Orlando area shop
Orig. Posting Date | User Name | Edit Date |
Aug 11, 2020 05:36AM | Whee | |
Aug 11, 2020 04:50AM | scooperman | |
Aug 11, 2020 04:17AM | RedRiley | Edited: Aug 11, 2020 04:20AM |
Aug 11, 2020 03:52AM | RedRiley | |
Aug 10, 2020 10:18AM | eslarrad | |
Aug 10, 2020 10:04AM | Whee | |
Aug 10, 2020 10:02AM | Alex | |
Aug 10, 2020 08:30AM | eslarrad | |
Aug 10, 2020 07:32AM | Whee | |
Aug 10, 2020 07:21AM | RedRiley | Edited: Aug 10, 2020 07:25AM |
Aug 9, 2020 09:09PM | Alex | |
Aug 9, 2020 02:18PM | eslarrad | Edited: Aug 9, 2020 02:51PM |
Total posts: 3345
Last post: Mar 8, 2024 Member since:Jul 20, 2002
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2/10 get to drive it, but never have it setup properly
.5/10 get to drive it, have it setup properly but don't like it
.5/10 like it
Seriously, buy someone else's that is setup and go with that. If you hate it you resell and don't lose much. If you love it, you can either resell and convert your current car, or sell your current car and keep the one you bought.
Total posts: 1556
Last post: Mar 23, 2024 Member since:Mar 10, 1999
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Total posts: 2100
Last post: Oct 22, 2023 Member since:May 1, 2007
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Cars in Garage: 1
Photos: 220 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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The main reason that many VTEC and other "engine swaps" into Minis seem to end up on a pallet behind the shed, is that too many people think "Oh, cool! That thing rocks! I'll bet I could do that, and way cheaper, since I know someone with a welder I can borrow."
Then at some point into the process, they suddenly realize that it is way harder than they thought.
I mean, who would have guessed that you need to have some skills to re-engineer a front suspension, or modify drive axles, or get a fuel injection system to work, or even to weld body panels, etc., etc.
So even though it might be cheaper to get a stock Honda engine to put out horsepower than modifying a Mini engine to do the same, in the end, you are going to need to be able to either fix it yourself, or find someone to fix it for you. And putting a Honda engine into a Mini is not in any way the same as putting a Mini engine into a Mini. Plus there is a WHOLE LOT MORE to it than just plugging the VTEC into the hole the A-series came out of.
So the best options in my opinion are to either leave it Mini, and work with that, or get ready to spend loads of time and money with one of the few reputable conversion experts, or honestly evaluate your skills. I always shake my head when people on the VTEC Mini forums and sites ask questions like "Where do I get X, and how do I hook it up?" If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't even be attempting it.
Oh, and by the way, I love my D-16 VTEC powered Elf, and drive it as often as possible, since 2009.
Total posts: 2100
Last post: Oct 22, 2023 Member since:May 1, 2007
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Cars in Garage: 1
Photos: 220 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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2/10 get to drive it, but never have it setup properly
.5/10 get to drive it, have it setup properly but don't like it
.5/10 like it
Seriously, buy someone else's that is setup and go with that. If you hate it you resell and don't lose much. If you love it, you can either resell and convert your current car, or sell your current car and keep the one you bought.
Total posts: 3
Last post: Aug 10, 2020 Member since:Sep 9, 2011
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Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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Total posts: 3345
Last post: Mar 8, 2024 Member since:Jul 20, 2002
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Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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2/10 get to drive it, but never have it setup properly
.5/10 get to drive it, have it setup properly but don't like it
.5/10 like it
Seriously, buy someone else's that is setup and go with that. If you hate it you resell and don't lose much. If you love it, you can either resell and convert your current car, or sell your current car and keep the one you bought.
Total posts: 10232
Last post: Mar 26, 2024 Member since:Mar 24, 1999
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Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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The 'problem' with Vtec is that it completely changes the dynamics of the car, coupled with the fact that most people get seduced by mahoosive BHP numbers and end up with something that drives badly and is uncontrollable.
90 BHP in a Mini is more than enough to put a massive smile on your face, you simply can't use 150+ unless you're on a track - and the compromises needed to make the car work on the track make it nasty on the road. Vicious circle.
If you do have an MPi (best not mention that in public till 2024) then you have the most refined Mini made in terms of NVH and comfort. Reliability can be improved enormously for far less than the cost of a conversion.
Total posts: 3
Last post: Aug 10, 2020 Member since:Sep 9, 2011
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Cars in Garage: 0
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Total posts: 3345
Last post: Mar 8, 2024 Member since:Jul 20, 2002
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Cars in Garage: 0
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I'd suggest not referring to any potential car that may be coming to America as a '99 until 2024 at the earliest, or it could be seized & crushed...
DJ Minis would be my go-to place in Florida, but I'm not sure how much experience Dion has with Vtec conversions. Everything else he's spot on with.
I'd also strongly suggest that when your '99 MPi car does eventually arrive, you spend a decent amount of time driving it as factory spec and an sensible amount of time driving a conversion. I know of exacly one person who's kept a Vtec conversion more than a few years.
My question is if you're going to have someone do the conversion for you, why limit it to Orlando? There are places that will do a turn key conversion and when you figure the total cost to have one built, shipping it to you would just be a drop in the bucket.
Look at https://sites.google.com/site/mcgeesminis/ , https://www.supercoopers.com/ , or //superfastminis.com/.
Total posts: 2100
Last post: Oct 22, 2023 Member since:May 1, 2007
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Cars in Garage: 1
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I'd suggest not referring to any potential car that may be coming to America as a '99 until 2024 at the earliest, or it could be seized & crushed...
DJ Minis would be my go-to place in Florida, but I'm not sure how much experience Dion has with Vtec conversions. Everything else he's spot on with.
I'd also strongly suggest that when your '99 MPi car does eventually arrive, you spend a decent amount of time driving it as factory spec and an sensible amount of time driving a conversion. I know of exacly one person who's kept a Vtec conversion more than a few years.
My question is if you're going to have someone do the conversion for you, why limit it to Orlando? There are places that will do a turn key conversion and when you figure the total cost to have one built, shipping it to you would just be a drop in the bucket.
Look at https://sites.google.com/site/mcgeesminis/ , https://www.supercoopers.com/ , or //superfastminis.com/.
Total posts: 10232
Last post: Mar 26, 2024 Member since:Mar 24, 1999
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Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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I'd suggest not referring to any potential car that may be coming to America as a '99 until 2024 at the earliest, or it could be seized & crushed...
DJ Minis would be my go-to place in Florida, but I'm not sure how much experience Dion has with Vtec conversions. Everything else he's spot on with.
I'd also strongly suggest that when your '99 MPi car does eventually arrive, you spend a decent amount of time driving it as factory spec and an sensible amount of time driving a conversion. I know of exacly one person who's kept a Vtec conversion more than a few years.
Total posts: 3
Last post: Aug 10, 2020 Member since:Sep 9, 2011
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Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0 WorkBench Posts: 0 |
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