Hi Guys,

Friend of mine is restoring an old mini (998, but going to be a 1275 or even 1380 ) He's thinking of turboing it, and is looking for an intercooler for it.

From what I gather, the standard SMIC fitted on the octy is quite good. I'm guessing that would be quite good for a Mini - It won't need to be too big, only aiming for 150bhp or so. He's even thinking about using a K03 or K03s for it, or even a VNT15 from a TDI. Not sure whether the k03 would be too big for it though.

Has anyone got any decent pics of a standard SMIC? I want to know if it is possible to modify it and make it a front mount IC.

Cheers

p.s, Any other suggestions on turbos? Someone else suggested a GT30rs but that would take forever to spool, but would be quite entertaining when it comes on song

ko3 will be perfect and the side mount would be fine to use with a simple bit of modification it will fit fine

Thought so.

Just need to finish chopping out the rust and get building it. He's been doing it for 3 years, and hasn't even finished the body yet lol.

Got a lightened, balanced and bladed crankshaft, lightened flywheel, alloy pulleys etc and duplex timing chain so far, so it should be able to rev quite high I would have thought.

We were thinking of using the SU carb as a throttle body. Want to make it look sort of standard

Edited 9 March, 201115 yr by rk696

My dad designed/built the Janspeed Turbo Mini back in the 80's, so he knows a thing or two about turbocharging Mini's!

You've probably read about the car if you've researched turbocharging a mini. Only one was ever made, using the Clubman shell.

Good luck with the project

Rather than turbo-ing the old A Series motor why not an engine swap. Check out Minimania.com. You can fit the Honda VTec and end up with 200+BHP from one of the most reliable engines on sale today. The 5 speed gearbox is a plus too.

Hi Guys,

Friend of mine is restoring an old mini (998, but going to be a 1275 or even 1380 ) He's thinking of turboing it, and is looking for an intercooler for it.

From what I gather, the standard SMIC fitted on the octy is quite good. I'm guessing that would be quite good for a Mini - It won't need to be too big, only aiming for 150bhp or so. He's even thinking about using a K03 or K03s for it, or even a VNT15 from a TDI. Not sure whether the k03 would be too big for it though.

Has anyone got any decent pics of a standard SMIC? I want to know if it is possible to modify it and make it a front mount IC.

Cheers

p.s, Any other suggestions on turbos? Someone else suggested a GT30rs but that would take forever to spool, but would be quite entertaining when it comes on song

I have a standard one off a vrs if needed pm with a offer if wanted

don't use a turbo from a td, it isn't designed to cope with the heat from a petrol engine.

lol at the person who suggested a gt30rs, it would never get on song lol

Yeah, was thinking the td one would increase the low down torque, but would probably run out of steam at high revs. Only problem is, it won't increase the torque to a point that's much higher than a standard 2.0L mondeo though

Think that a big (ish) turbo is the way to go, and think about top end power, rather than low down torque.

As for the suggestions, I keep trying to convince him to go for a VTEC or Hayabusa engine, but he wants to keep it something like original. Apparently fitting a non A series engine makes the mini lose it's soul. lol

Also thinking of this:

http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?subcategory=Rear+Mount+Turbocharging&category=Turbocharging

Dread to think what the lag would be like though

Oh, and Bodge, the Janspeed mini is what gave us the inspiration.

I'll let you know how it goes, the car is only in Wakey anyway, so not far at all from you.

Wakey, I'm from Wrenthorpe....I've got a mini that's heavily modified, needs a bit of TLC to get it back on the road this Summer. How handy is your mate round a mini, you reckon he's fancy a couple of beer tokens to have a look sometime ? I've got a pair of twin webbers if he's interested?

lol, I'll have to ask him. This is first mini, so he's quite a novice too.

What spec is yours?

This is my forth but I can't figure out whats wrong with it....it will be sorted this summer. You know what mate, I bought the car 3 years ago with a huge spec (ran 115bhp on the last rolling road I did) and I cannot find the printed spec of the car anywhere. You've just inspired me to hunt again though! If I find it I'll post it, keeps us all up to date. Definitely need pics!

Few of mine to give you an idea..................

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz348/trickett_james/n514402315_1107699_3261.jpg

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz348/trickett_james/n514402315_1107697_2737.jpg

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz348/trickett_james/n514402315_1107692_1448.jpg

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz348/trickett_james/n514402315_1107690_929.jpg

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz348/trickett_james/n514402315_1107706_5153.jpg

This is my forth but I can't figure out whats wrong with it....it will be sorted this summer. You know what mate, I bought the car 3 years ago with a huge spec (ran 115bhp on the last rolling road I did) and I cannot find the printed spec of the car anywhere. You've just inspired me to hunt again though! If I find it I'll post it, keeps us all up to date. Definitely need pics!

Few of mine to give you an idea..................

Edited 10 March, 201115 yr by trickett_james

the t3 fitted to the MG Metro turbo was too laggy/high boost threshold, anything larger and it will never come on boost lol.

personally, I'd look for a t25 or something like that, at least the 1275 engine might be able to cope with it.

re the turbo diesel turbocharger, these are not suitable for use on a petrol engine

RK696, Sounds like an ambitious plan if it's your mates first Mini.....I'm presume that he's a **** hot mechanic then bolting this KO3 to a A-series. look forward to the results! You been down to Huddersfield Mini Spares? You'll get some good inspiration :-)

I've not been to hudds mini spares, but I've seen a couple of their project cars. Look pretty sweet!