Mini - Now c20xe build

[tinxy]

thought id post up a build diary of my 2l 8v mini project feel free to leave tips and advise about the tuning of this engine or general coments cheers guys

started out a a 1275





i managed to mince the front end and the it looked like this




then i decided to pullit all apart and decide on a engine choice





after buying a tuned a series and began weiging up the cost of a straight cut gear box and other bits i needed and the lack of reliabiliy id have i decided to go for a vauxhall lump and chose the 8v as i met a guy called terry who told me i could get one in a standard length front

i got the standard mini subframe modified beond belive and then i had this


sorry crap picture

[tinxy]

i then set out and found a tidy 79.000 mile calibra






and did this to it






and put the engine strait in the mini subframe these engines aint light lmao
thought id put my back out lol







and after that all the driveshafts and wheels went on to get a look and check everything was as it should be ie driveshafts

[tinxy]

next i upgraded my rear shocks to coilovers for better rear end grip



see even the spider likes them lol

[Melv]

thats a fair old project there. Will adding a heavier engine in the front not throw the handlilng all to funk though?

[Mitch2.0]

Been in a mini EX, cammed, throttle bodies and nos, crazy, and you genuinly had that feeling of relief when you got out alive. This should be a torquey little street sleeper when it's finished.

Plans for the engine itself, or just keep it standard?

[neo1]

Is that front bracing strong enough for the job, what is it 1" box section ?

[rwdmad]

the engines int he calibras are c20seh which are 15 bhp more than the c20ne , their 130bhp as the ne has 115 , just thought id let you know

[neil105]

you still on mini fount hubs,how did you manage the engine mounts

[nige-p]

the engines int he calibras are c20seh which are 15 bhp more than the c20ne , their 130bhp as the ne has 115 , just thought id let you know

their is no such engine as a c20seh and the engine he has fitted is a c20ne which is 115BHP when new to be honest if you are gonna keep this engine i would look for a 20seh cam as this will make it run a bit stronger but not much you could fit the rest of the 20seh stuff but you could pick up a whole engine for £100 without loom and then just get the ECU and fit that and would then have 130BHP

some handy links for you
20seh and c20ne differences
tuning a 2.0 8v 20seh

sorry to hijack a little bit but other than that looks like a good build my mate has just done a rover 216 engine(honda one) conversion with subframe and flipfront on his mini then sold the whole conversion afterwards and has gone back to 1275

[tinxy]

just to update you all yes the subrames is made strong enough and there a 3 others on the road with the same subframe


yes its got mini suspension and hubs so i still have mini handling charachteristics but with a heavever front end

my plans are to firstly strip all unnessasary weight ie persex windows

and im in the process of trieing to sourse se block or pistons as there higher compression

a spare head to have skimmed and ported and polished

and a kent cam

but will drive with the stock ne for a while still hass 122 fp or torque and 113 bhp

bear in mind i will have no cat and a 4 branch manifold


cheers for the advice and links astra-nige

[tinxy]

heres pic of the custom 4 branch

[tinxy]

had a leaking sump so had to be welded because im to tight to buy a new one lol

[rwdmad]

their is no such engine as a c20seh and the engine he has fitted is a c20ne which is 115BHP when new to be honest if you are gonna keep this engine i would look for a 20seh cam as this will make it run a bit stronger but not much you could fit the rest of the 20seh stuff but you could pick up a whole engine for £100 without loom and then just get the ECU and fit that and would then have 130BHP

well 20seh then and i think evryone knows that it still wont be 115 now, and i had a calibra which had a 20SEH so i should think thats what in his.

[rwdmad]

but he looks like he knows his stuff so perhaps im wrong lol

[alistairolsen]

tbh Id have gone for a dispak 1600 8v with a four branch and a cam for preference, if youre going to suffer the weight of the big block andgine and box you make as well have the 20xe.

minis are cool tho!!

[tinxy]

ive gone for a 8v as it fits under a standard length front 16v need a extended one

and my engine is deff a c20ne as its got it stamped on the block its just a seh without the higer comp pistons, ecu and cam


but im deff after a seh

this is it be4 i sprayed the front

[tinxy]

thats it all sprayed up

[nige-p]

look ace man, where about in the world are you as my 20seh might be getting replaced at some point so could sell you that in a few months time, if you do find a kent cam mate dont bother as the differnece between that and a 20seh one is minimal apparently

it looks like a tight squeeze down the front of the block and manifold looks ace

[astra_barry]

look good man.
i was think ing about that too last year but now im led to beleive that the 16vminishop run by matt has shut its doors.
thats the easyest place for parts.

[Chris_Turbo]

Looks sweet and fookin tight lol
I hope you're going to stick with the mk1 grille as in the 1st pic

[dan_adams_c20xe]

awsome

[MarkyG]

nice, wierd how the engine just looks so "right" in a mini!

[jeenous]

thats awesome. Great Project got a mate here in Aus thinking about doing the same to his MINI. Have you got it running yet?

[Steve_rsa]

Now that's shoehorning in an engine.

[mikegray]

Good work mate. Good old 8v, cracking engine.