Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
78Z
Darth Vader
Offline
-
The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
-
Hey there Guest!
If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
V8 powered Mini [still fwd!]
- Thread starter 78Z
- Start date
Share this page
Man, that is one tight fit!
Back in the early 70s I remember seeing some pictures of a prototype Austin 1800, fitted with the Rover V8. Leyland Australia were tinkering with it to give their large car a bit more performance. They adapted it onto the old 1800 gearbox but must have used bevel gears in the geartrain to alter the direction of the power flow as the engine was installed normal way, not east west. They didn't procede with it because it was far too hard on the front end.
I always thought that was radical but putting one in a mini makes that all seem quite normal ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Back in the early 70s I remember seeing some pictures of a prototype Austin 1800, fitted with the Rover V8. Leyland Australia were tinkering with it to give their large car a bit more performance. They adapted it onto the old 1800 gearbox but must have used bevel gears in the geartrain to alter the direction of the power flow as the engine was installed normal way, not east west. They didn't procede with it because it was far too hard on the front end.
I always thought that was radical but putting one in a mini makes that all seem quite normal ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
I think you'd have to get new front tires every time you filled the gas tank!
Neat that they used an Austin fwd gearbox.
I helped pull a Cooper S engine out of a classic Mini last week....I can't imagine putting a V8 in that spot. You'd need a real large shoe-horn.
Neat that they used an Austin fwd gearbox.
I helped pull a Cooper S engine out of a classic Mini last week....I can't imagine putting a V8 in that spot. You'd need a real large shoe-horn.
MattP
Jedi Knight
Offline
That Merlin will never fit in a mini. Now I might be willing to volunteer my Escort /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif.
I was kinda surprised at the Austin gearbox, there is a fwd Caddy/Oldsmobile transaxle that is designed for V8s that I would have thought of first.
I was kinda surprised at the Austin gearbox, there is a fwd Caddy/Oldsmobile transaxle that is designed for V8s that I would have thought of first.
V
vagt6
Guest
Guest
Offline
Hey XRacer, If you have a RR Merlin V/12 in your basement, I might suggest selling it, you can probably buy a new (expensive) car with the proceeds!
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
What's the point, other than saying it can be done? I forget the numbers but the aerodynamics of the mini need large increases in power for very modest increase in speed. The concept worked quite well in the MGB using the Rover/Buick small block V8 which was around the same weight and didn't seriously affect handling.Engine removal/fitting was a great problem in the race mini until we 'sawed off'the front end and replaced it with removable fireglass. In our experience the main limiting factor in developmet of the mini engine was the three bearing crank. I've heard of Honda power being used which would make sense. comments?
hotdoc
hotdoc
Offline
The Honda option would indeed make sense. I had heard that BL were experimenting with their 'O' series engine in the Mini, which would have been a good set-up. Mind you, it would be relatively easy to install the 1300 turbocharged engine from the MG Metro in a Mini, still an 'A' series lump, but considerably modernised........now that, in an otherwise standard (except for uprated brakes!!!!!!!) Mini would be a bit of a hoot!
Bruce Bowker
Obi Wan
Offline
It uses both the new never change spark plugs and the easy engine drop out system. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
Hello all
I looked at this site months ago I saw your post and thought of it
https://www.gomini.com/fs/vtec/vtec.htm
I looked at this site months ago I saw your post and thought of it
https://www.gomini.com/fs/vtec/vtec.htm
theinferno
Senior Member
Offline
good god! i cant believe he was able to keep it front wheel drive! it reminds me of that mini truck i saw with a corvette 350 in a back issue of truckin'
Similar threads
Similar threads
-
-
-
-
Turbocharged Rotary-Powered Bugeye. Not for the faint of heart...
- Started by Buggzilla
- Replies: 9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spitfire Miata Suspended, Rotary Powered Spitfire Project- Started by Dana_Duncan
- Replies: 10
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
For Sale Austin and Morris MINI Factory Workshop Manual on CD/ROM - All Models 1959 - 1967
- Started by strictlybritish
- Replies: 0
-
-
A friendly reminder - be careful what links you click on here. If a link is posted by someone you don't know, or the URL looks fishy, DON'T CLICK. Spammers sometimes post links that lead to sites that can infect your computer, so be mindful what you click.