Project Cliff - The Cherry Red Thirty by stretch tech

2 minute(s) of a 220 minute read

Evening all, just a small update

won these on eBay earlier, set of 5 KN Jupiter alloys 5Jx12, yes 12 inch jupiter's, never seen them before - EVER !!

Apparently they were an option on Canadian market minis for a few years and this set managed to stay in the UK 

The price ? 

Just £51 !! 

chuffed to bits  

my plan is to get them all refurbished in the same colour scheme as my current wheels so the "star" will be gold and the rest chrome - going to look sweet and definitely unique  

7-6-2014

Sorry, i didn't realise i'd forgot to reply   better late than never though haha i actually found them in my grandad's garage and he gave them to me so i don't really know anything about them, sorry...

In other news, UPDATE TIME PEOPLE  

As my insurance renewal looms ever closer (scary to think a year has gone so fast), it presents a golden opportunity for me to give Cliff some more oomph. I wanted to do something different to the typical 1275 swap and so i am going away from NA in the form of an 1100 TURBO lump  

I've had this plan in the pipe line for a while now and i'm sticking to small bore as it won't be too much of a power increase compared to going from bogo 998 to big boost 1275 haha. Plus it will at least mean there's the scope to up size in the future.

My focus for this build isn't outright top end power but low-mid range torque with small spool time in the attempt to keep it as a sensible daliy driver... well i use the term "sensible" loosely   Anyway, my original plan was to force feed my current 998 but i soon realised that it would be impractical as i would need to swap the cam for something more suited, diff for an X-pin variety and change to a taller FD (my 3.65 really would be something spectacular though) as well as fix the issue of the restrictive head casting.

And so i now plan to build up a motor outside of the car which i can then drop in over a weekend as i need the car for work.

Well that's the idea anyway.

Here's the donor unit currently acting as a prop in the garage:

1098cc A series from an Austin 1100. The longer stroke and the extra cc's should help improve the torque and spool up the turbine quicker plus they are around 8.6:1 comp as standard.

This engine won't be a screamer, mainly for what was said above but also because anything over 6K rpm is into crank shearing territory.

Ideally, i'd like good boost from 1500/2K up to my limit of 5K/5500 revs.

This brings me nicley onto the spec:

1098 A series 

+20 overbore to 1115cc (may have to be the next size up, depends upon the state of the bore walls)

MiniSport dished pistons to suit

3.1/2.95 Final drive (not sure yet)

X-pin diff 

266 cam (or equivalent)

GT1544S turbo from most modern TDI engines

Unleaded 12G202 head (smaller ports than the 12g295 to increase exhaust gas velocity and so aid spooling)

Pre-verto clutch (plate TBC)

Audi TT intercooler 

Approx. 1 Bar max boost

MPI fuel tank + pump

Megajolt stand alone ignition

I think that just about covers it, if i think of anything i've forgotten or if you guys think of something then just moan at me and i'll add it  

Right, here is what I've acquired so far:

(Donor engine)

MG Metro turbo exhaust manifold

Don't fret, i won't be cutting the bulkhead. I'll put together an adaptor, once i've got the turbo here, to clear the body.

Pair of TT intercoolers 

They've got different style outlets so i'll choose which is most suited to go behind the grill nearer the time.

Carb wise, i have this pair of HIF 44's from a Land rover V8 

But then this cropped up from an MG metro, apparently...

Think i'll probably build that one as it looks like it's been apart before.

I've also got the tank sorted but that's at work for the time being so it can air out  

i'll be making up my own plenum, exhaust adaptor and down pipe too.

Anyway, that's all for now folks but don't worry, my insurance is up the end of September so this project will be regularly updated.

Going to strip the engine down next weekend i think and take the block and head over to Southam Mini Metro Centre for them to work their magic. Reckon i'll put Cliff on the rollers whilst i'm there to get a base line and the fact that i never have known what my little sowing machine kicks out  

Any feed back will be most appreciated guys as i've put this project together from reading through endless topics on here, the turbo minis forum and the brilliant turbo-mini.co.uk website.