tr8todd
SuperDork
12/27/20 7:42 a.m.
Just bought my second "new" mini for the family fleet, and I am going to help a buddy do all of the rust repair on his classic mini once the weather warms up a bit. We now have an 09 and a 12, bringing the fleet up to 6 real cars for the 4 of us, plus the fleet of TR8s with classic car insurance. That red 1980 Mini with a blown engine in RI listed on the forum for sale has my mind going. What exactly is involved with swapping in one of those Vtech engines? Seen a couple at car shows and was very impressed. Youngest daughter has a thing for the old Minis. Its a project we could do together. She has been bugging me to get out to the garage while she is home from school and do some welding or fiberglass projects. Kid loves the artistic side of my car obsession.
Mighty car mods did a pretty good series on a vtec classic mini build.
What Brotus7 said, have a look at the MCM Mini build where they swap in the B series after trying to supercharge the car.
If you're talking about the red Clubman (square front), those have a bit more room under the bonnet which should make these kinds of shenanigans a bit simpler.
I would recommend against trying to swap in a Celica GT4 drivetrain though 
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tr8todd
SuperDork
12/27/20 10:51 a.m.
Well that sent me down a rabbit hole. Mini Mania wants $2850 for the basic subframe conversion kit, plus real money for everything else it would need. No wonder the few you see for sale are $20K plus. Must cost that much to do a proper conversion. Guess I will have to settle for easier conversions like putting a LS3 in a TR7.
MrChaos
UltraDork
12/27/20 10:52 a.m.
You buy everything from Minitec/Superfast mini's. and its mostly bolt in at that point.
I'm resisting interest in the same car, doesn't help that I have a spare spridget 1275 on the shelf. (I plan to build it for the Bugeye)
Can't do it because I'll never find the time in the next several years.
tr8todd
SuperDork
12/27/20 2:05 p.m.
If you were closer we could go halfsies. I could bang out the bodywork.
Trent
PowerDork
12/27/20 3:48 p.m.
Apexcarver said:
I'm resisting interest in the same car, doesn't help that I have a spare spridget 1275 on the shelf. (I plan to build it for the Bugeye)
Does it help to know your existing 1275 won't work in a mini?
Different block and crankshaft for the FWD A series motors.
kb58
SuperDork
12/27/20 5:46 p.m.
How nuts do you want to go? :)
My neck permanently makes clicking sounds due to a mistake by a company known for mini swap parts. I like the kits, but after my experience I'd check the work over well before trusting it. Although personally I don't want to give them money. The car was hella quick though with a JDM B18C.
Austin America motors are known to fit and can be found in junkyards, so I hear.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:
Trent said:
Apexcarver said:
I'm resisting interest in the same car, doesn't help that I have a spare spridget 1275 on the shelf. (I plan to build it for the Bugeye)
Does it help to know your existing 1275 won't work in a mini?
Different block and crankshaft for the FWD A series motors.
TIL^.
Good save! I didn't know that...
