Status report on all the VTEC Minis here

[steve]

Sometimes I feel like the lone ranger here; How 'bout an update on your projects and/or finished cars? If it's burried in the back of the garage, at least post some lame excuses. If your Mini is finished and being driven, tell us some road stories.

[AA_driver]

The America is in for paint
I know it's not a Mini but it's moving forward none the less

[steve]

AA, are those transverse motor, FWD cars? I have only ever seen one that I know of, and that was at a car show. What are your goals with the car? A little racing I hope. Please post some pics

[AA_driver]

Same as the Mini just a different model(bigger,but similar body style)
and yes hopefully some spirited driving/autocross

[Furyof4]

Collected a few suspension parts for mine recently but thats it. I have 2 other cars that don't run currently and are taking up my spare time.

[Mini Who]

Well have had a great summer in Bakersfield Ca went all over Ca. put 5500 miles on Mini Who this last year at has been my driver! Go to mini mania web site and see mini who in photoe with alot of othere minis I am standing on top on mini on surfboard. So it have been very fun driving intill one very dark AM left mini in 1 gear and tow it behind motorhome at 60 mph not good for engine. Going to rebuild in Nov. can't wait to get mini back on road! Tell next time see ya1
Rick

[steve]

OWWWWW! That had to hurt; sounds like something I would do. what happened to the engine.....must have destroyed everything? How long did you tow it, before you noticed a problem?
Where on the Mini Mania site is your photo?

Fury, I have a lot of stock suspension parts for Minis, if you still need anything. I would be happy to help you out, as you have done much for me. Did you decide to go with D series power?

[Mini Type R]

So far on my build I have only purchased an engine and some parts. I expect the sub-frame from Steve sometime next week... Right Steve??!!! I can't wait! :)

[Mini Who]

OWWWWW! That had to hurt; sounds like something I would do. what happened to the engine.....must have destroyed everything? How long did you tow it, before you noticed a problem?
Where on the Mini Mania site is your photo?

Fury, I have a lot of stock suspension parts for Minis, if you still need anything. I would be happy to help you out, as you have done much for me. Did you decide to go with D series power?

Didnt get to hwy. allmost 3 miles 45-60 mph blow over it turnover but no start. I will pull down soon and will tell you what happen to a B-16 at 20000-25000 rpm!!!Hope all is will with you and yours.
Rick

[Red Riley]

Just putting miles on when I have time. Had the truck in the shop this week so used it for the daily drive a few days. I had it at Mini Meet East in July and planning on Mini 53 in April. Still have to finish the interior, but it usually wins something when I take it out to shows, so it must not look too bad. D-Series = dependable driving.

[250ptm]

Red, I suppose a D series is reliable.........especially if you dont tow like MiniWho....Im sorry to hear about that M-W....I would be absolutely gutted.

My driving has come to a close for this year, only managed to put 400k almost troublefree motoring in over my holidays, until a spun a bearing in the RH hub put a stop to that (its now fixed). Will resume activities next year when the snow finally melts......which should give me enough time to add the new fd.

[Mini fab]

Just putting miles on when I have time. Had the truck in the shop this week so used it for the daily drive a few days. I had it at Mini Meet East in July and planning on Mini 53 in April. Still have to finish the interior, but it usually wins something when I take it out to shows, so it must not look too bad. D-Series = dependable driving.
D series you bet, very very reliable, !

[Furyof4]

Thanks Steve. I have almost everything suspension wise now. Koni's, hilo's, adj tie rods etc. Yes I'm going with dseries for sure since i have a complete drivetrain sitting here that will work well for my needs. Once I get some other projects sorted I will restart the mini resto.

[250ptm]

Minifab

Why didnt you just say.......Honda engines are reliable!....or is there something you know that we dont?

[steve]

Yes, for that matter, any modern japanese engine; Toyota, Mazda, Nisan, Suburu, etc, would be just as reliable for our purposes; also, many others, like German made, are all very reliable, compared to the old British designs. But then, many Mini owners actually prefer the Britt engines, transmissions, electrics, etc, because they get to work on their cars more often......Psycologically, for many, this actually helps keep the intrest level up, and the owner-car connection strong; If you never have to do anything to your car, it gets "forgotten" and maybe even boreing.
My only issue with the B series power I am using, is with the transmissions; they are just really hard for me to select the right gear when shifting, esp when I am driving agressively. This is mostly my fault, no doubt, but I have much less trouble finding/shifting the gears in my 4x4 Toyota pickup. I think I have already damaged my new B-16B box; first 5th gear synchro stopped working, now I miss 3rd and grind into 5th instead, almost every time.#*%#!+*:mad:
I would geuess that the D series trans (same basic design), would be just as much trouble for me.
Mini Fab, you let me drive your D series Mini for a week, and we will see how "reliable" it stays! I don't drive one mile, without the tachometer seeing 9,000 RPM at least once. I bet I could "reliably" fill up your muffler with valves and piston pieces in less than two seconds.

[Mini Type R]

Steve, is that 9000 as in 8000? or 9000 as in 9000 as I remember reading about your time at the dyno and the 8 vs 9 question. As far as high RPM goes it seems the valve keepers are the first thing to let go (B series). Has anyone else heard of this?

[250ptm]

Steve, is that 9000 as in 8000? or 9000 as in 9000 as I remember reading about your time at the dyno and the 8 vs 9 question. As far as high RPM goes it seems the valve keepers are the first thing to let go (B series). Has anyone else heard of this?

Nope, not on my part anyway, although I see that Crower make ("superior") ? retainers for both D and B series..... could be weak point?

Max RPM on B16 types should be 8400 although MAX power is developed at differing RPM; for B16A 7800 and B16B 8200 at least this is what the Honda specs show.. Interesting though I read on the net that some built B16 run to 9800 reliably.

[steve]

The keepers pop out when the valves float. Not a keeper(key) problem, but a spring issue. One of the first things to do on a performance build, is install stiffer springs and light weight retainers. I really have no Idea what RPM I get up to, but it is very high, just judging by the scream.. I have never once been able to take my eyes off the road, to look down at the tach. Todd, I don't know, I just rev it till it stops pulling, then shift.
I know some guys that drag race "B" Hondas, and spin them up over 11,000 RPM. That's just average for a big bike motor, and the 600s go to 15,000. F1 guys get 20,000 plus, but are limited by the rules now to 18,000 I think. 40 years ago, I used to spin my 427 big block Chevy street car to 7600, practically every time I drove it. I love the sound of RPM in the morning!

[250ptm]

Steve
Maybe you should think about getting a shift light and mount it on the column like mine.
I also agree the RPM does come up pretty quick so, so if you are shifting by sound it may be too late…….!
Going back to you comment on the shifter, I also have to be careful shifting up the box as I see the same issues as you,
The gate between 3rd and 5th is so narrow it could be easy to hit 3rd. going from 4th to 5th. So I deliberately slow that shift down somewhat to make sure it goes in the right place.
Don’t know whether you know but there was a similar problem on the original mini going in hard from 2nd to 3rd, It was possible to catch the gate for reverse, although you could not engage reverse it still meant a missed shift with possible disasterous results. I and a lot of other racers fitted a removeable bar between 3rd and 4th mounted alongside the shifter, that prevented hitting the reverse gate going from 2nd to 3rd.
If you wanted to engage reverse the bar pivoted, otherwise was locked in place with a pip pin.
I’m thinking out loud here, as I don’t have my car close by, it might be possible to make a similar arrangement of some kind to fix our problem or maybe something like a Ferrari type gate…and since we both have access, im thinking along the lines of some high grade aluminium. Maybe you have another idea you could share!

[N. J.]

Just kibitzing here.... an unexpected benefit of going AWD was that when upshifting, the shift cable arrangement for the CRV tranny is a lot smoother and the gates more positive than the previous rod-shifted unit. The only issue I've had so far is selecting third instead of first for starting. That's the result of a nut loose between the seat and the gear lever.

[steve]

Glad to see I'm not the only one. Steve, I was thinking along the same lines, for a gate or guide plate. only prob I can see right away, is the rubber mounting of the shifter. If the gate were mounted up high, maybe a few inches up from the floor, it would be less critical, dimensionally, but would look like something used in cars for disabled people; I guess I am not far from that anyway:-)
Cheers

[Mini fab]

250ptm I'm also a big fan of B16's it's just I'm driving a D almost everyday with a/c, going out of the city and travel to nearby town in my Mini, almost 180 km 3 times a week. Sometimes I also have a laugh by sprinting with some big bikes along the way .I also got into the highway with a terrible storm last week, almost Zero visibility, I had water that reach half of my alloys , but I don't have a single problem driving it home with dry shoes at my door step. After the improvements like alternator tensioner and FRP side covers I almost have a daily reliable car with 14kms/liter consumption. 250ptm I didn't buy a single parts for repair for the last 11 mos after the engine I bought from the breakers starts revving! The D by far can crawl the car in 1st gear and go 2nd still ok very drivable, 140 bhp it's just ok with me. I'm just installing accessories like coil over and a new sound system since my engine is no troublesome. Steve by the way my tach didn't reach 9000 I got CHROME installed on my P08 that is programmable.it cuts the a/c when I get to 4500 and VTEC by 7500. Fail safe!:)
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss55/rmrsasteel/09022011.jpg

[steve]

My tuner guy used Chrome to program mine too, EC tune and Neptune are better though, according to most tuners. He supposedly set an RPM limit in the ECU, at 9,000, but I have not noticed it, if it is working, He also programed my "Check-Engine" light to come on at the 8,000 RPM shift point, but it is so small and out of my line-of-sight, that I have never seen it light up. I know it works, because when I was giving a customer a test ride, he said it came on, just before I shifted....useless to me though; I can barely even see the gauges when driving down the highway at normal speeds, because my glasses don't focus clearly between 2 feet and 8 feet away; my gauges are about 4 feet from my head; right in the "blind zone". I am just not capable of driving my Mini to it's potential; that's why I get the younger "Hot-Shoes" to do it for me, in competition.
I spent the afternoon working on my two year long continued search for a Chevy Sprint Donor car. I found and bought one last year, but I need at least one more engine, carb and ECU for spares, for my Mini pickup project swap, I would greatly appreciate any help finding one; I am using the 85 to 88 1 liter 3 cylinder (Suzuki engine, electronic carb early version), because the Chevy Sprint with this engine, has the record for best fuel economy in a Gasoline powered production car ever sold in the USA. In other countries, these cars went by other names; Firefly, Forsa, Justy, Swift, and others, Some countries continued producing this model into the 1990s, still using the Carbs. MiniFab, I think they were common in the Philippines too. I Might be able to make it worth while to ship a Carb and/or ECU.

[Furyof4]

Steve, what oil are you using in your trans? You might want to look at the carbon lined synchro rings sold by gearspeed, synchrotech, and mfactory. The stock synchros don't like to be shifted too fast so they get damaged quickly if you force them. The carbon lined will speed up engagement a little.

[N. J.]

RE: "... I would greatly appreciate any help finding (an) 85 to 88 1 liter 3 cylinder (Suzuki engine, electronic carb early version), because the Chevy Sprint with this engine, has the record for best fuel economy in a Gasoline powered production car ever sold in the USA. In other countries, these cars went by other names; Firefly, Forsa, Justy, Swift, and others, Some countries continued producing this model into the 1990s, still using the Carbs. MiniFab, I think they were common in the Philippines too."

Steve - ping Minisuki on the MM board. Chris seems to be able to find these Suzuki and Mitsu engines.

[Mini fab]

Post ma a picture I might help you with that, I have a Suzuki Mini van with 1000cc 4 cylinder by the way.:)

[250ptm]

Minifab
I appreciate your response, your daily driver is no doubt reliable as we all can see , I only wanted to mention it doesn’t only apply to D series motors.
So a bit off topic but here’s a driving story for you all, while in Greece my wife was driving my mini one dark and stormy night and tried to drive through what she thought was a puddle in the road, when I eventually arrived the car was completely flooded up to the bottom of the drivers seat. We pushed it out and left it overnight, I went tback the next day expecting the worst, and guess what it started first key…..and who ever said Lucas and A- series were’nt reliable..LOL.

[steve]

Fury, The gears go in ok, I just have trouble finding them, except for 5th, which broke a synchro(I think), on my trip to Arizona. I wasn't racing or driving hard, it just stopped working all of all of a sudden, while driving through town; have to match RPM to get it in 5th without grinding. Now, a few hundred miles later, when I go for 3rd, I more often Griiiiiind into 5th. This was a perfect low mile trans, when I put it in. It is the third one that I have had in the Mini; all gave me heartburn; but then I have always been bad at rowing the gears. Can't wait to get a car with sequential flat shifter......How could I mess that up???

[steve]

Mini Fab, here are a few pics of the Suzuki model that I am looking for,( It came out of a Chevy Sprint, made from 85 to 88 in the states); the trans is off a later 4 cylinder 1300 model which has a different case and mount design, but with better gearing for Mini wheel size. Need to get a spare one of those too, but they are easier to find here.
Pics:
86 G-10 Suzuki 1 liter 3 cylinder, Hitachi Carb model.
Future daily work truck, expecting 70+ MPG.
Frame for it.

[Mini fab]

Minifab
I appreciate your response, your daily driver is no doubt reliable as we all can see , I only wanted to mention it doesn’t only apply to D series motors.
So a bit off topic but here’s a driving story for you all, while in Greece my wife was driving my mini one dark and stormy night and tried to drive through what she thought was a puddle in the road, when I eventually arrived the car was completely flooded up to the bottom of the drivers seat. We pushed it out and left it overnight, I went tback the next day expecting the worst, and guess what it started first key…..and who ever said Lucas and A- series were’nt reliable..LOL.

The reason why I love the Mini soo much it's because it surprise me a lot of times, even when I still having the old A series . I also got into a flooded situation where errrr it's not only me, The whole family even my "Dad in law" the flood almost at the bottom of the headlight and still drives, probably because I have a lot of passenger and it doesn't make my rear float. At long last we got home passing the Corrolas and other Japs, the thing is the Mini Alternator mount is on top! Well one of those numerous stories., But hey things change we need to embrace any modern technology! But still loves the old looks!

[Mini fab]

Very nice Steve ! So what do you want me to source for you?.

[steve]

I would like a whole car, but that is not feasible for shipping cost, so the next choice is for certain parts that I need for spares:
Complete running engine
Carburetor and Black Box (ECU)
Pistons, and rings are no longer available here, and maybe engine bearings too. a full rebuild gasket set would be nice to have too.

The most important item of all would be a spare Mixture Controll Solenoid,(MCS) that goes inside the carb. You can't get those here anymore, and they do go bad sometimes; (the secret ingredient for getting 60 miles per gallon)
That might still be available in your country from parts stores or Suzuki dealers. I don't know the part number, but it is the MCS for the Hitachi brand carburetor on the 1 liter 3 cylinder motor, not the Asin brand carb, although it might use the same MCS. I will pay extra to make it worth your trouble.
Thanks!

[Mini fab]

I'll try to source this parts for you, if you still have the worn out parts it will help if you got part no. Ok man!

[steve]

there are no part numbers stamped on the parts; just have to go by car model and year; I don't know what the 3 cylinder, carbureted Sprint was called in the Philippines. I will try to find out on the Wiki.

[64van]

Sometimes I feel like the lone ranger here; How 'bout an update on your projects and/or finished cars? If it's burried in the back of the garage, at least post some lame excuses. If your Mini is finished and being driven, tell us some road stories.
I think you're right, Steve. There must be more cars out there than we usually see on here. So with that in mind, I've started a build log. At 4 pics per post it may take a while to catch up to the present but I'll work on it.

[steve]

great, that's what I like to see!
I went to the pick-a part today with a friend, after he mentioned that there was a whole gang of Chevy Sprints there. I was hoping to pick up a spare carb-motor for my pick-up project. Turns out he thought that Geo Metros were the same as Sprints; so found about 4 metros, but only one Sprint, with the carb missing. It had AC though, so going back tomorrow to get that. I did pick up a D15B7 honda trans for my partners Mini VTEC project. checked the gear ratio on the spot, by turning the input shaft while in 5th; about 2.8 to one overall, which is taller than most of the D series trannys. So 140$ for that, and Pedro got a pair of near perfect Integra side-bolster seats, for his VTEC Mini project, for 90 bucks. Productive day.

[Mini Who]

Well we never heard from all the people that bought gears from you? I am about to start on our mini and if anyboby has any thing to say about the gears I would like to hear from them!!
Thank Mini Who

[steve]

you might try PMing them individually.

[Glenns73]

I just came across this thread. It's a bit disheartening that there are so many VTEC Minis out there and so few have responded, no doubt because they don't know it exists.

Anyway, I bought a 73(?) Mini from Scott Holmes in Cypress, CA who had it built for him by MiniTec. I've had it since February of 2011.

http://www.superfastminis.com/SHOLMES.htm

The first thing I did was swap out the Y12 tranny for an S80. Made it much more drivable.

Since then I have been struggling with getting it running, driving and generally functioning properly. Idle hunting (IACV), pulling to one side or the other, ride height (bottoming out), toe adjustment (destroyed two tires before I got it worked out), and finally a clogged fuel filter (car stopped and would go no further).

I just had the front subframe off for a broken weld repair and reinforcement. Replaced the upper mount bushings with poly (lower was already poly).

Right now the engine is running great with the small annoyance of a slight hunting idle somewhere between cold and fully warm. The suspension needs a bit more attention; slight pull to the right, ride height (corner weights), toe.

This is my daily driver on a 144 mile round trip commute.

[steve]

First and easiest thing to try: swapping the front tires, (left to right side); Caster differences can cause "pulling" too; also uneven tire pressures, as well as big corner weight differences, as you noted, but not ride height.
Have you taken it in for a dyno tune? This should sort your hunting idle, as well as improving power and MPG. (assuming you have a re-map chip installed in your ECU).

[Mini Who]

Hey I have same set up and what worked for me was new ball joints I thought they were ok. Put 2x4 wood on floor next to tires then jack up frontend of car toe out changed, it should not so make sure your rack and tierods are also in very good shape! All that HP a little movement will send the car out of control! F-caster +4.0-4.5, camber -1.0 deg., toe 1/16 out., rear caster -0.5.,toe 1/16 out., and get the weight close and you will be very happy!!

[steve]

Yes, definitely make sure all your joints have no slop in them, and Ricks numbers sound good for street setup, except for the 1/16 toe-out at rear; I think he meant toe-in. Some racers will use toe-out in the rear, it brings the rear out quicker, going into corners and you need to be able to deal with it that way.
Rick, I emailed you on the A032 tires; there is another guy interested in them, so I need your decision ASAP.

[Mini Who]

I wrote back I what them I will make it down soon and is there a shop down there that can mount and Bal. the tires?
Thanks Rick

[steve]

Rick, check your Private messages

[steve]

I see that it is no longer possible (for me anyway), to start a new thread on this forum; This, along with new members being unable to sign up and post their questions, has made this site nearly dead. I ran into the Administrator, Shon, at a club function a couple weeks ago, and tried to get him to pass the controll to someone here that is willing/able to keep the site going. At first he was vague and un-helpfull, but finally admitted to already handing over the site to Norman at Mini Tech, who I don't believe is interested in doing anything with it. My guess is they will probably let it die a slow death.
I am hopeful that one of our members has the skills and desire to pick up the pieces and start a new site; One of our newer members, Zaven, who has just completed his VTEC Mini, has indicated that he has acquired the rights to a new domain name "minivtec.com", I believe, but I haven't heard of any further progress.
Thanks Shon, I hope you got a good price!

[AA_driver]

that's to bad some good info being passed along here

[N. J.]

Norman @ MiniTec running a website? Maybe when pigs fly. Steve, best check your leg to see if it's any longer than before you talked to Shon. I'm just sayin'...

[N. J.]

...and speaking of Status Report - CR-Vini is resting happily in his new home in FL. Some motorsport may be in his future.

[steve]

NJ, Shon was very serious and reluctant to say so. Maybe you can confirm with Norman.

[N. J.]

Wow. Norman is a hands-on, matter-of-fact, face-to-face kinda guy. He stays off the 'net to try to avoid all the BS that floats around out here. Actually, I was talking to B J about other things this AM and asked before I posted. If Norman comes on the board and reverses what I was told this AM, then we'll know otherwise.

[250ptm]

Steve,
Cant get any access to this site. Keep getting "error 403" forbidden. only way to reply is to find a thread that opens and hopefully make a post.

[steve]

I know, I found that same problem yesterday as I posted above. Looks like this site is a gonner. I talked to Z again today...he has made progress on the new site, spending money out of his own pocket. I plan to reimburse what I can afford. He says he is setting it up to look like this site, as much as possible, with the same topic menu, etc. I imagine he or I will send out invitations to all the current members here, that have contact info listed in their profiles. It will be nice for new readers to be able to join again. I confirmed the new site name as minivtec.com...seemed the logical choice.....does anyone see an issue with that? Any other suggestions/changes, that don't cost more money, are welcome. Thanks

[N. J.]

...and you can't go back to previous pages in the thread either! The current page is all that will load. Bummer.

[AA_driver]

Steve post a "chip in" on this page so we can help

[steve]

If you mean donations for the new site construction & maintenance, I am sure Z would appreciate it. I will as him how he wants to handle that, or you can just email him yourself, and let him know there are members out there who find this type of site worthwhile. zavenla (at) me (dot) com
Thanks