Ok people...After owning my Mini for a month and driving it around completely stock, I'm deciding to go ahead and undertake (like all my other car's) some modding. However, this one will be different. This one will be a grand adventure (gotta love tuning European cars *cough*). I'm setting out to make an almost completely stock-looking Mini Cooper R50 that will hang with some of the big boys out on the SCCA track. I'm going to turbo-charge the R50. I know...the easier route would have been to go get a Cooper S. But I like having a car that's a little different, as well as just having a challenge in general.

Now, I know the Cooper and the Cooper S models have the same internal parts, but are made up of slightly different materials (correct me if I'm wrong here). This should make it a little easier. I've scoped out some of the parts I'll be getting to do the job, minus the internals. Now, again, correct me if I'm wrong here, I'm hoping that the motor will be similar to a Honda motor in the aspect that it will hold a small amount of boost (approx 6-8psi) on stock internals without any problems whatsoever.

I've found just about all the parts I believe I need except for a turbo kit. If anyone knows of where I can get a hold of this, I would be greatly appreciative. I have searched Google, MossMini, Pilo Racing, PROMINI, vacmotorsports.com, customminishop.com, Summit Racing, and NOPI.com. I have come up with nothing. Also, would I be able to bolt up a factory intake manifold from a Cooper S model that comes turbo'd to my R50?

Any and all responses greatly appreciated and considered. Thank you in advance.

 

Nobody to my knowledge makes a pre-built kit for sticking a turbo on a MC. If you want to get a turbo your only choice is to go custom.

 

While the parts are mostly the same, with a forged crank and some other tasty bits in the R53, the biggist issue you will face is the compression ratio in the Cooper is about 10+:1, whereas the S is about 8.3:1. So watch out for the boost you'll be running!

One way to go would be to use an S block (better crank, lower compression, piston squirters) and then you can add more boost than the Cooper. If you build up the cooper with the higher compression ratio, you'll be living on race gas only for sure. Also talk to some who've run higher boosts about how well the pistons will last. They are the weak point.

Matt

 

I believe the R50's compression ratio is much higher than the R53's. I don't recall the number exactly, but I believe the R50 runs around 10.x:1 or 11.x:1. This alone could make going FI on it a bit interesting (unless you plan to swap out pistons).

edit: beaten by a minute!

 

On my Honda Prelude, I forged out the internals completely and threw in some lower-compression gaskets and seals. Maybe using those kinds of seals would help in the R50?

edit: without forging the internals that is (on the R50)

 

I'm only going to be running a small amount of boost though. The S block does sound very inticing, but is it necassary?

 

its not the same as a honda, to be honest (and I've been looking into doing this for the past year) unless you just want to make around 150-160hp by running 5-6psi... then you need to go aftermarket internals... crank, pistons. exc. I like the idea of the mcs pistons if you dont plan on making CRAZY boost. But im sure they are cheaper to come by than aftermarket forged pistons. (saying you go used) Also keep in mind the gearbox is one of your weekest links on the MC. for making over 160 I would start looking into cooper s gearboxes.

I dont think it would be worth it to turbo just to make small boost... I say build

 

I think it'd be cheaper, you'd get better results, it would be far easier, and less time-consuming by starting with the S and converting over to turbo. Then just swapping out the few body pieces to make it look like an R50...

 

It's all the bits inside that are different. And like one of the other posters says, the tranny is a weak link on the Cooper (especially the Midlands). But there are some running built Coopers who's trannys haven't grenaded. If you're up for the work, and braking other weak links then fixing them, go for it!

Or go with DanOOs suggestion, get an s, convert to turbo, and change the hood and other body bits. Depends on if it's the tinkering you crave, or the driving.

Matt

 

and yes... it would be "easier" to go with a cooper s but how boring is that.... as far as money goes... I think you would get more bang for your buck if you build to run higherboost.... just my opinion though.

if your looking to get minimal gains do a na build for the same power... be way cooler imo

 

Now that's another thing I was strongly considering after a lot of thought on this whole turbo-charging situation. Maybe I could swap out a couple internals on my R50 with some from an R53, throw in some aftermarket gaskets and seals, upgrade the tranny, and straight pipe the exhaust with 2.5" piping, along with some other minor stuff. Then later, when I buy a 2nd MC I'll go with an MCS and do the turbo-charging plan....maybe even attempt a twin charge

 

then build up your turbo only, and drop it in! Then you're car won't be down from months either.... Heck, I've seen Engine/tranny combos going on eBay for a bit over $3k.... Then you won't have to worry about blowing up the tranny either.

Another way to go is Jan is looking for guinne pigs for low boost rotrex on the Cooper.

Matt

 

im waiting for that rotrex... but ya... I agree with dr o. that would be a good way to go at it. Unless you want to go with 20+psi I think the MCS internals would fit you just fine.

 

Upgrading the power through na tuning being brought up has got me stuck between a turbo or just going n/a. If I turbo my Mini, I won't be running any more than 8 psi with a T3/T4 turbine. If I go smaller to, say, a TD06, I'll run about 14-16 psi. Other than that, I don't have a clue how safe the engine will be, and I'm never going to up the boost...so I don't want to spend more money than I need to. The only thing I know is that, from what I've heard, these motors are a bit more sensitive to boost and add power upgrades to than Japanese motors.

 

the pistons, not so much so.

Define your goals in terms of power and torque curve.

Define your budget.

Define your time window.

If you do these carefull, the right answer will jump out at ya.

Some ways to go are very expensive, some not so much so (in a Mustang mag a guy did an e-bay build to get a REAL FAST car, twin turbos for a tractor, and it hauls ***!)

Matt

 

running a t3 at low boost.. hmm that would be an interesting ride haha. im not an expert at all on FI but I ran a t3 on my crx and loved it.. at high boost that turbo took forever to spool up though and i'm thinking that would be a fairly strange drive as you would have a lot of lag and when the turbo did kick in not a lot of power. so if you do choose to go that route wouldnt it be better to run stock compression? just contemplating it... I change my vote, do itbs, heads cam, nitrous and a sweet tune and dog box

I didnt see the td06. that would be a better route with a small build behind it (mcs internals)

edit.. they have ebay turbo kits now??

 

I went ahead and went with what dr o said about getting the Cooper S block. Bought a Cooper S motor w/ trans off e-bay. It's from an 03 and, from what the seller said, has about 24,000 miles on it. It's sitting in my garage right now and I'll be starting the work on it this weekend. Will post pics whenever I get them (if I remember to lol) and updates on the progress of the build as well.

One thing I am curious about, though, is when I'm done with this build and I go to pull out the old motor and drop this new one in will I need to upgrade to aftermarket software? Can I just use factory software from the R53? Does anyone have any idea as to what kind of adjustments I will have to make in the engine compartment to accomodate the R53 motor other than relocating the battery and the minor adjustments to fit the intercooler and plumbing?

 

Good for you! that's awsome... you will not need to get cooper S axels and hubs... as for software.. I am not sure if you can just reprogram that ECU in to an R53 or not... Check with Jan @ RMW he may be able to give you some guidance in that dept..

you may need the S ECU...

 

I love the sleeper idea. Both my Mustang and Mini LOOK close to stock.

As far as the ECU, that's an interesting one. Talk to the turbo only guys (Jan, Fireballed whomever) about what they're running. This will be the hard part. Or you can go aftermarket, but give up things like traction control, drive by wire etc.

I'm really curious how this will all work out. Keep us posted!

Matt

 

How do I get a hold of these guys?

 

They should all be members here on the NAM.

 

Jan
Name here on nam is
Revolution Mini Works
http://www.revolutionmini.com/
949-456-9590

 

Wow! Not to go OT here but that collector looks like something from Warren Johnson's Pro Stock car.

 

I think more Formula 1 than stock car... but yeah... Jan's not playing around LOL

 

You mean like this? Whose got the money to buy it? We'll buy it and I'll steal one from the Professor and we'll be able to compare the 2.
http://www.ferraristore.com/e-shop.d...1Car-Parts_39/