Thread: Putting a Turbo on my classic Mini

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Hello, I'll start by telling you that I know very little about engines.. I've just started as an apprentice Mechanic, but I'll get there eventually

I'd appreciate it if somebody could put my mind at rest,
Anyway, my question is..

I'm buying a classic Mini soon and I was just wondering if it was possible to stick a turbo on such a small engine, and a dump valve too. The engine sizes vary from around 1,0 to 1,3.

Thanks a lot.

anything is possible with the right amount of money and knowedge

That's good to hear

How much (estimate) would I be looking at to put a turbo+dump valve on it? (labor costs not included)

You there mate? Or anyone who could give an estimate

I'v got some turbo knowladge.. those Mini engines are quite small, but a motor bike turbo might be the ticket.. your problem will be, you need to get a carb that can take boost.. Holley's can do this, but I'm not sure that there is 1 small enough to fit the Mini engine.. Your factory carb is likely a Webber I think, which I don't think likes boost.

There were turbos used on the 1 liter Geo Metro engines and I think some on the same car when known as the Chevrolet Sprint or Suzuki Swift. Anyway, it's the 3-cylinder motor made somewhere between '85 and '95, depending on what country you're in. You're in the south of England, aren't you?

If you could get away with it (not sure of laws there), the best thing would be to swap in a Honda VTEC motor or some other powerful 4 cylinder inline motor. Don't be put off by it. Tens of thousands of greasy-haired guys (and gals) have done swaps in the past. It may seem like a daunting task if taken at the whole, but if you break it down into sub-sections and attack each smaller problem, you can work your way through it.
http://www.minimania.com/web/Display...n/ArticleV.cfm

There are a bunch of Mini videos on youtube. This is the one I like best.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHtgXi-B9dA

Then there's the V8 mini. I don't know what motor he used, but I suspect a Rover....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iK4d...eature=related

Here's a link to Jonspeed, Mini specialists in Warwickshire....
http://www.jonspeed4minis.co.uk/BMWm....asp?PageID=43

been there mate, 20 yrs ago we toyed with a brick. we used a ihi rhb5 turbo of a ea82 subaru import engine ,knocked up a manifold from buttweld fittings and an adaptor to fit a 1"3/4 su carb directly to the turbo. [no intercooler] and fair dinkum it went like stink with a tank full of avgas. do it simple, get a taste of turbo and then get serious with a o,ringed block, turbo pistons, efi and a intercooler. cheers darin