vtech..
is there any others that people have put into theirs?
I live in Seattle, and it's practically all suburbs here, so it'd be nice to be able to drive on the freeway like a normal human being..so I was thinking it'd need something more than the stock engine..but please correct me if I'm wrong. this wouldn't be a daily driver for me, as I own a 2002 mcs right now and plan to keep it, but I really want a classic mini to be able to drive on the weekends.


and if you put a different engine in it, how much did you pay?? I'm almost afraid to think about that..

any advice or ideas or thoughts are greatly appreciated!!

 

anything non mini engine is expensive. I have a 1275 engine and I take it on the freeway just fine. I would prefer a 5 speed, but the four speed is what I have and a 5 speed is expensive. I know a lot of people that drive a mini with a mini engine and don't have any problems. o yeah did I say vtech is expensive. I wouldn't put anything but a mini engine in my mini. Just remember, depending on what year you get it is a older car. I guess you could get a 90s model but good luck, I wouldn't do it.

 

If you're going to go, go big.

Ford 302.

 

Or if you insist on having it fit withing the body work:

 

goodness gracious!! what a murder!! O.o

no no, definitely not that.
I guess I just need an engine that will go fast enough on the freeway without making me feel like I need to get off it ASAP..I've driven a car where it had a problem and it wouldn't go into 5th gear (it's an automatic..my step mom's grocery getter), and I took it on the freeway cause my mini was out of commission for a couple days, and it freaked the hell out of me. I felt like it was gonna break down any second cause of the high RPMs..
I guess that's what I'm trying to avoid cause it made me feel pretty uncomfortable driving that car..so it'd be nice to avoid it in my future cooper..

so, Lil Pig, you say you have a 1275 engine..did your mini come with it or did you get that swapped in? and if swapped in, how much did the engine cost and the work for it? my boyfriend and my dad both know the same father/son that do engine swaps here in Seattle so I could probably get a pretty good deal, but the engine is what I'm more worried about with the pricing..


and would it be better to get like almost a shell of a car, and just put everything new into it, or would you suggest just changing out the old and crappy for newer and better?

 

@Ruskie --

I have a 1275 (1330 after engine work) with a 4 speed rod change in my '73 MIni and it's got plenty of power at 65-70 mph. Due to the gearing, top speed of the typical classic Mini is around 95mph, although you've got to be absolutely mad to drive one of at that speed even on a racetrack. Yes, it's loud, but any classic Mini will be loud simply due to the lack of sound deadening. I would advise against an engine swap other than 'in the family' with Mini engines simply due to the front wheel drive and small size of the Mini.

VTEC swaps are popular but quite pricy (expect $20k-$30k for a quality installation). I haven't heard of any other main-stream engine being swapped in. Front engine and rear engine (implies RWD) VTEC swap kits are available.

Cheers,
Jeff

 

Subscribe to Mini World

read for a while and you'll learn a lot about what can be done and how much of an effort it is.

http://www.miniworld.co.uk/

 

and it looks like I should be able to find one locally, correct?? or I think I saw something about minimania having engines? is that right?


O.o this idea is quickly turning into an expensive one..

 

A built up engine is gonna run you over $5000
http://www.minimania.com/web/item/13.../InvDetail.cfm

A Mini you might buy may well already have a 1275cc engine.

My 1979 Mini with a 1275 "with improvements" will cruise highway speeds all day long. But it is loud and as another has said already, you've got to be absolutely mad to drive one of at that speed

These cars stopped being imported to the US because they didn't add side protection or crush zones. Driving one is as close to riding a motorcycle, or driving an antique Model A Ford as you'll find.

I have a full roll cage, and avoid the Interstate system as much as I can. The car can keep up but if something happens at 70, I'm toast.

Want something small and sporty and "classic". The Miata came out in 1979 so an early car now qualifies for classic insurance and registration. It is very modify-able, but built to US safety standards from day 1. Any Mazda dealer will work on any Miata, even the first one built. I trusted this car to be my newly licensed sibling's daily driver while I've yet to let him drive my Mini.

Still want a Mini? order Mini World

 

My stock (except better muffler) Classic Mini 1275 will hit just over 100, why would you need any more than that ?,
Here is my friend Opus Baier doing 97mph http://youtu.be/lAHy0ig-sDY
And because of his short legs he doesn't use the brakes that much when parking, http://youtu.be/2R4hhV5ytDs

 

my engine is not stock with the car but I did buy the car with it in already. I use sound deadening material in the engine bay and it helps a bunch. There is a guy on here that has a 1380 with a five speed. I don't know how much it cost but it had to be expensive. The Captain is right, if your looking for something like a mini but safer, then the miata would be the car for you. If you are looking for a mini to drive on a freeway then make sure it has a 1275. The 998 engines are ok but I like the 1275 better. The original minis are not like the new minis, just FYI The new minis are a new car, and the original minis are old, simple. I know a lot of mini (original) owners that don't drive there car is the winter (to cold). They don't drive their car in the summer (to hot). The don't drive in the rain or any bad weather. So count the days and thats all they have. I drive mine as much as I can and my brother drives his everyday except in the winter. Of course mine is not a show car. It is not a special model or anything. Some people have very rare or very nice show cars so they don't want to beat it up. I do like the idea that my mini is all mini.

 

Not to pick nits, but the Miata didn't come around until 1989, and not yet available for classic insurance, although getting closer every day.

 

I don't think it really matters. The Captain was just saying the Miata is a safer car.

 

my bad - yes 1989

however over in the Miata Forums I've seen that some of the classic car insurers are picking up Miata's ... rules differ by company. But the point was that the car is WAY safer than any Mini can ever be ... and it handles modern highway speeds without breaking a sweat.

 

An MG 1100 (1098cc) and an Austin America 1275cc engine and transmissions, will bolt right in. I had a Mini that I put a 1275 Austin America motor and auto trans in, it would go 130 mph. The engine was stock displacement, but it had a lot of other engine work done to it, plus headers and a side draft Weber carburetor. The auto trans was beefed up too.

Dave

 

A Mini will bring smiles and stares and non-stop questions, people taking photos of it while you're driving, I meet a bunch of nice people just wanting to tell me how cute my car is, then ask me the usual questions,
A Miata is a fun car, but about as rare and interesting as a Camry or Accord.

 

I agree 110%; were that not the case I wouldn't drive mine on Sundays with a silly english cap on, waving at folks and blowing the 5 air horns that play a bar from the Col' Bogey March.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvWLMkxSwIo
http://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?a=...iver-Kwai-Tune


But a part of the question as I read it, was about improving a Mini to meet today's highway speeds. To me, a classic Mini at 60 is a death trap . . . and that goes up exponentially for every MPH beyond.

On the other hand you CAN buy a small sports car thats fun - and gets its own share of looks btw (a guy asked me one day how much my Ferrari cost - it was a 1995 Miata) AND is safe (well a lot safer then a Mini) at highway speeds for the same amount of money . . . $7000 will get you a decent NA Miata, maybe an early NB, and they are much more maintainable then a Mini, ESPECIALLY one re-engined with a VTEC.

So the issue is

show car

or daily driver

 

a vtech isn't that expensive. I think this one is like 13 bucks.

But if you want a VTEC on the other hand, that's a different story.

 

130mph? With an Automatic? Bulls--t. Pushed off a cliff, maybe. I'd believe 115, but still shaky with an automatic even a modified one.

http://www.minimania.com/web/Display...4/ArticleV.cfm


Ruskiy, If you are in Seattle, you owe it to yourself to contact SAMOA
http://www.seattleminiowners.com/

A 1275 is more than capable of handling freeway speeds. So is a 998. It just takes longer to get there in a 998 and there's no "throttling" out of anyone's way or past anyone. With a 1275, you've got some umph to use the throttle if needed.

But as others have said, it's not exactly modern safety in a cute little package. It will (or damned well should) make you a more careful driver. And a roll cage in a passenger car is a not-so-great idea, too. False sense of security. And the cage is too close to the driver's UNHELMETED head and will likely cause more damage than it prevents (round head meets round bar = the softer of the two is gonna give-- think Sopranos and Louisville Slugger)

If you want lower engine noise, you're going to need a 3.1, 2.95, or even the 2.76 final drive to drop rpms on the freeway. Most minis have either a 3.44 or a 3.76 final drive (higher the number = faster it needs to rev to go the same speed). A 3.1 is ok for a 998, a 2.95 is pushing the abilities of a 998 to move it in 4th gear on anything but level ground or downhill, and a 2.76 should only be used for a 1275 or a purpose-built 998.

 

Have a look at www.16vminiclub.com, loads of info on here about engine swaps. I race a vtec and would highly recommend one. In the UK a Vtec swap is now cheaper then a reliable 1275 build and anywhere from 160-200bhp from a standard motor with 5 speed as standard. I dont know what other engines you have over there but the suzuki and rover K series are another popular swap in the UK