Are those Miata seats?

Looks good! Probally going to be very fast...

 

Good eye. Yes they are...not my favorite but they'll do for now.

 

The Michigan Mini Club held a dyno day today at Advanced Chassis Dyno in Troy, MI.

Not surprisingly, the Franknmini behaved exactly like a Honda Civic Si; producing a mean of 139.4 wheel horsepower (SAE, corrected) @ 7200RPM and 106 lbs.-ft. of torque. There was a nice little 10 hp VTEC bump at 4400 RPM. These numbers are not stunning, but pretty good for a car that weighs 1430 lbs. With a driveline correction of 15%, the little B16A produced 160 flywheel horsepower (exactly what the boy/girl-racer brochure said it would at the Honda dealership back in 2000). What was most impressive was to see how consistent the motor was acroos the three dyno runs. There was a 4/10's of a hp gap between the three runs. The torque curve was about as flat (and low) as Kansas.

The mini horsepower leader of the group was a modern mini that produced somewhere around 200hp. The low horsepower leader of the group was a 1968 Mercedes UNIMOG that produced about 40 wheel horsepower. The UNIMOG was also just about the coolest vehicle that showed up. We also determined that the Franknmini would just about be able to drive under the UNIMOG without scraping the roof.

I can't really imagine what Meno's mini will be like to drive? It's going to be an experience of a lifetime. With 197hp (stock) on tap (and supposedly less weight), it's going to be freaky.

As for the franknmini, the exhaust nosie at VTEC is reminiscent of Ayrton Senna's 1987 F1 car. It's shrill, yet melodic.

If I ever feel the need for more speed, a small turbo is a possibility. I'm told by the local canyon squids, that 350hp is not unreasonable from this mill . . .


Long live the mini !!!

 

BTW Meno, your car is looking absolutely fabulous (ab fab is appropriate here). You will love it, guaranteed !. WD40 and grease all of the low carbon fittings as soon as you get it (I can help point out what to look for and where). You will also want to tighten lenses and mirrors after a few hundred miles. Door/window and boot seals will be very stiff and prone to leaking for a while. A couple of days in Death Valley ought to do the trick . . .

I still don't know what the lights below tach are for (I think one is for the ejector seat and the other is for the forward-firing missiles).

 

Lookingt great man! MiniTeck sure likes to plaster there logo everywhere don't they?

I'm kind of hoping that your mini will not be ready to ship before the dragon so I can see it there

 

Very nice looking car. Be careful on your ride home. Are you thinking of clearshield on the front of your car. Hate to see the paint spoiled on the ride home.
AGAIN -VERY NICE

 

Keith - I remember reading on MiniTec's webpage that the B16a conversions are 185 HP...what gives? If 350 HP is available then 350 HP is what you need to do. Then again, I suppose "can" doesn't always mean "ought".
Grease fittings? Sounds like Deliverance double speak...I hope the car can make it to California on what grease BJ gives it. Ooops, theres that double speak again!

Dragon: Please do not give Norman any ideas. I've lost plenty of sleep already and am in the process of booking flights as I type. Not cool.

Newbs40: Good idea on the clear shield but this is going to be my daily driver and the rock chips are inevitable somewhere in time. I know my first scratch is likely to induce a tantrum whether in Albequerque or Sacramento is merely a statement of timing and logistics. Now totalling the car on the way would be bad...very bad which reminds me of why I originally was going to ship the thing.

 

Sorry man. Just thinking of myself. I'm sure I will see it some time soon. You can alway make a stop in Phoenix on your way home.

Clear bra is a great idea wheather your are expecting chips or not. By the time I sold mine the front was more touch up paint that real paint. BTW it's only 800 to ship it from GA through DAS. Save your investment man.

 

[quote=meno;1479120]Keith - I remember reading on MiniTec's webpage that the B16a conversions are 185 HP...what gives? If 350 HP is available then 350 HP is what you need to do. Then again, I suppose "can" doesn't always mean "ought".
Grease fittings? Sounds like Deliverance double speak...I hope the car can make it to California on what grease BJ gives it. Ooops, theres that double speak again!

I must say I was a little disappointed at the dyno numbers, but I'm not at all surprised since it's really a bone-stock motor. The cold air intake adds a nice sucking/whistling sound (no dirty thoughts, please) but little else. And the DC Sports headers probably do little to help the cause. I was hoping whatever chip was in the ECU would add a couple of horses, but no such luck. Even so, it's really fast and handles like a go kart. The car feels much faster than the numbers would suggest it should.

The other thing that keeps this equation interesting is torque steer and contact patch (or lack thereof). Power is only useable if it can be transferred to the pavement. Even with the B16A Economotor, the tires still want to break loose at a moderate push of the pedal. A set of Yokohama A008's would definitely help with grip, but are not terribly practical on this car if the pavement isn't bone dry.

I'm going to share my dyno sheets with Norman and see if he's got any comments.

Do you have a pick-up date yet?

Oh yeah, don't forget to check the oil in the motor before you head back to CA.

 

[quote=Keith Irtenkauf;1481615]To add to that make sure to have at least a quart with you and check it ever time you get gas for at least half the trip. VTECs like to eat oil.

 

<<To add to that make sure to have at least a quart with you and check it ever time you get gas for at least half the trip. VTECs like to eat oil.>>

Yep, I can attest to that. Dunno where it goes, but it just goes away.

 

I did but now it's in limbo. May 2nd was the date last given. Thankfully I've been wishy washy about the plane ticket purchase because yesterday Norman said, "Whoaaaa....hold up partner. Let's talk Thursday after I drive it a bit." (Paraphrased) The car is scheduled for the Grassroots Magazine (never seen it) car show with Norman on April 28th so it may even get pictured.

Tell Norman you demand the other 25 ponies as advertised.

Clear bra info anyone? I looked on the internet and only found applications for the MINI, not the Mini. We are talking car parts, right?

Anyhoooooo, I'm about as excited as a mosquito in a nudist colony. Feels like the last week of school before summer...nothing seemed to take so long.

 

[quote] - Clear bra info anyone? I looked on the internet and only found applications for the MINI, not the Mini. We are talking car parts, right?

I wouldn't bother with clear bras, at least on cars anyway ...anywho, just get some blue painters tape and tape off the front of the car.

"What happens when you let 2 mk1 kids drive your S4 from NY to Seattle?"

 

Quote:

The intersection of skill and creativity - thanks for the lead!

 

[quote=qskapunk;1483358]
That has got to be about the funnies thing I have seen on a long while. Thise kids had way to much time on their hands.

MENO
Auto clear Gaurd in FL can sell you what you need to do the clear bra. He is a vendor on here.

 

I can attest to this!! I was there. Though the auction we stepped into was interesting...If you ever need 20 wheel chair wheels, that would be the place to get them cheap!

 

Yea sportpack seats would look better. Awesome looking car tho. I wouldnt want to drive it in the rain, as the intake is in the fenderwell.

 

May 3rd in the evening if it's not too late in the day there...I don't know when the heavy drinking begins in that county.

If not, after a delightful sleep in downtown Royston, I'll pick it up Friday morning and hit the very long road home.

Hopefully I'll have some photos from BJ soon as he's been on a photo hiatus as of late.

Norman states he had to redesign the lower control arm of the MT-K on account of greater force than anticipated under hard braking. Apparently, by his description, the "ride" has improved though. What the heck does that mean?

 

Here's the latest from the Grass Roots Car Show - I'm off next week to lovely Royston...

 

Notice the rear view mirror? It's a bit large for the car but it has outside temperature, auto dim, compass and garage door opener buttons. Who said a Mini had to be minimalist?

 

The gear shift looks a little E.T.-ish though...

 

i would replace that dual trumpet horn with a "Bad Boy" sounds the same in half the space.

 

Car looks soooo clean.

Cant wait to hear the driving report. You are driving it back to Cali are you not?

 

The finished product is fantastic. Congrats. Your very lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sorry to be crude, but that picture makes me happy in the pants... You lucky, lucky bastard.