79 Classic Mini Honda D Series Swap

[Farbin Kaiber]

Building your own tubular subframe or buying a kit, or building your own?

[jakeb]

Yes this is a d16y7, non vtec actually. 106hp stock. It is MORE than enough for the mini. The stock mini engine is around 45hp and it is actually pretty zippy. I wouldn't say fast in anyway but it is still fun with the stock engine. 106hp will be useable power and not spinning the wheels all the time. This car will be for my wife.....

Another reason for the D Series is it is the smallest of all the honda engines and I need the room with the auto trans. Remember the MINI is pretty damn small.

Farbin: Building my own subframe. I can't see spending the amount that minitec wants for their subframe and no one makes one that 100% will fit an automatic. I'm still unsure it I am going to make it from square stock or bend it out of DOM. Leaning towards DOM right now. I also want to try and reuse the honda front brakes so I can end up with discs up front. Again...all up in the air until I get in there and see what will work.

[MT325is]

awh makes sense. and thats gunna be nice another 50 hp power, wanna see this thing in action. ill say she is a lucky wife to be driving around on an old mini that she never has to do anything to:) Good luck.

[F34R]

AWESOME! I am sure your wife will not need anymore power than that. I bet that swap would run down a b27 ETA.

[jakeb]

Yeah it should be fun. The mini only weighs around 1500lbs.

[ZM Blue Devil]

in the for the madness, these are fun little cars.

a local buddy just did this. Its a handful.

[325ix]

^That looks like so much fun! I bet the torque steer can be a handful.

[MT325is]

B16A!!!!!!!!! awh i love that engine.. thats in a mini im assuming! so nice! and i wonder just the speed of that thing! wow! meaning accelerating. But any news on your work OP?

[george graves]

sub'ed

[AsharC]

Where in MI are you? I'd love to see this. Not only that, but the LS1 e28.

[jakeb]

I am up in Bay City. About 2 hours north of Detroit. There won't be a ton of updates to this very soon. I have some things to finish up for others before I dig into the Mini. But I am really excited to get at it. Building a subframe will be something new. Looking forward to it. I also have a new tig welder to learn how to use.

[Pl3wA]

im just gonna put this here for no reason

[M-technik-3]

Perfect engine, granted mine had a 1.8 vtec when I had one in Japan but mine was a delivery van.

Look forward to updates.

[airkhin]

perfect candidate for the mini. more than enough power even though its auto. ive been considering doing a swap like that for many years now, but part of me cant destroy an cooper s for it, maybe one day ill pick up another mini to do the swap in...

[SS350]

Great plan, I like that you chose one of the "lower tune" honda motors. My Fiancee and I were kicking this idea around recently ourselves. Let us know when you have some updates? :-)