Do-able engine swap???

[Smiff]

Ive been driving for a year in my 1.0 litre austin mini (lovely little car) it is still an on going project with some major plans.
i feel now that this car is a little too slow at top end.
Having written off my dads Fiat Seicento oops :I i had the idea of placing the 1.1 sporting engine into the mini. I feel this is do-able but need some advice on how hard the job would be, as i would need a cat for the exhaust etc, im getting a mechanic to do it for me, but would like your comments on this. Cheers
Smiff.

 

[John H]

I hope you've got deep pockets.

The Mini - if it's the old Issigonis design, has the gearbox in the sump of the engine.

It set oil technology back about 20 years, as the thing was so loose it needed 20-50 oil just to try and keep some in, rather than leaving huge puddles everywhere it went.

Huge fun to drive, but an unlikely candidate for a Sei engine.

YMMV

 

[HP]

Would be a lot easier to get a 1275 A series engine from a Metro and drop that in. Find an MG Metro (you'd probably have to have the engine reconditioned, it'll be that old and thrashed) and they have 70bhp as standard. There's hundreds of Mini tuners about who could make you anything from a mild 1275 to wild 1388.

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
Cinqs&Seis Yahoo group
Clubcento

 

[CentoEvo]

You could go for a Honda VTEC engine in there or a poxhall 2.0 16v!!!!!!

http://www.ringmini.de/English_Version/english_version.html
This blokes off his head!!! a VTEC'd mini with 4 wheel drive and he reguarly beats Porsches, BMWs and bikes on the norschelffe Nurburgring circuit!! [:0]
Check out GSXR Kart Too! [8D]

It were proper Bo i tell thee!!​

 

[Smiff]

1275GT engine would be ideal but then i am an 18 year old student with a part-time job (dont think i could afford the insurance)
with the 1.1 insurance being under a grand, and the engine being free it seemed like the ideal candidate for the project.
the mini is an E reg City (1988) a freinds dad may do the swap for me so it wont be as expensive as a proper garage.
Ive seen V8 conversions that have needed some mod's to the wings etc, some doing this in under £500 - i would still like to do this swap as i reckon i will be the only mini driver in england with a nippy sei engine.[8D]

 

[steve handley]

http://www.zcars.org.uk/

 

[sledge]

Over 5 years...gotta be a record

 

[steve handley]

haha you no it

 

[Helz]

I'm guessing he's either done it or binned it already but you never know

 

[steve handley]

yep like all these dreamers that are going to put these massive engines in cinqs and stuff haha

 

[Mound Dawg]

1275GT engine would be ideal but then i am an 18 year old student with a part-time job (dont think i could afford the insurance)
with the 1.1 insurance being under a grand, and the engine being free it seemed like the ideal candidate for the project.

Frankly you've got more chance of insuring a Mini with a 1275cc BL engine in than an 1108 Fiat unit.

Most insurers won't touch and engine swap like the one you're proposing with a ten foot cattle prod. They MAY consider insuring it if the car was once offered with this engine (in this case 1275GT or late Cooper) but even then, most would rather not bother.