my carb'd xe project

[alanhughes87]

hi all, been building a c20xe engine (slowly) to fit my nova, spec is:
later coilpack type c20xe
twin 40 DCOE webers
lightened/balanced rods with ARP rod bolts
standard forged mahle pistons with rebore, new rings and shells
aftermarket 4-1 manifold (lexmaul i beleive)
facet red top fuel pump
filterking fuel filter/pressure regulator
H&H ignition setup (dizzy/coil/amplifier/wiring and red silicone leads)
autosprint 288 cams
new standard inlet valves, valve stem oil seals etc.
SBD inlet manifold
f16 close ratio box (possibly changing for f18 wide)


then my dad offered me his project mini for next to nothing, de-seamed except the roof, smoothed rear end, loads of new panels (including a brand new front end that i'm gonna have to cut off :( ) boxes and boxes of spares and the shell is one of the cleanest i've seen so decided it'd be the perfect home for my xe.

pics of the mini

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/alanhughes87/DSC00728.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/alanhughes87/DSC00001.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/alanhughes87/DSC00002.jpg

have some of the shell as he was building it as well somewhere.

planning on probably running an allspeed subframe then cut n shut shafts for now to get it running and lengthened roundnose front end.
awaiting cams to complete the engine then gonna have to save up for the subframe so will get other bits and pieces done while i'm waiting.
only problems i can see is alternator mounting as i dont want to chop my manifold up, setting up the carbs and getting the length right on shafts, im going to run the dummy shaft so that i can use equal length. wiring is very simple as the h&h setup only has 3 wires, just have to sort alternator and starter wires (maybe extend mini harness a bit)

[caveman]

hi there mate i noticed that u are using webber 40,s i have just bought a pair and evry body i speak to say,s you should be using 45,s but lotus 1 race cars use xe with forty,s have you heard anything diff :x :oops:

[alanhughes87]

depends what you're after to which carbs to choose. 45s give more power right up the rev range but 40's tend to produce better low down power and torque. i reckon the 40's are a better bet for fast road use as you will see slightly better fuel economy (although if thats what you're after you made a mistake buying carbs :lol: ) and a more usable engine lower down the revs. this is all dependant on the way the carbs and ignition are set up and the cams used of course. if its a track weapon you want 45s all the way

[bazzamini]

well when u cut off the front end recycle it and make it into a barbueque :)

[caveman]

cheers alan put my mind at rest thought i had messed up there, dont really want to use carbs but carnt afford tb,s maybe in the future,just want it on the road in the next year. :oops:

[alanhughes87]

small update, now have an inlet manifold sorted and bought a set of landrover mounts, plan to get the front end off and a start on the subby at the weekend :?

[caveman]

well when u cut off the front end recycle it and make it into a barbueque :)they say clubby,s make the best barbie,s because roundnoses are rubbish :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[fbm-spec]

Why are you cutting the front end off........... it is possible to fit the XE in a roundnose with patience..............chop your exhaust manifold up instead, it's much easier than extending wings and bonnets. :D :D

[alanhughes87]

if i could fit it under the roundnose i would, looks the nuts atm with the recessed front indicators etc. and its all new panels but its my first conversion and i'm told its a complete 'mare to do. might be tempted to make the frame to suit the standard front and chop my spare manifold up (not the lexmaul jobbie that cost me £100) then if it wont fit lop the front off and go extended. has anyone actually managed to fit one with standard roundnose on a custom subby? got me thinking now :?

[andyhot]

Fbm-spec fitted a xe in standard length roundnose,
so did markLD i think it is.

[cooper_mark]

yep FBM and mark LD..both custom subby's
can be done only if u get rid of the standard mini suspension
i dont think it can be done using rubber cones... main problem is the towers are to bulky where the top arm pivot point is so just can't get the engine far enough back.so in my view the towers need to be slimmer
i'm hoping that once i gone mine done i will have a go at my own custom frame to fit round nose..(just acuired autocad 2009).... :lol: .free... :lol:

[garyshoose]

Personally if I were building an XE, I'd try my damndest to stick with the standard suspension set up, even if it meant a slightly longer nose. The mini suspension is a lot easier to keep in a straight line and there's plenty of off the shelf parts to improve an already proven set up. XE's can take a lot of setting up to transfer the power efectively (and safely) onto the road.

[alanhughes87]

never realised i had to do away with standard suspension to keep roundnose, think you have the right idea gary, i'll just spend the £220 on extended front as i want something usable on the road sooner rather than later.

[alanhughes87]

bit of progress. subbys removed from car, got the top brace made up and welded on, got the braces for it cut ready to go in, have the morning off tomorrow but got a nice big spark in my eye from grinding (too lazy to walk 3 feet to get goggles) so off to hospital in the morning :? then hoping to get a lot further with it. am doing this and head gasket on the xe i've just bought for my corsa then fitting it so a bit hectic between that and work, nothing worse than 2 projects (well 3 if you count the nova but thats on hold until minis done)