Ford mini engine conversion

Post any technical questions or queries here.
360gts
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2014 7:12 am
Been thanked: 21 times

Ford mini engine conversion

Post by 360gts »

The Ford mini engine conversion isn't as popular now as it was eons ago however, there is still a demand for these smooth engine units in a mini.
I have just completed another unit for a client...really smooth engine...and quiet too!
Lots of power from the 1600 cross-flow with the twin webers.
Anyway, I still have the pattern for the sump extension...if anyone is interested could have another few made. Just thought I'd throw it out there.
Here are a few pictures of the sump extension that I had poured by a local foundry.
They have lots of meat on them for machining for most Ford engines.
Anyone interested...let me know...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1963'S'
850 Super
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue May 13, 2014 8:01 pm
Location: Warminster, Wilts

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by 1963'S' »

That's a well meaty sump!
I was at 'MANX Racing' many many years ago when Bill had just put a Lotus Twin Cam into a Mini spaceframe racer.
Two guys from Ireland turned up and took it down the road for a test drive! it was a good job Bill's workshop was down a lane in a small village and no Police were about!, oh I forgot I was the Police!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They wern't gone long and they bought it.
The Ford engines do look good and go fantastic in a Mini

Steve
360gts
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2014 7:12 am
Been thanked: 21 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by 360gts »

Yes Steve...they just fit in so nice and there is NO substitute for a 5 main crank.
The sump extension is just over 1/4" thick...makes it nicer for final machining and welding up to the existing mini gearbox...plus...you do need the extension to be quite strong as it supports the other engine mount.
User avatar
woodypup59
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1529
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:28 pm
Location: London UK
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by woodypup59 »

Any chance of a picture of the whole assembly ?

ta
User avatar
mab01uk
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 8274
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:08 pm
Location: S.E. England
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 76 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by mab01uk »

Manx Racing - 1700cc xflow fitted on a mini gearbox
Full spec on TMF (Tne Mini Forum) :-
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... ?p=3410938

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Photos: Stoneface (TMF)
User avatar
mab01uk
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 8274
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:08 pm
Location: S.E. England
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 76 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by mab01uk »

Someone on here (I think) posted this article on an early Mini-Ford conversion from 1963 a while back.

Image


Also some more photos below of a Mini-Ford engine conversion that I think was on ebay quite recently...

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
mab01uk
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 8274
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:08 pm
Location: S.E. England
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 76 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by mab01uk »

Yet more pics for the record of another Mini Ford engine that was on ebay a while back......

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
Mini4Ever
998 Cooper
Posts: 663
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:46 pm
Location: Netherlands

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by Mini4Ever »

Nice 8-) Haven't seen one of these for quite a while...
Too many cars...
User avatar
gs.davies
Site Admin
Posts: 1636
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:29 pm
Location: Essex, UK
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 33 times
Contact:

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by gs.davies »

This is my kind of engine conversion. None of your modern Honda nonsense!
69k1100
850 Super
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 12:04 pm

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by 69k1100 »

Interesting ideas. There was a bloke part way through fitting a g13b 16v engine on a mini gearbox a while back. Never finished it though, but same basic concept.

Extend gearbox as needed, machine adapter for primary gear and flywheel.

Seems simple but I'm sure there's better ways than putting 150+ hp through a gearbox that drinks engine oil.
R&R

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by R&R »

These Ford engines are pretty impressive for 50's technology. If BMC had a similar thing, the Motorsport landscape would have looked different well into the seventies. The hairs would be standing up on the back of our necks at the thought of sound of bda engined marinas hurtling sideways through forest stages!

the little 997 Ford is 81mm bore by 44.8mm stroke, makes a 970 look like a long stroke.
wantafaster1
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1190
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:40 pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by wantafaster1 »

I know a fella who works at a 1000cc F3, the crank is amazing.
User avatar
Vegard
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2042
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:33 pm
Location: Norway
Contact:

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by Vegard »

360gts
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2014 7:12 am
Been thanked: 21 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by 360gts »

I have two here at the moment...1600 and a 1300....both have the same bore...the 1300 is super short stroke,...haven't finished them yet....so many projects...so little time :shock:
Biggest problem with these conversions now is finding a Ford engine that has the crank set exactly midway in the block....majority are set up inside the block.
User avatar
Vegard
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2042
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:33 pm
Location: Norway
Contact:

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by Vegard »

360gts wrote:I have two here at the moment...1600 and a 1300....both have the same bore...the 1300 is super short stroke,...haven't finished them yet....so many projects...so little time :shock:
Biggest problem with these conversions now is finding a Ford engine that has the crank set exactly midway in the block....majority are set up inside the block.
What do you mean with the last sentence?
User avatar
smithyrc30
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1383
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:40 am

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by smithyrc30 »

I read it as the lower face (mounting face) of the block to gearbox or oil pan is on the split line of the main bearings. (Like the A series)

In order to get 'inexpensive' strength into engine blocks, the sides of the block now come past the bottom of the main bearing caps.

This makes them unsuitable for mounting onto a mini gearbox.
User avatar
Exminiman
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2940
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
Location: Berkshire UK
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 14 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by Exminiman »

Still amazes me what was being done with BDAs and Imp engines on Mini gearbox in 60s....

Does anyone run one still ?
251 ENG
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1647
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:26 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Been thanked: 5 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by 251 ENG »

I got the bits to do a 1300 BDH on a mini box , ir needs a load of work but I do have a one piece billet crank and two BDG alloy blocks to work with
User avatar
Vegard
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2042
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:33 pm
Location: Norway
Contact:

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by Vegard »

251 ENG wrote:I got the bits to do a 1300 BDH on a mini box , ir needs a load of work but I do have a one piece billet crank and two BDG alloy blocks to work with
Starting to dislike you Simon :lol:
User avatar
mab01uk
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 8274
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:08 pm
Location: S.E. England
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 76 times

Re: Ford mini engine conversion

Post by mab01uk »

Post Reply