VTEC Virgin! Please Read!!

[JoeT]

Hi all, I've got a £10,000 budget to blow on my mini, I was originally going to go for an R1 mid mounted rwd conversion, but it's looking too expensive, and impracticle (i.e. no reverse, selling on trouble, engine reliability etc etc)

So I have decided to go for a VTEC converison instead with the 1600 VTI B16 engine.

Although I have technical knowledge I am not a full blown mechanic so I will be getting a company to carry out the conversion (P&L minis).

Can anyone offer their views?

Performance? I've heard 0-60 its around 5-5.5 secs on the standard engine.... Top speed? driveability? torque steer? :shock:

any views or things you might think I need to know then please wack a post here, the more help the better!!!

Ok cheers mate that's great, it's important to me that the correct stuff is used on it so cheers for that! Do you have a phone number or website address for Watsons?

how much do they charge for their conversion? P&L quote £7000


Bear in mind I've a roundnose mini so an extended front/flip front needs to be added.......

[JoeT]

Ok cheers mate that's great, it's important to me that the correct stuff is used on it so cheers for that! Do you have a phone number or website address for Watsons?

how much do they charge for their conversion? P&L quote £7000


Bear in mind I've a roundnose mini so an extended front/flip front needs to be added.......

[Oz]

Hi

Try www.watsonsrally.co.uk

phone 01924-361002

I spoke to Watsons about the price of the conversion but since I dont live on th eUK mainland it was impracticable, so I'm gonna be doing mine myself, but the prices Geoff quoted me was as follows:-

to fit engine (1600 VTi) and extend front approx £5400+VAT

Paint front approx £350

Bear in mind you'll also have to get a set of wheels as you cant use your Mini ones

There will probably be other costs etc but that should give you an idea

Hope this helps

Oz

[Vtec Steve]

:arrow:

[PaulAmes]

Yeh - I bought the Watsons kit and the work seems to be very good. Just dont get the fiberglass front from them - I sent mine back - it was terrible.

[JoeT]

Ok brilliant, yeah I emailed Geoff at watsons earlier and responded very quickley, he reckons about £7000 should see most of it done, as I've already had my mini fully restored, bit worrying about the fiberglass front though as I have a roundnose and therefore will need an extension! :?

[PaulAmes]

I got another fiberglass front from ABS, this is about 6" longer. However it does fit very well. But if Watsons are doing it for you I am sure they would do a steel front for you if it be flip or not.

[Mark D]

Geoff at watsons did mine, i went along and helped do it and i cant fault him, even now, 1 year latter the the advice is second to none. Wouldnt touch p&l at all

[BassAddict]

I bought the P&L subframe - and regretted it since - they're far less sorted than Watsons - its even got the rear subframe mounts from the metro still and when I asked Paul said "I can make some brakets up to fit it to the mini mounts" but couldn't give a definate price - seems like a bhit of a cowboy to be honest, hence I've started a few welding / bodywork courses so I can sort it myself rather than go back there and throw good money after bad.
Rich

[JoeT]

That's brilliant thanks for the advice everyone as I was ready to go to P&L but have spoken to Geoff at watsons now, he's even cheaper too!!


:P

[Colin.ab]

Welcome to the club.

I have some brand new wheels available for your Honda Mini with the Rover Metro stud pattern see here:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28648&item=2437076974

Spare set I had them made for my Integra Mini a few months ago, They are brand new & still in the Compomotive boxes ready for shipping.

Geoff’s the man to see for Vtec Minis, He's just built mine, No one else is in the picture - Don’t go for a test drive in his rally car if you are of a nervous disposition!

Cheers

Colin.ab(at)virgin(dot)net

200 bhp B18C6 Integra Type R 67 Cooper 'S'

[JoeT]

Hi Colin, those wheels look stonking... I am very interested but I will not have the money until next month so if they don't go on Ebay I'll whip them off you straight away, they look really nice! :P

how much are the Watson vtec conversion kits?

[big pete]

how much are the Watson vtec conversion kits?

whoops..forgot to sign in

[big pete]

thats not too bad. Is there a way I can use a honda wiring harness and run the honda ecu instead of using the DTA system? Oh and I assume the kit price is in £'s (damn weak US currency value =P)

[big pete]

what is included in the DTA system? And as for manifolds, I seen some people use the stock manifold and others say you can't.

[Equinox96]

I found this thread in one of the searches I did and have a couple of fundamental questions.

However first of all, Joe, I saw the advert that you are selling your car and I do not mean to be rude or certainly do not mean to make you feel bad. It just seems like I am in precisely the same stage as you were a couple of years ago and I am deciding on whether to go for it or not. I have around 10k and a mini that has just been touched up that I really want to put a VTEC in. It will have to be a drive in and drive out conversion for me as I can offer only limited help there (live in London, no proper garage to do work myself, no mechnics background).

So the question is whether to do the conversion or to look for an already done one? Or, if I may ask, Joe, would you do still do it now?

What was the total price for the conversion including engine, 'box etc but not restoration?

I really appreciate every opinion.