Hi

[noisymini]

Hi there

I've met some of you guys before when I came to one of the pub meets and brought the turbo out for the cruise around eastbourne. Didn't get outta the car park though, as was trying with steve to get the vtec working as the immobiliser went mental. (I sure it supposed to be A-series mini's that go wrong not Honda ones.)

I'm a 23 year old HND mechanical/manufacture engineering student working part time at rubbish sainsbury's.

My first car was a Mini and have owened them ever since aswell as some other unmentionable run arounds.

My current Mini used to be a turbo intercooled A-series but have chewed up too many gearboxes and forged pistons for my liking. Since building the Vtec Mini with Steve, I saw the light and have ditched the A-series. So have recently started a k-series conversion with myself and Steve doing all the work, fitting it in my original non-lenghtened front end. The plan is to have it up and running for all the shows this summer so we've had and still have some busy weekends ahead.

Toby

Check out www.vtec-mini.co.uk

[MiniHaven]

hi toby nice to see someone with the experimenting inclin !!?
toby ive got a couple of technical questions re your k series mod if you dont mind , use the pm facility on this board
regards shawn

[Stephen]

hi toby,
was just checkin out sum pics of ur car- whats the deal with ur boot lid, i mean is it fibreglass, single or double sknned etc. I want to have the mk1/2 style lid too so i need sum ideas really. hows it held on and where bouts did u get the plate light from?

Stephen

[monkeyjim]

Toby

I take it you are using the twin cam Kseries , Who does the frame ? Allspeed or Watsons.

Dave

[noisymini]

hi there Stephen
my bootlid is a carbon single skin panel. i got it from curley specialised mouldings (www.curleyuk.com). Its held on with some brackets I made and bonded onto the back and lock bonnet pin type things and the plate light i cant really remember where i got it but might have been from lucas. its nothing special just a standard no' plate light.

Toby

[noisymini]

monkeyjim said:

Toby

I take it you are using the twin cam Kseries , Who does the frame ? Allspeed or Watsons.

Dave

Hi dave,
Yeah you assume correct it is the twin cam i'm fitting. Am fitting the 1.6 first but plan on swapping for a 1.8 when one comes along at the right price.

As for the frame. We are making our own as i cant justify paying someone else too much money to make something we can make ourselves for next to nothing. Also there is the fact that you can't buy a frame to fit the k-series in a non-lengthened round nose. So seeing as i think the lengthened fronts look rubbish it leaves me with no option but to make my own frame.

Toby

[monkeyjim]

toby , I am not keen on the long front cars either , would like to do a non mini engine transplant into the mark1 , sure you have seen it , that was the on the podium next to vtec steve at Sandown, its to good to chop up and besides i want to keep the mk1 looks including the 10's . Thinking about the 1600 vauxhall engine and a td corsabox which has suitable ratios for the 10's but do not want to fork out 500 on Allspeeds frame . 1600 cc 100hp will be quite adequate in the mk1 with it perspex windows and minimal interior.

Will be very interested to see the k series conversion , the donor cars are so cheap to buy.

Dave

[MiniHaven]

yeah dave im looking at doing a k series diesel but i think it wouldnt fit the standard leighnth engine bay as the diesel pump is too sticky outy , i think the mag said it was extended by 30 mm , i dont really want to do that like you ............. however the clubby may be the solution ?
S:-)

[monkeyjim]

Shawn , try a Daihatsu Charade td engine , the first edition of Miniworld had one fitted in a normal fronted mayfair .
Seen a rover 827 V6 in a clubby estate , how does that grab you . Probably by the throat when you go into a corner at speed Understeering straight on into the tree's with all that weight up front. ;D

Dave

[oldgit]

Why not just buy an old BMW thingy and put an old 850 A series lump init.At least it will be more of a mini.

[noisymini]

the plan is to have the k series finished in april so can show it at the eastbourne magnificent motors show if there's space. Everyone's welcome to have a good butchers round it then.

[MiniGT5]

Kseries custom frame would be my choice too.

shame I have no time to do it

N :-)

[monkeyjim]

For those not already in the know I seriously recommend replacing the headgasket, thermostat and checking the condition of the cylinder head if fitting a K series. Do not use one of those headsaver/spacer things that are available either.

At work we replace more headgaskets on K series engines than anything else , followed in second by the twin cam Ecotec Vauxhall engine , yuk . A orrid job if its in a Corsa/Tigra

If you want to tune a K try www.bbrgti.com/RoverK.php

Toby , I will be on the Riviera Run in Newquay so will not get to see the car at Mag Motors , reckon you could make a second frame for me if the conversion went well and I decided I wanted to put a K series in my Studio 2?
Dave

[noisymini]

monkeyjim said:

Toby , I will be on the Riviera Run in Newquay so will not get to see the car at Mag Motors , reckon you could make a second frame for me if the conversion went well and I decided I wanted to put a K series in my Studio 2?
Dave

If we get time me and steve will hopefully be able to attend one of the club pub meets when the k series is finished so you would be able to inspect our handywork then.

Making more k series frames wouldn't be out of the question but we are busy boys so it would have to be worth our while and we would have to have a good chat with you about what exactly you wanted.

Cheers

Toby

[monkeyjim]

ok Toby ,

As long as its not Allspeed / Watsons subframe prices sort of worth your while , we will have a chat.

Dave