Classic Mini with Honda power!

**rmrsasteel** · January 27th, 2010 02:25 AM

Hi guys! not a newbie in Tsikot, but most of the time I 'm on our own club forum,But here I want to share my project! I fit a D15B honda engine to a standard round nose Mini. with a special subframe.

I modify the intake manifold and welded an upswept design same length as the original D15, with out modifying the bulkhead of the Mini.

I tend to use all Honda parts from radiator to clutch master , and even Japanese Hydrovac.

here is the chassis I modify. Note that the original Mini suspension has not been altered. I did this project to keep my Mini more road worthy and parts availability, But I intend to keep the Mini appearance as stock as possible, to keep up with the New BMW Mini.

This is the finish product! Note! no nose extension.

**seymorebutts** · January 27th, 2010 08:47 AM

kumusta naman po ang performance / handling etc after engine swap?

**meledson** · January 27th, 2010 08:59 AM

Hindi ba parang maliit ang radiator? Hindi kaya mag over heat?

also, walang air con? hehehehe

**niky** · January 27th, 2010 09:16 AM

Okay lang... half-length din talaga ang radiator ng D15... so it's a perfect engine to use for this kind of swap.

More elegant and practical solution than the B16 one which messes up the firewall.

**rmrsasteel** · January 27th, 2010 09:58 AM

1.) Performance is much better than the aging A series with stock HP of 100bhp+,
2.) Handling is ok, no torque steer since I did not alter the Mini suspension,
3.) Radiator comes from an automatic Civic, we did not modify anything, it fits!
4.) it has a/c FYI.
5.) D 15 engine is much lighter than the old iron block ng Mini.
6.)steering we add a kit that is 30% lighter than the original Mini steering.

**meledson** · January 27th, 2010 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by niky

Okay lang... half-length din talaga ang radiator ng D15... so it's a perfect engine to use for this kind of swap.

More elegant and practical solution than the B16 one which messes up the firewall.

Originally Posted by rmrsasteel

1.) Performance is much better than the aging A series with stock HP of 100bhp+,
2.) Handling is ok, no torque steer since I did not alter the Mini suspension,
3.) Radiator comes from an automatic Civic, we did not modify anything, it fits!
4.) it has a/c FYI.
5.) D 15 engine is much lighter than the old iron block ng Mini.
6.)steering we add a kit that is 30% lighter than the original Mini steering.

Interesting. :D

Actually, gusto ko ng mini as a toy week end car.

**rmrsasteel** · January 27th, 2010 12:13 PM

Actually owning a Mini is every boy's dream, But it's biggest question is reliability Been there , done that. Mini is a true classic, even your neighbor has a brand new Japanese car, Still people look at the Mini. But it's quite embarrassing having your car towed, stall at the road side,
Mini's A+ block even it came from Japan with low mileage still a T.L.C. to own.It over heats! ask all Mini owners that's there biggest problem. 2nd is parts cost and sourcing, yes we have specialty parts store in Visayas ave. , but still it doesn't compare to good ol Japanese,
Don't get me wrong I love Mini's , I love to drive them everyday , But it's a fast phase life, need to get to point A to point B, but with that I've been looking at those warning gauge rather thinking of your destination.
That's why I thought of this conversion, to have a worry free driving.

**niky** · January 27th, 2010 12:44 PM

How much did the custom subframe fabrication cost? And how did you reconcile the Honda drive-shafts and CV joints with the wheel-hubs?

I'd love to see this project.

**ehnriko** · January 27th, 2010 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by rmrsasteel

Mini's A+ block even it came from Japan with low mileage still a T.L.C. to own.It over heats! ask all Mini owners that's there biggest problem. 2nd is parts cost and sourcing, yes we have specialty parts store in Visayas ave. , but still it doesn't compare to good ol Japanese,
Don't get me wrong I love Mini's , I love to drive them everyday , But it's a fast phase life, need to get to point A to point B, but with that I've been looking at those warning gauge rather thinking of your destination.
That's why I thought of this conversion, to have a worry free driving.

Now thats what you call a pioneering spirit, you are probably the first one to do this in the Philippines... it is popular to do engine swaps in UK though.

However, I don't agree about the old mini engine overheating much... plenty of mini with AC's here in Imus and they pretty much do a good job in Medicion. The only problem I have with mine is the leaking oil seal of the drive shaft going to the CV joints and also the o-ring inside the SU Carb float chamber return line... I have an Automatik 998cc version by the way, but not really hard to find, William Auto Supply in Leon Guinto still sells.

Doing an engine swap with 100HP can really stir up the power to weight ratio and over-all dynamics of this little panzer.

How much is the total cost of conversion? Can you accept job orders already?

Thanks for sharing your cool project here.

**trafficjam** · January 27th, 2010 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by rmrsasteel

1.) Performance is much better than the aging A series with stock HP of 100bhp+,
2.) Handling is ok, no torque steer since I did not alter the Mini suspension,
3.) Radiator comes from an automatic Civic, we did not modify anything, it fits!
4.) it has a/c FYI.
5.) D 15 engine is much lighter than the old iron block ng Mini.
6.)steering we add a kit that is 30% lighter than the original Mini steering.

Nice! nice!

Pics naman dyan how ur mini honda / honda mini looks like.