1450cc K1200 Build
Turbo Mini Forums

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Thought id do a little update.

Managed to get that car up and running ok around July time. A few teething problems with starting were solved by tweeking the map and fitting a geared starter. Took the car to RRG in August and ran it up the hill and was reasonably happy with the engine. Just needs a proper day on the rolling road to perfect the setup.

Currently the gearbox is playing up going into 2nd on the down change which suggests to me a syncro problem. Im thinking i might have put the hub in the wrong way round so after this weekend the cars going back to Suffolk to have the engine out again and that looked at. While thats happening id like to finalise the rest of the ancillaries and if i can find a spare sub-frame in time get the front converted to coil-overs for 2015.







Anyone out there with a mk2 metro subframe spare??

Looks so weird with the tiny wheels!

But awesome!

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Saw this running the hill, looked like a skateboard!

Went pretty well

Looks lower in the 3rd pic. Love it.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Them wheels look dudey.. look lower profile tyres to normal.. 10's or 12's? Id be able to tell on a mini.. but not on a metty

Looks like 10's on a metro to me!

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

It looks ace but I can't help thinking it would be an awesome sleeper on some wider steels with metro hub caps on.

For me, the wheels let it down :(

Oh well your loss!

It is low now but only on the hydro. Will be doing a proper job of the suspension over the next couple of years if all goes to plan.

I built a sleeper metro on wide steels about 5 Years ago so wanted to do something different this time.

If you get it sittin with wheels proper in the arches that will look awesomely crazy! What is thats makin the tyres look different to normal? Are they quad tyres rather than normal mini tyres?

No they are trailer tyres. 195/50/10 been using them on my cars for years.

cheeky way to get a low mini lower... noted

Looks good, golf cart tyres?

I looked into the whole golf cart/quad tyre thing Years ago and these are by far the best option I found. Road legal and not all that bad grip wise either.

Hey Slater,
Saw the Metro at Shelsley end of August. Looked brilliant, but didn't realise it was yours!!!

Great build :)

Well... i was gonna say 'last time i saw summin like these it was on a really cool john deere mini' but then thats when it went click in my head.. thats you!? Hahaa.. do you know where your old mini is now a days?

Yep a girl from Essex bought it. Not seen it out and about for a bit tho.

Shame.. i really like that mini.. hope its not just sat somewhere deteriorating

Been doing some work over the winter. Engine and box came out again mainly to investigate 2nd gear syncro issues. (wish id bought a dog box!!) Turned out the center of the syncro hub was in backwards and it was bottoming out before it had pushed the bulk ring hard up against the cone. The reverse gear on the hub was also slightly catching on the windage tray which may have been having a bad effect too. Hopefully that should be all sorted now.

The LI battery turned out to be a great sucess after some teething troubles with the starter motor. Knocked up a little tray to mount it when i decide where it needs to go!





The rest of the car has been on a diet. The interior is out and seat rails in. Theres not going to be time to fit the cage this year so ive temporarily dropped the steering column with spacers to suit the new position.











The gear linkage is halfway there. Im just hoping my cheap UJs will be up the the job or it could get expensive.





Next up its to either do the turrets now and put a bar across between to take the harnesses or maybe if ive not got time just string a bar between the rear seat stays (although ive seen it done before im dubious they are strong enough.)

The engine should drop back in and then im going to re-plumb the coolant and breather systems. All needs to be sorted and the car rolling roaded by the first outing on May 31st so the pressure is on a little!

Bit frustrated with the lack of progress but stole these photos of the car at Shelsey the otherday

Looks a lot better now it's sitting lower.
I like its lot.

Any updates Adam?

Not really. Its been sitting in the garage under a pile if crap for best part of two years. Got big plans but as usual too big for the moment..

Nice to see one saved from the Scrappers

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/