Which drive in?

I am considering converting my SPI Cooper S works to a vtec for the added speed and reliability. Howeve i dont have the time to do it my self (or the knowledge) so would look to go down the drive in scream out route.

I know PLmini do one, and SAE and also watsons. My question is which is best? I literally want to take my car there and come back and take away my engine and drive home with a v-tec. Does anyone have any knowledge of these both on price and how good they are?

Many thanks for any advice.

[Geehawk]

If you do a few searches, you will find info on all these companies. But to help you on your way the 'Best' one begins with 'W' :wink:

[JoeT]

I was in exactly the same situation as you, I wanted all the work done, drive in, drive out.

So basically go to Watsons!

Watsons Specialist Car Centre
Unit B Flanshaw Works
Flanshaw Lane
Wakefield
WF2 9JH

01924 361002
www.watsonsrally.co.uk
watsonsrally@aol.com

Literally just off J40 M1. 8)

cheers guys that great! I estimate it will take me a year to save for this job so ill keep the details on file. Either that or ring the bank... :D

[JoeT]

cheers guys that great! I estimate it will take me a year to save for this job so ill keep the details on file. Either that or ring the bank... :D

lol yeah, I thought I was gonna save for a year or so, but the bank was only a quick phone call away :oops: :wink:

I've had mine for about 3 weeks now, well worth it that's for sure! 8)

[BassAddict]

All I can say is DONT GO TO P&L !!!!! Aside from my less than great experiances just with trying to fit their 'kit' (if you could call it that), someone else posted on here a while back who'd taken theirs for P&L 'drive in scream out' conversion over a year ago, and it still hadn't 'screamed out' - infact its still not even got an engine, any suspension, or even a front subframe !! Well, thats as of February when I last went their to have a moan !!!
Rich

[Oz]

A while back I called Geoff for prices and he told me the following:-

Based on fitting a 1.6 Drive-in conversion £5400 +vat - this included extending the front but not paint work as some people want the car resprayed all over.

Account for a set of wheeles/tyres as the Mini ones dont fit

Be prepared for other sundries such as wheel arches etc

Note these prices were right about a year ago - may have changed since

[JoeT]

it's around that,

Including hydraulic brake servo upgrade, full kit and engine, and paint on the front nose, DTA and basic map, came to a smidgen over £8000 ionc vat altogether, but that includes everything..

[mikeb]

dont bother with SAE the blokes name is john dexter ,it should be john wayne as hes a cowboy .seriously wouldnt go there ,hes ripped me off once and i wouldnt want the same thing to happen to someone else

[Mark D]

Geoff did mine and if theres any problems or i need advice hes always just at the end of the phone, great guy, great conversion,and an even greater car

Mark D

[Colin.ab]

Go To Geoff,

He'll pull no punches with his information about what will and wont fit - He's a Yorkshire Man so tends to speak his mind.

He built mine from a shell to a working car in 6 weeks, you can save money by doing the other jobs yourself.

Don’t underestimate how much these things can cost to build on top of the conversion, you'll be looking to spend at least 1/2 again on all the other parts you'll need. - Mine is currently £12K +

You can economise slightly if you supply the engine, but you’ll need to start off with a decent shell – Buy a Mini Automatic, as their usually low mileage, and most will eventually blow the gearbox.

Put a roll cage top of your list, and decent 4 point harness 2nd

Go to Minilite for wheels, they have the pattern for these conversions.

C.ab