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is it possible to install a superbike engine in a classic mini cooper?

I'm interested in purchasing a classic mini cooper but most have less then 90hp. i want to know if it's possible to install a superbike engine in the classic car. i understand that i'll probably need to purchase a completely new drivetrain and what not. i'm looking for a good explanation on how large of a superbike engine will fit and what i will need to have installed in the car for the engine replacement to work. i'd also appreciate a ruff estimate on how much $ this will all cost. thx

Hey, In looked into this myself about 10 years ago. The biggest problems are:

1. The lack of a differential, since there is no where to fit one separate from the engine

2. The increased cooling efficiency needed, since the engine will be under significantly more load, and

3. The lack of a reverse gear, which is needed on the road, and in motorsports. Even bike s that come with reverse (Honda Gullwing, for example) won't work. They have a "reverse crawler" - that is, you switch the engine off, engage the crawler, then back up on the starter motor. The purpose of this is to keep it slow, since you still need to keep your feet on the ground and walk backwards with the bike. Riding backwards (feet up) is VERY difficult!

4. Lack of torque. Those bike engines make great horsepower, but would really have trouble getting the car to move, especially since bike engines don't have much rotational mass (no flywheel to speak of, and the clutch weighs nothing.)

The best solutions I've found are:

1. The Twini. John Cooper made 2 or three of these. You remove the rear subframe and the floor of the car. Bolt in a new FRONT subframe into the rear of the car, complete with engine, fabricating as necessary. Link the subframes together (full chassis - the body can't take the strain.) Link the shifters and throttle cables. Make latch extenders (like the old FIAT 500 Abarth) so the trunk can be left open about 2 inches for the are intakes and cooling of the rear motor. Weld the rear tie rods to the frame so the rear wheels point forwards. Run both clutch cylinders off the one pedal, or find a high volume master cylinder (a brake master might work). Find somewhere to put the extra exhaust pipe (pretty tricky!) Fuel tank needs to be relocated to behind the front seats. Synchronize the clutches, shifters and throttles. MAKE SURE ALL WELDS ARE PERFECT! Otherwise, a rear wheel may start to turn at speed (this is what happened to Cooper at 100 mph - he nearly died.) Don't worry about the engines making different hp - just make sure the gear ratios are the same. Cooper's first one had an 850 in the front, and an 1100 in the rear. Just to show that this'll work...the Mini Moke was designed for the military, and was supposed to have 2 engine (1 front, 1 rear) for reliability as well as 4WD.

2. Cut out rear floor. Insert Alfa Romeo 2.5 V6 into front (radiator will just fit if you use the Clubman front bodywork). Try to find one with carbs - injection wiring for the computer would be a major pain in the ass. Alfa transaxle goes into the rear, incl. all suspension. Modify subframe to take suspension. Needs big discs up front to balance the brakes, otherwise too much in rear. Will also need to run 13" wheels and 175/40/13 tyres to fit the discs (can't fit bigger - the wheel arches are too small and too shallow.) Interior floor will probably need modifying to fit the shift linkage, exhaust pipe and drive shaft. Engine is a VERY tight fit, but supposedly it can be done. Also heard of using a Ford V6 from a late 60s/early 70s Capri GT (European model).

I prefer the first option. All engine/trans parts can come from BMC's racing parts bin (work well together, and fairly reliable), and you have the advantage of 4WD.

None of the real Minis came with over 90 hp, but in a car weighing just over 1/2 ton, that's a pretty good power to weight ratio. And there are more mods out there (from the factory race teams - work well together AND reliable) than you can shake a stick at! I've had over 90 hp from an 1100 (1098cc, actually.) I've heard of up to 170 hp, and I've personally seen 130 hp from a reliable daily driver. Imagine 260 - 340 hp and 4WD in a car with 4-wheel disc brakes, and weighing about 3/4 ton!

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Mini Cooper Gymkhana

Love It Or Hate It The Mini Is Here To Stay

Who'd have thought that such a mini little car would take off the way it has? It looks like something a child would drive, has about as much spare room as you need to fit your handbag in and has the appearance of a car that needs dragging backwards just to get some welly behind it.

However, the humble Mini has taken off beyond Cooper's wildest dreams and has become a veritable icon in the motoring world. I personally aspired to a mini in bright pink metal flake when I was a teenager but thankfully common sense kicked in before I could afford my own car.

Nowadays, the Mini has a worldwide fan club all its own. Organisations abound for Mini owners to get together and compare storage capacity, or whatever it is they do. There's even a stretch Mini available for occasions. Would they be the occasions when you want to get a normal weeks shopping in the back, or take both the kids out at once, just for a treat?

I suppose the one thing that Mini has that appeals to people is its uniqueness. Yes, there are other small cars on the market but they look silly when compared to the classic cuteness of the Mini. With its individual paint jobs and squat baby looks, how can a comparison be made?

Some of the world's bigger celebrities have been proud Mini owners. The Beatles all owned a Mini each, Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood also managed to get their lanky frames behind the wheel of one of these cars and have been joined by Paul Newman, Charlotte Church and Sharon Osborne. Not physically of course because that would just be silly and downright impossible, but as Mini owners.

Even the advertising of the Mini has been completely different to what we are used to for your average product. A series of small, movie like clips have been televised and a whole series of action packed mini films have been played over the web in their advertising campaign.

So, what makes it as great as the Americans seem to think it is, because it seems the Mini has truly found a home in the US. Well, as small as it is, the placing of the wheels in the far corners gives it the appearance of the Great British bulldog. Sturdy, strong and powerful. The superb handling, surprising power and excellent running costs make this a car to be reckoned with, along with the numerous ways you can customise it to your own specifications. There are, in fact, over 10,000,000 possible combinations of accessories so the chances of you meeting up with someone who has picked the same are pretty slim.

Although the makers of Mini like to largely stay with the original design, some subtle changes have been made over the years. It is now slightly larger than it used to be and also comes in a convertible design. It is also more powerful than it was originally with the Mini Cooper S reaching 172 horsepower. Other options include being able to choose heated seats, cruise control, air conditioning, sports suspension and top of the range stereo system.

Mini cars are a bit like Marmite - you either love them or hate them. There is no middle of the road for these cars. But however you feel about them they are here to stay and take the lead in the way all small cars should look.

About the Author

Car expert Catherine Harvey looks at the reasons why the Mini is so popular.