Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid - Steve Harris Engineering
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mab01uk
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Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid - Steve Harris Engineering
Interesting Steve Harris (ex-Downton/Longman) Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid conversion....(Fast Car mag - Dec 1990)
Last edited by mab01uk on Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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mk1
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Re: Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid - Steve Harris Engineering
All these type of conversions suffered from the same issue. The Standard Mini gearbox. . . . .
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Costafortune
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Re: Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid - Steve Harris Engineering
Plus that old CVH boat anchor. The Vauxhall OHC was much nicer before you get into the Toyota and Honda stuff.
It looks a neat conversion though and Steve Harris is a clever and thorough sort of chap.
It looks a neat conversion though and Steve Harris is a clever and thorough sort of chap.
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mab01uk
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Re: Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid - Steve Harris Engineering
Improved definition scans from the original magazine article now added to first post.
The Ford CVH engine may not be much in favour nowadays and the standard Mini gearbox was always an issue with these period hybrid engine conversions (Ford Crossflow/BDA/Lotus Twin-cam, Imp, etc)....however I think the engineering innovation necessary to create them and make them work is more interesting than the more modern method of dropping in a modern transverse fwd engine/gearbox complete from a Honda/Vauxhall/Rover/Suzuki/Nissan/other. Back in the day there were few compact alternative fwd engine/gearbox units available for swaps other than the Austin Maxi or BMC 1800 which were really too heavy and bulky to offer much of a power advantage and usually compromised the Minis handling.
The Ford CVH engine may not be much in favour nowadays and the standard Mini gearbox was always an issue with these period hybrid engine conversions (Ford Crossflow/BDA/Lotus Twin-cam, Imp, etc)....however I think the engineering innovation necessary to create them and make them work is more interesting than the more modern method of dropping in a modern transverse fwd engine/gearbox complete from a Honda/Vauxhall/Rover/Suzuki/Nissan/other. Back in the day there were few compact alternative fwd engine/gearbox units available for swaps other than the Austin Maxi or BMC 1800 which were really too heavy and bulky to offer much of a power advantage and usually compromised the Minis handling.
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Exminiman
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Re: Mini-Ford CVH Hybrid - Steve Harris Engineering
Dare say made complete sense at he time......especially as put together by Steve Harris - its a bit of an ugly engine though in my eyes...!
I think, the BDA conversions always look good and "period"
My Scout master (yes I was Scout for a couple on months..) had a 1600 Lancia engine and gearbox in a Mini, which despite having the front lengthened a bit looked really good, apparently, though, the front started lifting over 105 MPH !
I think, the BDA conversions always look good and "period"
My Scout master (yes I was Scout for a couple on months..) had a 1600 Lancia engine and gearbox in a Mini, which despite having the front lengthened a bit looked really good, apparently, though, the front started lifting over 105 MPH !