Somebody said on a previous thread that a Wankel rotary engine would fit in the MINI engine compartment. Somebody has a full drivetrain on ebay, and I was thinking about getting it for the MINI. Is it even possible for a RWD drivetrain to be retrofitted to a Cooper?

Does the Wankel fit in the MINI? What other engine with reasonable HP would fit? Any ideas? If nobody knows where else should I ask?

Thanks for the info, guys!

 

Sure it's possible if you have the time,experience and money...but I highly doubt it would be worthwhile

 

Just sounds like fun. It would be cool to get something with the speed of the EVO with the charm and character of the MINI.

 

A friend at work told me to stop by local dealership to see some kinda Lancer EVO,he said it's an awsome car but looks like econobox with a big motor to me and I know the WRX -STI outperforms it anyways after reading a shootout...As for myself I have a Cooper S on order to include JCW package which should satisfy my need for speed and maintain my warrantee

 

If I did the work this summer (which I would do) installing a Wankel engine and drivetrain would cost less than the JCW package - and screw the warrant"ee"

BTW: The EVO has won most shootouts with the STi so far. It's a better package, if just by a little bit. Plus it has a rally-spec engine, and the STi cheated by adding .5 liters over the WRC standard- you can't rally an STi in the same class.

 

Good luck. Post some pics and dyno/dragstip results when you are done with the swap.

Also, post a how-to with pics.
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Click the pic for info.

 

I have been thinking about a Viper engine mounted "Corvair V-8 Swap" style in the back seat. Having trouble with the sub-frame mounting points though.

HELP RANDY!!! :smile:

 

Make sure you do a how-to with pics as well.

 

Unless you get really creative, it aint happening. Modifying the tranny and gearbox of an RX to mate with a MINI would be a nightmare. You are better off going with something like a Integra type R motor or something of the sort.

 

Thanks, coach. That's what I posted this for!

 

Not to be harsh, but maybe you ought to think about cancelling your Mini order and buying the car you actually want. According to your sig, you still have 4 months before you even get your Mini. You're already brainstorming ways to make it into a Frankenstein monster. If you're just looking to go fast in a straight line you need to look at something other than a Mini.
By the time you finish with a conversion like you describe, you'll be well on your way to owning a Viper. After all, it's not just the motor swap. You're going to have to have custom parts designed and made to do it with. Plus, unless you choose a drive assembly weighing about the same, you're going to be redoing the suspension, otherwise the handling is going to go out the window.
You're obviously not concerned about a warranty, so there's a lot you can do to the stock S engine to get more out of it. Of course, unless you can figure out how to keep traction on the front tires it won't do you alot of good.

 

I like my MCS pretty much the way it is except maybe for some more power. I have been thinking about starting from scratch and building a new car based on the Mini body style. How about a Corvette Z06 engine (400+ hp) bolted to a Porsche 911 trans axle mounted mid-ship. This would require custom suspension all around and a tube chassis too. The body would be carbon fiber and be identical to a production MCS except for larger tires (maybe a slight flare). I think that the weight could be in the 2200# range even with air conditioning. The Corvette engine is all aluminum as is the Porsche trans. I think this would be a lot easier than the motorcycle engine powered cars that I have built in the past. I love toys and this would be a good one!


1964 XKE Roadster
1967 Cooper S
1988 Sportech
2001 Funcar
2002 MCS
2003 Sportech (307 hp @ 1100#)
2004 Maximum Mini?

 

>>Unless you get really creative, it aint happening. Modifying the tranny and gearbox of an RX to mate with a MINI would be a nightmare. You are better off going with something like a Integra type R motor or something of the sort.

Hmmm, it's my dream to install Renesis engine to a Mini. I am just not satisfied with chrysler engine being in Mini. Would Renesis engine work in a Mini since it uses getrag tranny?