Dark Mini - VTEC Conversion

Ever since i found out about VTEC Engines in Minis I have wanted to install a Honda VTEC engine but at the time i was seriously lacking in money and space to complete such an undertaking.

While some people work the standard A-Series engine or even Supercharge them, its expensive and they generally dont last long, so i have given it much thought.

So in early 2017 i was reading some websites on the conversion when i came across www.dutchysmini.com a guy in Melbourne who managed to shoehorn a B16 in his mini without extending the front of his mini and he did this by making his own subframe. he also posted many photos about this on to his website which filled me with the confidence to attempt to make one myself.

While i was starting to think about how to build this frame i started a hunt for the VTEC Unicorn Balls, in April i managed to find one for a good price out of a 1995 Honda CRX that had been crashed, so i borrowed my bosses UTE and I picked it up the following Weekend.

It came complete with everything I needed including the 5 speed gearbox, inlet manifold, Starter motor, alternator, distributor, ECU, engine wiring, drive shafts, gear lever and linkages and lots more. the guy also threw in two Instrument clusters for me to play with one out of a CRX and the other i believe out a Civic.

Specs:
Honda B16A1 130,000kms

Specs from Wikipedia for a standard B16A:

Displacement: 1,595 cc (97.3 cu in) 1.6-liter
Compression: 10.4:1
Bore: 81.0 mm (3.2 in)
Stroke: 77.4 mm (3.0 in)
Rod Length: 134 mm (5.3 in)
Rod/stroke ratio: 1.745
Power: MT: 172 PS (127 kW; 170 hp) @ 7400 rpm & 16.0 kg⋅m (157 N⋅m; 116 lb⋅ft) @ 7000
VTEC engagement: 4700 rpm
Redline: 8200 rpm (AT: 6900 rpm )
Transmission: YS1/S4C/Y21/S21 (4.4 final drive, optional LSD)
ECU code: P30 (EG2/EG6/EG8/EG9), PR3 (DA6)
OBD1

See below images

A few parts purchased over the last 6-12 months so i can hit it head on when im ready

Honda engine stripped of unnecessary parts and ready for cleaning
June 2017

My Honda/Mini hybrid drive shafts arrived from Allspeed Engineering in the UK
June 19 2017

Got my new 3in1 Welder going today, chopped up some of the subframe and started to make it fit
July 3rd 2017

Officially Started work on the Mini and the A-Series is out..
August 12th 2017

More progress on the mini, received my gearbox back from NEAT gearboxes here in Adelaide, it had finished being rebuilt with the 4.0 MFactory final drive and LSD and the LE Honda 5th Gear and bolted on engine. The inner guards have been cut out, front wiring loom removed, and more cut off the subframe.
August 16th 2017

Today i managed to put together most of my driveshafts, still need to buy another Honda driveshaft boot as mine was damaged when I bought it.

I also swapped out the wiper motor for a late model one so I can use the intermittent wipers

I cut some more out of my subframe and managed to get the engine in almost the right position, I will still need to cut some more off the steering rack I think, and need to trim the front panel around the clutch arm boot and the slave, and probably the exhaust.

I drilled the holes for the subframe lower mounts and fitted the remainder of the subframe, this made sliding the Honda engine much easier, tomorrow I will start to tack weld the subframe together and try and make the engine mount brackets and if I get time I’ll try to make the lower arm brackets too..

August 25th 2017

Subframe is well under way with the top RHS tacked and the LHS very close to being welded, also swapped the standard intank fuel pump for a Walbro although I didn’t get any pics of that.

Tomorrow I’ll finish the other top arm and hopefully make some engine mount brackets and get them tacked also

September 8th 2017

Have most of the LHS top arm sorted ready to tack in, managed to cut and sort the tie bar mounts ready to tack in on friday too, hopefully they won’t clash when I put the lower arms in.. time will tell

September 9th 2017

Got the rear lower arm brackets made and tacked in, and I have started on the lower arms of the subframe and the front lower arm brackets.

Should have this back on 4 wheels (temporarily) within 1 more working day

September 22nd 2017

After finishing the lower arms and all mounts, i realise the lower suspension arm was clashing on the lower arm of the subframe because of the profile of the tube i was using it seems almost impossible to avoid this clash. i ended up installing the subframe back in the mini as i had to make the car moveable again.

on other news my work was getting busier, my motivation to fix this problem had been dwindling.

October 20th 2017

Work had me go overseas for 6 months, and to not clog up the workshop where i had been working on it i installed the honda engine into the frame without the tie rods and put the car into storage.

December 28th 2017