Right, next project after the '91 cooper restoration looks like being a 1979 clubman estate, really nice one, beign fitted with an alternative powerplant as a bit of a "demo car" as we are looking at mini engine conversions business.

Question is, do we go bike engine in the back or do we go for a honda car engine or something?

Car engine has the advantage of being better for road use, bike has the added laugh factor and probably a bit more kudos with the mini folks................

opinions??

its going in the back whatever it is, and the car will be painted a very "period" colour for a bit of a sleeper approach.

edit - i suppose an alternative would be vauxhall XE in the back.......I already have all the bits to do it!!

[Edited on 9/7/09 by NS Dev]

Bike engine in the front

whoops looks like I didnt read the bit about going in the back

[Edited on 9/7/09 by big_wasa]

nope, sorry but I will never build a front wheel drive car unless I am being paid a LOT to do it!!

How about one in the back......and another in the front??

P.S. How's that Strada coming along?

i always wanted to do a V8 mini pickup, with engine up front, and RWD

hmm, clubman estate could work too? nudge nudge

There is a very nice zx9 powered front engine rearwheel drive mini about.
Its bright yellow and was at stoneleigh this year on the Sunday.

instead of cutting the floor out and making a tranny tunnel the guy chopped a suitable sized hole in the bulkhead and ran the prop through the car and panelled it in a la 7 stylee, nice locost method.

He used a rear subframe and indipendant wishbones and coilover that looked very similar to MK items, sierra acle and shortened shafts.

recons it cost him 4K to do it.

If you want some pics i can mail them to you if you u2u me your email address.

G13b from a Suzuki Swift gti

if either conversion could be done without chopping the chasis about requiring re-registeration/SVA or what ever the replacement is would be best, thats the only reason i like the motorbike front wheel drive option

VW / Audi 1.8 turbo 150 bhp as standard mapable to 225, using the audi gearbox/ trans axle. this will put the weight really in the centre of the car. A revvy engine but not a screamer. The 1.8 engine has been known to do 300 + BHP

It's a Clubman Estate, just think of all that space! LS7 or similar on a Porker or beefed-up Renault transaxle?

How about a VAG turbo diesel, very different and very very tuneable . Plenty of VAG rear engined cars (although mainly petrols, but gearbox and layout would be the same). There is an elise somewhere that had a VAG diesel stuck in the back.

quote:

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Originally posted by MK9R
How about a VAG turbo diesel, very different and very very tuneable . Plenty of VAG rear engined cars (although mainly petrols, but gearbox and layout would be the same). There is an elise somewhere that had a VAG diesel stuck in the back.

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V8 with transaxle Might need a wee bit of work on the body and rear seat space may be compromised a tad.

A Twini BEC has a definate appeal to it though.

As Locoboy, bike engine in the front driving the back wheels.

You should be able to use 7 type locost builders techniques to do it..

Go for it!

quote:

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Originally posted by coozer
As Locoboy, bike engine in the front driving the back wheels.

You should be able to use 7 type locost builders techniques to do it..

Go for it!

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As you are thinking of demo cars to showcase mini engine conversions id say you should do one of both. Perhaps the CEC first. Maybe something different to the norm and make it your signature conversion for next 3 or 4 years, something to be known for.

Then do a BEC one as well for those people who are misguided enough to think cars should have bike engines. For a laugh fit a set of pedals too - go ped stylee.

No harm in appealing to the mass market when you are trying to get yourself known.

Something like this I'd whack a big v6 or v8 in the back, think of the soundtrack!