Converting Mini to in-line

Post by **ColinP** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 4:39 pm

Colin,

I must admit that I'm not that knowledgable about motor boats, but I would have thought that you would be much better off with a diesel engine.
Lots of high voltage ignition leads, distributor, spark plugs and damp are a recipe for mis-fires.

If you're after power, well the current 4 stroke outboards offer as much power as an A series can - and you can carry them (just!).

If you're into classics, then I'd go for a triple expansion steam engine...

Luck,

Colin

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 10:37 am

I must admit that I'm not that knowledgable about motor boats,

Neither am I but I think colin is right did they not use BMC & Perkins diesels in the 60`s, I believe the BMC one was also fitted to the Farina style Cambridge/Oxford cars but it was not popular as it was incredibly slow, maybe their owners club can offer a few pointers.

Post by **Benjy** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 3:48 pm

If you're into classics, then I'd go for a triple expansion steam engine...

So could I get one of those under my bonnet? What about coal storage, well I guess I do drive a pickup. Hmmm....

Perhaps Not!

Ahem, back to subject...

Ben

Post by **Innovator** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 11:54 am

The transverse engine can be converted to inline but it is a lot of work. I do not know the exact details but I think it would be cheaper and quicker to source an inline motor, unless you have lots of engineering equipment and time.

John

Post by **ianselva** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 4:18 pm

To convert any mini type engine you would need a specially made crankshaft , a fore and aft flywheel and clutch and also a special bolt on crankshaft seal. Not a practical proposition for a road car. The cheapest option is still a 0198 or 1275 engine from a breakers. There are still a lot of minors in the breakers already fitted with them . You just have to be able to identify them.

Post by **Benjy** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 5:51 pm

I'm sure I saw a company advertising "Modified Mini engines" for the Minor a few years ago, they were very cheap, somewhere around 250, when everyone else's were about 400.

I don't expect they were very good, I'll see if I can find the advert.

Ben

Post by **JustinMinor1000** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 5:15 pm

A friend of mine has a boat with a moggie Engine. We were talking about it the other day. It was knackered and he was talking about getting a rebuilt moggie one on the basis that he could use unleaded petrol. I sort of half talked him into forgetting petrol altogether and fitting an LPG conversion (remembering that you can use "Straight" LPG for boats which for some reason is about 20p a litre whereas if you want "road duty paid" LPG (road duty is 4p) it will cost you 40p).

I was trying to think of a decent modern 850cc inline engine that would run unmodified on unleaded/LPG and drew a blank ..

A 2CV engine is too loud and aircooled (in a boat !)

A renault 4 or early renault 5 engine would be good for as long as it would last but then uneconomic to repair ..

You would have to do the rounds of the scrappies ..

If you want a 2.25 then a landrover engine is perfect

and there are loads of 2.25's around at the moment

Post by **catsoup** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 3:25 pm

There are issues getting a boat safetly certificate if you use a petrol engine too.