Posted: Apr-29-2008 02:49PM

Stephen, don't forget that a substantial percentage of "them" aren't into Minis and thus are blind to the history and brotherhood. They're driving "that cute little car", or the cheapest BMW they can afford. The Bi-Minual among us do wave back, or flash their lights.

 Good on 'em!

 N J

"...and I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers..."

Posted: Apr-29-2008 04:49AM

Well that makes you doubly awesome, meno. Thank you for your input.

ALL mini people are the best, just not those dumb bini people who don't wave back. You own a mini, you should honk, and you should wave. Geesh, its not hard. 

"22's? Shee, i be creepin on 10's gangsta. Bentley? real ballas drive minis" (real life first response of my best friend seeing my mini)

Posted: Apr-28-2008 09:00PM

1.) If you have a line on the B16 you might as well take it...especially if you know it was a car treated well...other than the wreck.

2.) "...mini people are the best...uh, you guys, not midgets" -Sadly, I am both.

NJ - My wife is a therapist and was my therapist.  Good and bad for the marital relationship.  3 times a day, friend.  Take the pulley to work if need be but do it 3 times a day.  Sounds to me like you are behind schedule.  DON'T screw around!  The last thing you want to do is go back to the surgeon and have him cut into you just to remove scar tissue.  Don't screw around...do the pulley and make Rocky grunts to get you going...you may sound silly but who knows, it may be just what you need to beat Apollo Creed or just being able to reach for a tool while you're working on the little lady in the garage.

Ex Nihilo

Posted: Apr-28-2008 07:35PM

so a D series is best? over a b16? I have a b16 that I could procure for super cheap from a friend (the rear ended totalled honda I mentioned before) should I be on the lookout for a d series or is the difference between the two solely price?

Thanks again... mini people are the best... Uh you guys not midgets 

"22's? Shee, i be creepin on 10's gangsta. Bentley? real ballas drive minis" (real life first response of my best friend seeing my mini)

Posted: Apr-28-2008 07:03PM

NJ..same here with the steering arms,i got metro arms and had to modify them at the alignment shop to get rid of the bumpsteer,dang ackerman angle,norman helped me out on advice with that one.My mini pulls to the left some too under hard throttle,my alignment guy set it up that way,he said front wheel drive cars most time will have some pull to one side or the other under hard throttle so he said it was common practice to offset the caster and camber so it wouldnt pull into a ditch.I acked him about oncoming traffic and he said just be careful when you hit the throttle hard.I think its just the price we pay for such a toy.

Meno..the steering radius on mine is about like a big 4x4 truck also but i figure its just a trade off for all the other good points that we gain.Yep i think the D16 is a great power plant but i wanna drive one of the minis with the larger engines to see if i like that better,wish we could all swap cars around and test drive each others converted minis just to see the difference in each setup.

I have looked at the specs before and the D16 is about 40 lbs lighter than the A-series.maybe someone can find the specs again since i lost all my info from my main computer i dont have the links anymore.I dont think i would ever use a bike engine,since i have a honda cbr 929rr bike with 150hp,but i have went through 3 engines on that bike at 21k,the 1st engine went with rod bearing failure,so i just dont think they would stand up to the added weight of the mini body for long and have heard alot about those things smoking the clutchs very badly in a short time.i guess driving habits have alot to do with it.I would love to drive one of those rear engine minis on a track,I think it would be a real thrill after watching videos of them in action.

http://austinmini.ositech.net/Hosting/WrenchHead/wrenchhead.htm

1996 silverbullet limited edition @ tim's aka (wrenchhead on MM board)  year-to-date progress > photos  > see photos here: http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/pologround/test/Silverbullet%20mini/

Posted: Apr-28-2008 05:42PM

The larger turning radius effected by the Metro-like steering arms (I have the MiniTec units that have less bumpsteer than the Metro bits) means it doesn't have the squirt-and-shoot handling of before, but that's relative to the kart-like response of a Mini and, after all there are, ahem, compensations! Also, I went with 60-series tires for more compliance to help ward off bumpsteer and get a better ride. I now find that if I jump on it immediately, she pulls left, but if I stretch it out a bit, she tracks much better.

Re: mobility, I've regained 95% range passive, and end range assisted on external rotation, but unless I do the overhead and behind-the-back stretching daily, it tightens up (I've always been "tight" that way..never could touch my toes!). I'll go to reach up for something, and my arm won't go as high as I'd intended. Weird. Thanks for asking!

 RE:autocrossing, Norman will tell you that if the course is set up by Mini guys, he's at a disadvantage (evidenced @ MME year before last), but if it's set up by Solo1 guys, with some room to get into the cams, he'll shine.

"...and I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers..."

Posted: Apr-28-2008 03:51PM

D series for the biggest bang for your buck. 

I've seen a front mounted motorcycle offering that looks interesting too since you don't add weight, you decresase weight...and have RPM's for days...but I don't know anyone who has done so....it just looks interesting.

As far as ride is concerned, I think the aforementioned is accurate.  Some have criticized the turning radius and handling of the vtec converted vehicle.  Turning radius on my K version is akin to a four door four wheel drive Cummins diesel times two (well, that's hyperbole but you get my drift). 

NJ - does Veruca handle better in turns now or before?  And how's the shoulder mobility these days?

Any one who has converted and auto crossed their Minis before and after have any input on handling differences?

Ex Nihilo

Posted: Apr-27-2008 08:58PM

mine is a D16 went this way because,

a D16 Vtec can be worked in many ways to include a super charger or turbo

mine is worked to be about 165 HP  but with better GAS.... better steer an tork to HP

so its not the BIG 18 or k20 but its so more useful  and wont tork the frount subframe

as we are all learning the big eng start to play hell on our lil mini's

Posted: Apr-27-2008 04:51PM

6464 -I suppose that someone could posit that the extra 90mm on an extended front should increase the ride quality, but he'd be talking to hear himself. Unless you're comparing to a later model Sports Pack with a Smootha-Ride conversion, it's not an issue, nor, I'd wager much of a concern. Mine's about the same as what I had the Spax adjustables set for before the conversion.

Tim - Re: bragging rights, I'm waiting for some fool to offer "THE BIG CHALLENGE", just so I can reach 'way down into my jeans, feel around a bit, look at him and say "Nah...I'm good."

I don't go looking for trouble, but OTOH, most either see the "VTEC Inside" sticker, or sense something amiss and want no part of it. Thusfar, a supercharged Monte Carlo SS, a slammed Accord and a Mitsu Eclipse have all backed out of it quickly. 

N J

"...and I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers..."

Posted: Apr-27-2008 07:53AM

6464 hmmm  thats a funny questions to ask,ride Quality.What ride quality.

Its not like a cadillac either with or without honda power,your shocks and springs make the difference on your ride.

http://austinmini.ositech.net/Hosting/WrenchHead/wrenchhead.htm

1996 silverbullet limited edition @ tim's aka (wrenchhead on MM board)  year-to-date progress > photos  > see photos here: http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/pologround/test/Silverbullet%20mini/

Posted: Apr-27-2008 05:50AM

"22's? Shee, i be creepin on 10's gangsta. Bentley? real ballas drive minis" (real life first response of my best friend seeing my mini)

Posted: Apr-27-2008 02:37AM

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

Posted: Apr-26-2008 08:09PM

I agree with NJ,140hp is about what I have with my D-series 1.6 dohc,also the JDM version,and i love it.I have thought about putting a turbo mounted in the rear of my mini just so i can smoke the tires at 70mph,lol!

Jimfia used to have a nice B16 for sale super cheap ask him if he still has it.

You could go with a non vtec B18 they are fairly cheap also and have great torque at low end.Or even a D-series which would be the cheapest route to go,plenty of power with those also,unless you just want bragging rights.

I love the Tim Allen grunt i do it often myself.

http://austinmini.ositech.net/Hosting/WrenchHead/wrenchhead.htm

1996 silverbullet limited edition @ tim's aka (wrenchhead on MM board)  year-to-date progress > photos  > see photos here: http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g251/pologround/test/Silverbullet%20mini/

Posted: Apr-26-2008 08:01PM

"22's? Shee, i be creepin on 10's gangsta. Bentley? real ballas drive minis" (real life first response of my best friend seeing my mini)

Posted: Apr-26-2008 08:01PM

Shirts for the Corporate Masochists < new designs!

Posted: Apr-26-2008 07:26PM

Still working on Charlotte and Andrew's tuition, are we?

 N J

"...and I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers..."

Posted: Apr-26-2008 07:26PM

"22's? Shee, i be creepin on 10's gangsta. Bentley? real ballas drive minis" (real life first response of my best friend seeing my mini)

Posted: Apr-26-2008 07:09PM

Search the VTEC threads here and then check www.16vminiclub.com and www.VTECminis.com for related comments. I think you'll find the general consensus to be that 140-160 Hp will give you all the jollys you can really consistently use/need. Others have an entirely different outlook, looking for the most power they can get/afford (insert grunting noises, alá Tim Allen).

As for B series choices, were I to do it over again, I'd probably save the extra $3K and go with a B16 instead of the B18c (JDM) that I have. When people ask why I went for the 18 over a 16, I tell them "A combination of 'because I could' and 'Hubris'".

 N J

"...and I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers..."