Does anyone know of a good supplier of stock (unrestored, but running) drivetrains for the Minis? I want to swap out the drivetrain on my Mini, as the automatic transmission is really becoming troublesome. Ideally, I would like the supplier to be in the U.S. and to be able to supply me with the following:

1275cc engine (carbureted)
5-speed manual gearbox
Pedal assembly
Shift linkage
Clutch cable
Driveshafts?
Any other ancilliaries I may need

Awhile back I had come across this site (http://www.mini-metro.co.uk/index.html) that sold entire powerplants (engine/gearbox) for about 450 GBP (about $810), but I am unable to get in contact with them (their website also seems to be down at the moment). So I am using $800-$1000 as a ballpark figure for a decent running drivetrain.

Thanks again!

- Angel Face

 

you can get it all at Minimania.com

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/U%.../InvDetail.cfm

motor & 4 spd trans used $1,195



http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/MS.../InvDetail.cfm

5 spd gearbox new $5,500

 

The price for the 4-speed powerplant sounds reasonable, but the price for the new 5-speed gearbox is almost half of what I paid for the car...aren't there any used 5-speed units out there?

 

5 spds are very rare and even used will be a few grand....

 

Hmm, I gues I'll just have to settle for a 4-speed unit then. How much of a difference, if any, did the 5-speed unit have on the Mini's performance? When driving a 4-speed, do you wish you had that fifth gear?

 

I am pretty sure that the 5spd was never a production gearbox.

From memory I think that this is a Jack Knight special

If I was going to the trouble of dropping a 1275 in, I would think about and LSD and probably staright-cut gears (very noisy but worth it) just for when I start dropping vast amounts of power to the tarmac.

oh - and if you are going to split the enginer and box, stick a center oil pick-up pipe in there too - no danger of oil starvation during 'enthusiastic' cornering.....

 

Seven too

http://www.7ent.com/sub.cfm?pageid=223

 

From what I've read, they introduced the 5-speed unit as an option on the late Mini Cooper and Cooper S models, from 1997 on. I figured this was the ultimate factory gearbox to have, which is why I preferred it. But if it doesn't dramatically improve the Mini's performance, I'll take the 4-speed. Besides, it's really the engine I'm more interested...those extra 277cc's.

I actually plan on rebuilding the engine when I acquire it, so there is no need for me to pay $5,000+ on an already rebuilt unit. I sometimes tend to question the quality of work and materials some people put into an engine restoration, so I want to do it myself and be sure it's done right. So a used, but running (and rebuildable) unit is all I need.

 

Minimad, I took a closer look around the Mini Mania website, and found this other link as well:

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/U%.../InvDetail.cfm

Which is a unit that sells for $795, but doesn't seem to be tested for compression, oil pressure, and blowby like the link you provided earlier:

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/U%.../InvDetail.cfm

So which do you think is the better deal? I don't want to buy the cheaper engine only to discover some flaw that renders it unuseable. If paying the extra $400 is worth it, I'm willing to go for the tested unit...

 

I've never driven a five speed Mini, but from driving the 4-speed, it does feel like there should be a 5th gear on her.

 

My 1275 could definatly use a 5th gear. I can cruise in 4th gear at 35-40 mph. At highway speeds I fell like I am racing the engine. (I don't have a tach)

 

Yes it "feels" like it needs 5th. But, you can alter the final drive gears to reduce engine rpm on the road MUCH cheaper...

I've bought the MM core motor for a rebuild. MM will stand by what they sell. If they say it is "rebuildable" then that's what they supply. If you're just going to tear it down and rebuild it, buy the less costly one.

Similarly, I would not hestiate to buy a rebuilt motor from Minimania, Heritage Motors or 7 Enterprises. In Virginia is another guy who does rebuilds for race and street cars. He's CTR (Cooper Tune Racing) on the MM message board.