I've spent the last few weeks trying to get this late-model Mini importation idea off the ground, and am finally grasping that it is simply unfeasible. So now I am going back to the books, looking at older models, for something I might like that would be perfectly legal in the U.S.

This 25 year law that everyone talks about, from what year model does it apply? Put another way, what is the most recent year model that is legal in the U.S.? Would it be 2006-25 = 1981?

- Angel Face

 

Yup

 

The "25-year law" refers to the concept that cars older than a certain age can be registered as "antiques" and/or are not subject to emissions testing. These laws vary from state to state. The web site for your state's DMV and/or emissions authority will probably provide all the information you need. Be aware that in some states the car is only exempt if it is registered with antique license plates and that such registration often limits how much the car can be used.

 

Do a little searching here and you'll find my references to the actual governemt form that is the clincher.

The #1 exemption for safety and emmissions issues on an imported vehicle is "25 years of age". If your title is genuine and documents a car over 25 yoa...NO Problem Man.

The issues arise when someone tries to re-VIN something under 25 YOA ... this is a roulette game. Sometimes ya win...sometimes ya loose.

If you are bringing in a legitimate over 25 yoa vehicle .... no problem mon' . . .

 

25 years and older exempt from DOT

21 years and older exempt from EPA

http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto/faqs/used.html

I've imported myself. I would only recommend it if you personally inspect and buy the car abroad yourself. It is too risky to do an "internet" sight unseen purchase.

 

Ok, so if I got a 1981 Mini, how feasible would it be to put a 1275cc engine into it? I know that there were a few different versions of the 1275cc engine:

1990: 1275cc unit (carbureted)
1991: 1275cc unit (single point FI)
1997: 1275cc unit (multi-point FI)

I also know that the 1997 unit required extensive rework of the engine bay, relocation of the radiator, etc. Ideally, this is the engine I would like to install, but I don't know how easy it would be to retrofit it into an older Mini, which was designed to have a side-mounted radiator, etc...

Has anyone done this kind of engine swap before?

 

Simply buy a 1981 wuth a 1275...

findude, the importation laws are federal but you do have to be careful about the registration requirements of your state vis-a-vis state smog laws. Some states, notably California, will prohibit anything "newer" than a 1974 (I think) from being registered. Others don't care.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the '81 Minis only came with 850cc and 998cc engines...it wasn't until ten years later that they came with the larger engines. That's why I'm curious about swapping.

 

From Wikipedia:
***********
A more powerful Mini Cooper, dubbed the "S", was developed in tandem and released in 1963. Featuring a 1071 cc engine and larger servo-assisted disc brakes, 4,030 Cooper S cars were produced and sold until the model was updated in August 1964. Cooper also produced two models specifically for circuit racing, rated at 970 cc and a 1275 cc, both of which were also offered to the public. The smaller-engine model was not well received, and only 963 were built until the model was discontinued in 1965. The 1275 cc Cooper S models were discontinued in 1971.
Sales of the Mini Cooper were as follows: 64,000 Mk I Coopers with 997 or 998 cc engines; 19,000 Mk I Cooper S with 970, 1071 or 1275 cc engines; 16,000 Mk II Coopers with 998 cc engines; 6,300 Mk II Cooper S with 1275 cc engines. There were no Mk III Coopers and just 1,570 Mk III Cooper S's.

******************

the 1275 came and went over the years but certainly appeared b4 the 80's

Many an early Mini has been 'Cooperized' by swapping to the 1275 ... a fairly straight forward swap. My 79 Saloon 1000 now sports a 1275 Metro...

 

From the FAQ at www.WestPAminis.com

10) Why does a mini have to be over 25 years old to be imported?

Well, in all its wisdom, The USA made a law concerning bumper heights and other restriction
supposedly in the name of safety, This law really was to limit foreign imports of cars which were
hurting USA carmakers. The law has a cut off date and thus there is a rolling 25 year exemption to this
rule, thus by importing a car over 25 years old you don't have to "federalize" it and make it conform to
the rules. To do this would be extremely expensive and probably impossible in most cases. It is just
easier to stick with 25 year old and older cars. PLEASE NOTE: some states specifically California have
even stricter rules which mean your car needs to be even older (in California for imports the car must
be pre-1968) to exclude itself from the very difficult to pass California Air resources board tests.
There are a few other states which have cutoffs in the mid 70s for such tests so its always best to
check as we are not up to date on all the states at any given time.

11) Why do you say "Canada only Car"?

Well Canada has a slightly different set of rules for import exemptions and you lucky Canadians can
import cars of only 15 years of age and older. Thus for cars that are less than 25 years old but older
than 15, we must limit purchasers of these specific cars to Canada residents only.

Are there ways around it? Of course. I've seen more than a few 1990's Minis registered as 1960's cars. But it can be risky. If caught, the car can be impounded and sent back... or even worse: crushed. It seems one could get away with it easier in years past, but customs agents are now apparently more knowledgable about what to look for.

There is also the "demonstration only" loop-hole (cover story about it in R&T or Autoweek a few years ago), but that can be expensive as well and is generally only used by folks with a lot of money, lawyers on staff, and trying to import some high-dollar exotic (like a McLaren F1) never sold here.

 

Yeah, I was aware of the 1275S engine that was introduced in 1964, but didn't include it on my list simply because I didn't want an engine that was even older than the car itself.

I already can't get the car I really want (the 1996-2000), so I have to resort to getting an older Mini. But if I'm going to do that, I'm going to want to put a more modern 1275cc engine in it to take advantage of all the advancements and devlopment it went through in the 1990's.

The engine I really want is the multiport fuel injected 1275cc engine, but can an older Mini be modified to accept this engine? What with the relocated radiator, etc? And if so, is it not too difficult to accomplish?

 

Believe me, the "advancements and devlopments it went through in the 1990's" was little more than Rover trying to keep the Mini from becoming obsolete due to changing emission laws. You are asking for trouble if you get a DPI Mini in the US, especially with no network to service the ECU. This is the reason many FI cars have been converted to a carb setup. The best engine ever made in my opinion is the A+ MG Metro engine, which is very easy to get and a direct swap.

As far as the 25 year law, please keep in mind that these are federal standards and your state may have its own standards. For example, you will never be able to legally regiser a 74 and newer Mini in California.

 

In theory it shouldn't be too hard. Probably the easiest way to do it would be to buy a nice clean car already titled in the US and then import a complete front clip (bumper to dash... motor and all) from an MPI car as "parts" and start swapping. The only semi-odd bit to figure out would be the fuel tank and fuel system as F.I. and carb systems are different in few ways.

I've had similar thoughts, although after experiencing SU-style carbs, they aren't too bad to keep running. I would only do fuel injection if going with an aftermarket set-up like Megasquirt meant for DIY tuning and diagnosis.

 

here's the federal form that applies....

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...hs799short.pdf

 

where will you get the ECU serviced in the US? Get a car with a single carb. Look for a car with an A+ series motor or MG Metro as siggested.

 

You've probably considered this, but if I was going to go so far at to modify the engine bay, I'd probably just consider a VTEC conversion. Probably too costly.

 

VTEC conversion is insane, in a good way. I've even read about a similar VTEC install in an MGA, complete with an IRS set up, wow!

 

I am actually currently going through a swap of a '98 MPI engine into my '80 Mini convertible. I am working with someone who is one of the better British car mechanics in Charlotte and it is still not a small project. I bought a complete engine and subframe with all the ancillaries as nothing from my 998 transferred directly. The wiring alone is a bear as the Rover ECU is rather intrusive. We are trying to keep the standard ECU for the time being (mainly to manage cost and to just get it running before I try to do more to it.) There really isn't too much modification of the engine bay needed (sheet metal wise.) You do have to relocate the bonnet latch but other than that it does all fit (amazingly!)

Should be worth it in the end as far as drivability goes as well as being an interesting platform to try to build on

 

?????

I don't understand that as there are plenty of late model cars already in the states with titles, at little or no risk.....

http://www.sunshineminis.org/forums/...ic.php?t=10678

http://www.miniobsession.com/forsale.htm

http://www.minimania.com/web/id/6718/ClassDetail.cfm

http://www.minimania.com/web/id/6723/ClassDetail.cfm

 

I won't have to deal with this law anymore, as I've finally found my classic Mini! To be exact, it's a red 1973 Mini that has been restored to look like a Mini Cooper. During the restoration, it was fitted with the wider Sport Pack flares of the 1990's Mini Cooper, along with the wider wheels and tires.

The car is also right hand drive. Unfortunately, it is has a 998cc engine and an automatic transmission. Not my first options, but I was planning on swapping out the enine anyway, so I'll just swap out the transmission while I'm at it.

Best of all, the car is located right here in the U.S., and the price was right. In the next week or two I fly out to the car, and drive it back.







- Angel Face

 

Congratulations, a fine looking Mini indeed.

 

Awesome!

 

Ewwww...automatic. :P

Just kidding, awesome Mini!

 

was talking to a guy who got a 90 something registered titled thru a place down south wink wink . crush crush . it's easy if you look .