tobycatlin
01-11-2010, 10:27 AM
Due to lack of skill I went down the easy route and bought a k-series conversion on ebay. It was originally done by a member of 16v, MiniRio but has been through a couple of other owners until i got may hands on it. I have no space or tools to do anything myself and rely on mechanics to do any work i need.
The car has been set up for track use at some point and has rock hard suspension and seats. I am mostly using it as a fast road car so mostly want to make it more drivable on the road without compromising on performance too much.
I wanted to start a project thread as there is a growing list of things i want to do and would really appreciate advice on the best way to achieve my goals. I get mixed messages from most of the mechanics i have taken the car to. They don't really know what to make of it.
The car started off as a 1993 mini rio.
now has:
1.8 vvc kseries (dyno'd at 160bhp)
PG1 gearbox with lsd, close ratio 1,2,3 with longer 4,5
AVO adjustable coilovers on the front and Gaz adjustable coilovers on the back.
metro gti vented disk brakes front and metro gti drums on the back
mgf twin pipe exhaust
half roll cage
full body kit
Some pics can bee seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobycatlin/sets/72157622204682196/
Since owning the car i have already had the gearbox modified to have a longer 4/5th and it will now cruise at 70mph at around 3k rpm. Thanks gazwad for the gearbox man. I havn't managed to redline it in 5th!. It still accelerates brilliantly as 1,2,3 are pretty close.
Current list of jobs:
Rear end
The boot floor has been cut out to make way for the large backbox of the mgf exhaust. This has been replaced very badly with fibre glass and is now pretty rusty. I plan on removing the mgf exhaust which was badly fitted to begin with and is very quiet.
I was thinking about replacing it with a centre exit DTM like, http://www.minispeed.co.uk/content/centre-exit-dtm-tailpipe
Any other suggestions for a exhaust for a k-series? i certainly don't want to compromise performance.
I would either get a flat sheet of metal to replace the fibreglass or get a replacement boot floor if i can fit the exhaust in under the spare wheel well. Would be nice to have a spare tire again
http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=33329
I then need to fix up the rear bumper which has taken almighty abuse on the speed bumps of london. It is cracked and chipped and i never really liked it as it a massive slab hung off the bottom of the car. I was going to chop it down so it is thinner and gives more ground clearance. Not sure what i can do to make it look better.
Suspension
The suspension feels like it has been built of iron rods. When i drive over a cats eye it feels like i have hit a pot hole. You can imagine what happens when i do hit a pot hole. What can i do to soften it up a bit? softer springs?
I'd like a full setup done by someone like KAD. Any recommendations for this kinda thing?
Dash board
I have bought a fibreglass dash from "the stig":
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobycatlin/4163152787/in/set-72157622204682196/
I plan to get this flocked in black and fit a car pc, gauges, switch panel and a touch screen
I am not sure what gauges i can use. I am using the standard mems 2j ecu unit. I need at a minimum: rpm, speed, engine temp, oil pressure, fuel. What have other people used with a k-series?
Any advice or ideas on how i physically attach the dash into the car would be great.
I think thats a good start. I have loads more idea and details, that will hopefully build up in this thread. I'll post pictures of progress. Please if you have any advice or recommendations chip in. If you are in the east london area and wanna come have a look at it, get in contact.
thanks
toby
The car has been set up for track use at some point and has rock hard suspension and seats. I am mostly using it as a fast road car so mostly want to make it more drivable on the road without compromising on performance too much.
I wanted to start a project thread as there is a growing list of things i want to do and would really appreciate advice on the best way to achieve my goals. I get mixed messages from most of the mechanics i have taken the car to. They don't really know what to make of it.
The car started off as a 1993 mini rio.
now has:
1.8 vvc kseries (dyno'd at 160bhp)
PG1 gearbox with lsd, close ratio 1,2,3 with longer 4,5
AVO adjustable coilovers on the front and Gaz adjustable coilovers on the back.
metro gti vented disk brakes front and metro gti drums on the back
mgf twin pipe exhaust
half roll cage
full body kit
Some pics can bee seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobycatlin/sets/72157622204682196/
Since owning the car i have already had the gearbox modified to have a longer 4/5th and it will now cruise at 70mph at around 3k rpm. Thanks gazwad for the gearbox man. I havn't managed to redline it in 5th!. It still accelerates brilliantly as 1,2,3 are pretty close.
Current list of jobs:
Rear end
The boot floor has been cut out to make way for the large backbox of the mgf exhaust. This has been replaced very badly with fibre glass and is now pretty rusty. I plan on removing the mgf exhaust which was badly fitted to begin with and is very quiet.
I was thinking about replacing it with a centre exit DTM like, http://www.minispeed.co.uk/content/centre-exit-dtm-tailpipe
Any other suggestions for a exhaust for a k-series? i certainly don't want to compromise performance.
I would either get a flat sheet of metal to replace the fibreglass or get a replacement boot floor if i can fit the exhaust in under the spare wheel well. Would be nice to have a spare tire again
http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=33329
I then need to fix up the rear bumper which has taken almighty abuse on the speed bumps of london. It is cracked and chipped and i never really liked it as it a massive slab hung off the bottom of the car. I was going to chop it down so it is thinner and gives more ground clearance. Not sure what i can do to make it look better.
Suspension
The suspension feels like it has been built of iron rods. When i drive over a cats eye it feels like i have hit a pot hole. You can imagine what happens when i do hit a pot hole. What can i do to soften it up a bit? softer springs?
I'd like a full setup done by someone like KAD. Any recommendations for this kinda thing?
Dash board
I have bought a fibreglass dash from "the stig":
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobycatlin/4163152787/in/set-72157622204682196/
I plan to get this flocked in black and fit a car pc, gauges, switch panel and a touch screen
I am not sure what gauges i can use. I am using the standard mems 2j ecu unit. I need at a minimum: rpm, speed, engine temp, oil pressure, fuel. What have other people used with a k-series?
Any advice or ideas on how i physically attach the dash into the car would be great.
I think thats a good start. I have loads more idea and details, that will hopefully build up in this thread. I'll post pictures of progress. Please if you have any advice or recommendations chip in. If you are in the east london area and wanna come have a look at it, get in contact.
thanks
toby