Building a turbo engine for a Mini

[Skyliner]

I have been thinking about making a turbo engine for the Mini for quite some time. But there are a couple of aspects I am a bit uncertain about.

1. A standard Mini head leaves room for putting bigger valves in, at either the exhaust or the intake side. But which would be the best performance wise (both torque and hp)? For those not familiar with the head of a Mini it haves three exhaust ports and two intake.

2. Have anybody on this board worked with turbo and carburetors? I am currently using a HIF44 SU on my NA engine, and I am aware of that there exist a special version a this carb for an engine with forced induction. But I have read somewhere about the possibility to mount the carb (either a Weber/Dellorto or a HIF 44) before the turbo, which would solve a lot of space issues. What is your opinion about this?

3. For the ignition I have been considering getting a programmable ignition management. Do anybody here have any experience with something like this? Does anybody have some other ideas?

If you have any additional ideas/suggestions please write them

[TransAm]

Getting hold of a wrecked MG Metro Turbo or just a MG metro turbo engine is what I'd recommend

You can then use the bits you need off of that motor...

[T-Bird]

turbo charging a carbbed engine isn't too hard you have to fab up an air box to hold the carb in at the stock location so that you can feed the turbo outlet right into it.

[coombsie66]

Getting hold of a wrecked MG Metro Turbo or just a MG metro turbo engine is what I'd recommend

You can then use the bits you need off of that motor...

Yeah, thats all ive ever heard of people doing to mini's. Either dropping the whole MG metro turbo lump in, or adapt all the various manifolds, turbo, control system etc to fit.
I think it would be easier just dropping the whole lump in though!

With respect to the valve sizes, as i rule i think increasing the inlet valve flow area increases torque and power, and the exhaust valve increase just increases high end power i think.
I am in no way sure of those comments on the valves though, i just seem to remember reading them somewhere.
I know that the inlet area should total more than the exhaust in a Naturally aspirated car though. Turbo may be slightly different as your looking for as good-an exhaust flow to the turbo as possible.[/list]

[TransAm]

Good find Ronin.

That reminds me of how my MG metro turbo died...It ripped its gearbox apart coming out of a corner in 3rd gear at about 2000rpm. Right in front of a traffic policeman (who would later vouch to the dealer I bought the car off that I was driving sensibly when the car disintegrated - the dealer of course reckoned I had been hammering the crap out of the car at the time it broke)

[Skyliner]

I am aware of the Mg Metro turbo engine. It would be the easiest solution, but there is a few problems

First the modifications needed on the bulkhead is a massive problem because of the very silly rules in Denmark. It won't be road legal if i do this... :(

Second its a very rare and expensive buy..... I saw one the other day for ~2000 euros. And then I don't know much about the condition of the engine.

And fitting a intercooler with this type of manifold is almost impossible because of the very little amount of space.

The thing is I have alomst all of the parts needed to make the conversion, so it would be a quite cheap job, which would fit perfectly with the spare time in the summer holiday coming up..... Plus it's a nice challenge :D
As for brakes i already have mounted the 4-pot calibers and vented dics from a metro

[RC45]

93hp from a turbo 1300?

Damn - a NA 1000cc motorcycle puts out more HP... ;)