Classic Mini with Honda power!

[rmrsasteel]

Hi guys! not a newbie in Tsikot, but most of the time I 'm on our own club forum,But here I want to share my project! I fit a D15B honda engine to a standard round nose Mini. with a special subframe.


I modify the intake manifold and welded an upswept design same length as the original D15, with out modifying the bulkhead of the Mini.

I tend to use all Honda parts from radiator to clutch master , and even Japanese Hydrovac.

here is the chassis I modify. Note that the original Mini suspension has not been altered. I did this project to keep my Mini more road worthy and parts availability, But I intend to keep the Mini appearance as stock as possible, to keep up with the New BMW Mini.

This is the finish product! Note! no nose extension.

[seymorebutts]

kumusta naman po ang performance / handling etc after engine swap?

[meledson]

Hindi ba parang maliit ang radiator? Hindi kaya mag over heat?

also, walang air con? hehehehe

[niky]

Okay lang... half-length din talaga ang radiator ng D15... so it's a perfect engine to use for this kind of swap.

More elegant and practical solution than the B16 one which messes up the firewall.

[rmrsasteel]

1.) Performance is much better than the aging A series with stock HP of 100bhp+,
2.) Handling is ok, no torque steer since I did not alter the Mini suspension,
3.) Radiator comes from an automatic Civic, we did not modify anything, it fits!
4.) it has a/c FYI.
5.) D 15 engine is much lighter than the old iron block ng Mini.
6.)steering we add a kit that is 30% lighter than the original Mini steering.

[meledson]

Okay lang... half-length din talaga ang radiator ng D15... so it's a perfect engine to use for this kind of swap.

More elegant and practical solution than the B16 one which messes up the firewall.

1.) Performance is much better than the aging A series with stock HP of 100bhp+,
2.) Handling is ok, no torque steer since I did not alter the Mini suspension,
3.) Radiator comes from an automatic Civic, we did not modify anything, it fits!
4.) it has a/c FYI.
5.) D 15 engine is much lighter than the old iron block ng Mini.
6.)steering we add a kit that is 30% lighter than the original Mini steering.

Interesting. :D

Actually, gusto ko ng mini as a toy week end car.

[rmrsasteel]

Actually owning a Mini is every boy's dream, But it's biggest question is reliability Been there , done that. Mini is a true classic, even your neighbor has a brand new Japanese car, Still people look at the Mini. But it's quite embarrassing having your car towed, stall at the road side,
Mini's A+ block even it came from Japan with low mileage still a T.L.C. to own.It over heats! ask all Mini owners that's there biggest problem. 2nd is parts cost and sourcing, yes we have specialty parts store in Visayas ave. , but still it doesn't compare to good ol Japanese,
Don't get me wrong I love Mini's , I love to drive them everyday , But it's a fast phase life, need to get to point A to point B, but with that I've been looking at those warning gauge rather thinking of your destination.
That's why I thought of this conversion, to have a worry free driving.

[niky]

How much did the custom subframe fabrication cost? And how did you reconcile the Honda drive-shafts and CV joints with the wheel-hubs?

I'd love to see this project.

[ehnriko]

Mini's A+ block even it came from Japan with low mileage still a T.L.C. to own.It over heats! ask all Mini owners that's there biggest problem. 2nd is parts cost and sourcing, yes we have specialty parts store in Visayas ave. , but still it doesn't compare to good ol Japanese,
Don't get me wrong I love Mini's , I love to drive them everyday , But it's a fast phase life, need to get to point A to point B, but with that I've been looking at those warning gauge rather thinking of your destination.
That's why I thought of this conversion, to have a worry free driving.

Now thats what you call a pioneering spirit, you are probably the first one to do this in the Philippines... it is popular to do engine swaps in UK though.

However, I don't agree about the old mini engine overheating much... plenty of mini with AC's here in Imus and they pretty much do a good job in Medicion. The only problem I have with mine is the leaking oil seal of the drive shaft going to the CV joints and also the o-ring inside the SU Carb float chamber return line... I have an Automatik 998cc version by the way, but not really hard to find, William Auto Supply in Leon Guinto still sells.

Doing an engine swap with 100HP can really stir up the power to weight ratio and over-all dynamics of this little panzer.

How much is the total cost of conversion? Can you accept job orders already?

Thanks for sharing your cool project here.

[trafficjam]

1.) Performance is much better than the aging A series with stock HP of 100bhp+,
2.) Handling is ok, no torque steer since I did not alter the Mini suspension,
3.) Radiator comes from an automatic Civic, we did not modify anything, it fits!
4.) it has a/c FYI.
5.) D 15 engine is much lighter than the old iron block ng Mini.
6.)steering we add a kit that is 30% lighter than the original Mini steering.

Nice! nice!

Pics naman dyan how ur mini honda / honda mini looks like.

[rmrsasteel]

How much did the custom subframe fabrication cost? And how did you reconcile the Honda drive-shafts and CV joints with the wheel-hubs?

I'd love to see this project.

This is how we do it, resplined and weld, then hardened.

[rmrsasteel]

Go to PINOY Mini Online, General discussion, go to V-tec or not to V-tec thread, or Half breed Mini Thread, there is a build diary, and qoutation, under Mini-fab.

[rmrsasteel]

Now thats what you call a pioneering spirit, you are probably the first one to do this in the Philippines... it is popular to do engine swaps in UK though.

However, I don't agree about the old mini engine overheating much... plenty of mini with AC's here in Imus and they pretty much do a good job in Medicion. The only problem I have with mine is the leaking oil seal of the drive shaft going to the CV joints and also the o-ring inside the SU Carb float chamber return line... I have an Automatik 998cc version by the way, but not really hard to find, William Auto Supply in Leon Guinto still sells.

Doing an engine swap with 100HP can really stir up the power to weight ratio and over-all dynamics of this little panzer.

How much is the total cost of conversion? Can you accept job orders already?

Thanks for sharing your cool project here.

I've been owning Mini since 1992, I know Dolf from Leon Ginto, And if you don't agree Mini's don't overheat then go to EDSA during the Christmas rush or even to Ortigas where La Salle dismissal time, then tell me if your Mini won't overheat.The oil leak are signs that heat pressure coming out of your engine, tHE ORING FROM YOUR su CARB TELLS THAT HEAT FROM YOUR MANIFOLD TEND TO FRY THE DARN SEALS, aND IF YOU NOTICE CABIN TEMP IN A mINI IS HOT, tHAT FROM eUROPEAN STD. bUT IN A hONDA THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS AT THE FRONT, AND AIR TENDS TO PASS , And parts you say, are just general parts but not genuine, wait till 2 - 3 mos, it will give in.A lot of us in the Mini sceneknows these problem, Your lucky that the Mini you are driving already came from Japan, But wait till you get that Mini to replace pistons at 21k, WHEREAS A d15b COST 30k COMPLETE.

[donbuggy]

Timeless (never goes out of style) Mini body + powerful but reliable Honda engine = The car of my dreams!

[ehnriko]

I've been owning Mini since 1992, I know Dolf from Leon Ginto, And if you don't agree Mini's don't overheat then go to EDSA during the Christmas rush or even to Ortigas where La Salle dismissal time, then tell me if your Mini won't overheat.The oil leak are signs that heat pressure coming out of your engine, tHE ORING FROM YOUR su CARB TELLS THAT HEAT FROM YOUR MANIFOLD TEND TO FRY THE DARN SEALS, aND IF YOU NOTICE CABIN TEMP IN A mINI IS HOT, tHAT FROM eUROPEAN STD. bUT IN A hONDA THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS AT THE FRONT, AND AIR TENDS TO PASS , And parts you say, are just general parts but not genuine, wait till 2 - 3 mos, it will give in.A lot of us in the Mini sceneknows these problem, Your lucky that the Mini you are driving already came from Japan, But wait till you get that Mini to replace pistons at 21k, WHEREAS A d15b COST 30k COMPLETE.

If you read back.. I said I don't agree about mini engine overheating much." meaning. they do overheat, but maybe because I don't drive it in Manila traffic that's why I never experienced such trouble... and maybe because I use a different oil. (http://NewOil.blogspot.com)

So how much is the conversion cost? Labor and Materials aside from the engine and how long will it take? PM me.

[niky]

This is how we do it, resplined and weld, then hardened.

You used the Honda axles, then?

How did you harden them? I've done custom axles before, for my Sentra, but didn't know to harden the splines back when we did that conversion. One of the axles snapped on a drag-launch.

[rmrsasteel]

these axles were sent to a shop where they specialize in doing gears, eventually even I was a bit surprise after they gave back the axles they are black and burnt, but they are of quality and they are guarantee industrial strength quality, I can't give you the details it's trade secret but as you can see on the picture they are perfect. And for me we have shop that specialize in tube bending, in mandrell, and laser cutting machines, so build quality as it's best.

[niky]

Hmmm... probably heat treated and cooled.

Ever think of selling the conversion kit? I think a lot of guys would like to do it, and such a conversion would be much cheaper than the UK-sourced B16A kit. (especially as the B16 costs three times as much as a D15). And some variants of the D15 give you up to 130 bhp, stock.

Does this conversion allow you to keep AC?

[rmrsasteel]

Yes actually I'm doing 3 subframes already for a customer, at 30k with your original subframe as exchange. 40K without. and yes you can install original a/c of the Honda but with our own a/c bracket, but that extra. look at pinoyminionline forums under Vtec or not to Vtec thread, and there is a comprehensive quotation of the items.

[niky]

Yes actually I'm doing 3 subframes already for a customer, at 30k with your original subframe as exchange. 40K without. and yes you can install original a/c of the Honda but with our own a/c bracket, but that extra. look at pinoyminionline forums under Vtec or not to Vtec thread, and there is a comprehensive quotation of the items.

Cool. Got your CP from another thread... maybe I can call you sometime when I'm in the area? Would like to see the car. Maybe do an article. ;)