Suggestions on engine spec?

[Giff]

I'm building a car that will only ever be a toy for the very rare track day and more frequent summer evening blast on some very twisty B roads.

The parts I've collected are for a stripped out race car, the gearbox is an '846 with hardy spicers (still need driveshafts), a four pin diff and a clubman SC gearset.

I have an S block, GT crank and S head. I would like something very buzzy and peaky or I get very bored driving but need it to be reliable.

I was thinking along the lines of getting MED to modify the crank, a 296 cam and using my powermax 1293 piston on A+ rods. I have twin 1.5" SU on a Maniflow inlet.

I want it to feel as close to driving an Appendix K race car on the road...

Sound reasonable? It is only a toy so budget is important and ways to reflect this would be appreciated.

[Dino]

...It is only a toy so budget is important and ways to reflect this would be appreciated.

Sell the S block, (and don't get MED to mod your crank) and use the cash to pay for a cheaper non S block and some of the bits you need ?

[Pete]

I want it to feel as close to driving an Appendix K race car on the road...

Sounds a great idea but in reality I think you'll soon get tired of driving that kind of inflexible race spec motor after about half and hour on the road ! Better off going for torquey useability with a 286 or an SW5 and you can always stick 1.5 rockers on if you feel the need. Straight cut gears / drops are also pretty pointless on a road car 'imho'.

[andy1071]

I ran an SW10 cam with a Rod Taylor (Southam Mini Metro Centre) head, twin 1 1/2" SUs on the road.
Metro turbo crank and 73mm pistons.
-Idle was fine and pulled like a train.

Don't forget to fit a superlight steel flywheel, as well.

[Giff]

Flywheel is also on the list along with backplate. Even keeping to a modest set up the budget is still nearing £3k, even the consumables like shells, thrusts, cam bearings and machining / cleaning all adds up to over £700...

Why is it suggested that I avoid MED? Their crank mods seem well thought out and reasonably priced?

[YMJ]

All good suggestions above including the MED advice. Get an A-series specialist engineer to do the work instead. Use 1275 A+ plus block, crank, rods and pistons, Arrow lightweight flywheel/backplate and then (the most important bit) get the whole thing balanced by Selby in North Bucks.

DO NOT use an S head. Sell it and use the money to get a 940 modified

[Giff]

The S head is a 940? 12G1805 stamp?

Whats the issue with MED and who would you recommend for the work instead?

[251 ENG]

We can

Modify your crank to any spec.

Balance everything to race spec.

Modify a head for you.

Build you and engine / box to your budget

I am sure fellow members can supply testimonials of our work

Southam mini metro centre
01926 815681

[Rusty old S]

Talk to Rod taylor at southam and he will build engine and box to suit your needs and your pocket , i use them now as previous two companies let me down, one told a pack of lies,and other cut corners but still charged for a first class job ,i still have the hand filed crank thrusts to prove

[Giff]

I think I'll be giving Southam a ring tomorrow..

[Vegard]

I must agree with people above. 296/649 cammed engines on the road is fun for three hours, then a pain. 286/SW10 cam with 1,5 rockers, a proper head, ultralight flywheel and a CR box is great on the road.

(When that is said, I'd like to remove the 544 camshaft in my 1071 and fit an SW5 )

[In the shed]

No, I disagree. Absolutely full tilt race engines are great fun. You get used to them.

Earplugs....

[YMJ]

Fo God's sake you lot, take off those bloody Marigolds and get into the shed!
You are supposed to be men FFS!

In this day and age, you're not going to be tootling along taking the kids to school or your mum to the doctors in your Mini. It's meant to be used to frighten kids in Saxos and dicks in Audi A3 2.0TDIs!

My dad had no money in the 60s so he he ground the heels off the camshaft, bolted on a huge SU from a Jag and revved it to 8k everywhere both on the track, on the road and taking pigs to market......then mum drove it to work on Monday!

[Giff]

Funnily enough my first Mini had a roughly modified 1275 with Jag carb poking through the center speedo orifice, I'd have flames spitting into the cockpit from the 3" long ram pipe. Now that was fun.

[Austin Cooper]

I had a 286 cammed 1275 with a big valve head, LCB, straight through exhaust with single silencer etc which I drove to work every day for 2 years. It spent 90% of the time feeling like the slowest and loudest car on the road. The other 10% of the time was great but never worth the sacrifice in low down torque. A race spec engine might be ok for occasional use but it really limits the usability on the road.

[YMJ]

I had a 286 cammed 1275 with a big valve head, LCB, straight through exhaust with single silencer etc which I drove to work every day for 2 years. It spent 90% of the time feeling like the slowest and loudest car on the road. The other 10% of the time was great but never worth the sacrifice in low down torque. A race spec engine might be ok for occasional use but it really limits the usability on the road.

Agreed - to be serious for a minute, driving everywhere at 6000rpm + is much worse in real life than it seems on paper - you just look like a bit of a knob

[36inter]

Men FFS!! my wife reminds me that I am a MALE not a man but she still does the washing up, cooking, cleaning, you know the stuff, I call it WOMENS work so we are about equal I guess......

There is nothing better than showing new car owners the way home in an old Mini, years ago my Minis always looked rough (probably because they were) but went like S$$t and it was great suprising other boy racers with a rough sleeper, 45 webber, 1385, S/C C/R box and drop gears. Actually I had the Webber on a 5" manifold with the inlet trumpets where the centre speedo was and no filter, the induction roar was enormous but I was never bothered by the noise, I loved it but it was not a revver, 544 cam and max power at 6000rpm and plenty of torque.

That was in the late 70's early 80's, I still have the engine, up together and running, not a shiny rebuild but a great runner, I have a very short video of it running, can I post videos on here or do I have to do it through something like Youtube and post the link.

Pete

[251 ENG]

Pictures of one of our modified cranks , ebay item 120782159462

[Giff]

I've just realised it was you guys who rebuilt those lovely H4s.

Thanks for running through the prices earlier, it was a great help.