Matts 1460cc lightweight trackday build diary.
Turbo Mini Forums

CNC'd alloy always looks wonderful !

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

That really is a piece of art. Nicely butchered transfer case too.

Looking beautiful that!

Some serious holes there

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

I made a funny noise when this page opened lol.

Very nice....

Great thrad, thoroughly enjoyed reading through and great job with the wieght loss on both the car and yourself

Quick question, noticed your running main cap studs and bolts and was wondering if you needed to modify yours to get them to sit so flush with the bolt head
and if so how?
Also did you need to modify your gearbox case after?
Google isnt showing me much :)

On 5th Mar, 2016 alaskanow0 said:

Yes the stud lengths were checked and a few were drilled & tapped deeper by MED.

The gearbox does indeed need some modifaction for Clearence on the steel cap studs and nuts. 1 of the cast lugs needs removing on the speedo side. I also had to grind out the gear case for1&4 conrod head bolt clearance by about 3mm

I did removed quite a lot of material in both the block and gear case, purely to save a weight. About 700g in total.

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

Hows this getting on matt ??

In that top photo have you shaved off some of the gearbox casing fins? They don't look as prominent as standard

Matt W

Any further progress?

Afraid not. I've been focussing my efforts on my other Nissan powered Clubby whilst I've been facing a big dilemma.

Unfortunately I found myself seriously considering dropping the Steel 7 Port, for yet another none A series option. Cut my losses before I actually run the engine. The 1460 as cost me a ridiculous amount. so much so that I'm actually scared to start the engine and use it. I got a little carried away. The plan was to built a car so I can do several track days a year but unfortunately It's just turned into a 1/2 finished Show car.

I've been pondering over its future for the last 3-4 months, but I can't make a definative decusion.

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

Matt , i no its no conselation but im so glad i finally pushed to finish mine.
I no its not finished finished but they never are , but when im strapped in driving down the pit lane thats it, the world stops for those laps im out . These people that get high on a weekend i get it no ! I have my mini to do it lol .
I understand the huge expence in it , and being show condition , id still like to build a 16v or 7 port but the cost outweigh the possible fun !

To be fair, watching your trackday videos as insipirted me to spend this morning in the garage going over what I got left to do.

Hence logging into TM, for the first time in a number of weeks.

I'm still focussed to get it finished, but not sure if I should fit a more cost effective engine and fully enjoy the car.

I've got a Nissan twincam engine almost ready to go with cams, forged Pistons, ported head. About 135-140bhp. All I need is to fit a LSD into the box.

And the car would still weigh less than 500kg.

I've built the engine for my other Clubman, but to be honest the standard engine that's currently fitted is proving very good and making 116bhp with is perfectly fine for a road car.

Edited by alaskanow0 on 31st Oct, 2016.

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

I can understand the other engine option to make it less scary/useable but will the loss (if any) of the engine stripped n sold be more painful than the amount uve spent now?

id loose about £3-4k if I sold it in bits. As it's currently all new, never turned over. That's about 25% off what I paid.

If used it would be more like 8k loss at 50%. Hence why I need to decide before I add air & fuel.

Bear in mind I can still use a few bits for another engine i.e.

Ecu
Loom
Throttle bodies & 2nd injectors
Electric water pump

Edited by alaskanow0 on 31st Oct, 2016.

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

I can definitely see the massive temptation to go non A-series.

I have pondered it a few times now.

With a track car its definitely nicer having something you don't worry about and when it goes pop the bill is not going to be bad. I prefer my mini driving round the track but my civic was a lot less to worry about. Get the tea on while in the pits rather mess about sorting issues.

I totaly understand matt/ johnny , and to be honest apart from a few tiny issues with mine i havent had to pop the bonnet on 3 full track days and an evening session. I am going to up the boost slightly but hopfully not enough to run into issues.
I can see the apeal but theres still nothing to beat a mini and straight cut box etc, there should be no reason a nice a series shouldnt last !!

Fingers crossed lol

Edited by cossierick on 31st Oct, 2016.

My problem is I can't afford to fix it if it goes majorly wrong and there's always the worry of it taking the £3.5k gearbox with it.

I've been stressing about this delimera everyday for months now. I've even ordered another frame from Allspeed at one stage, then cancalled

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

My problem is I can't afford to fix it if it goes majorly wrong and there's always the worry of it taking the £3.5k gearbox with it.

I've been stressing about this delimera everyday for months now. I've even ordered another frame from Allspeed at one stage, then cancalled

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

I think you're anticipating more breakages than I thing you're going to get. You've spent the money, cut no corners, there's no reason it can't be a beauty, and a reliable racer. Med and swift run their historics all season, and with a bit of preventative maintenance there's no reason for it to be the time bomb your anxious about - and they look stunning. Theres no rational reason why we do what we do, spending a fortune on an ancient engine, just don't over think it, the moneys gone.. Lol 😁

Thanks mate, I think your right and I'd always regret building, but never driving my dream engine.

Thanks TM, I'll pull my finger out and crack on!

Class C 3rd Place Avon 2011 14.18 @101mph

I agree with the above, the combination of parts there should be bomb proof, and with the usual preventative maintenance, gearbox bearings from time to time etc it should be set. I've pondered various engine options but keep arriving back at the a-series.

Double post.

Edited by minimole23 on 31st Oct, 2016.

Get it built and driven mate, can't see that motor letting go! Mines still going strong after 4 years, loads of trackdays and it's no where near as nice or as Bonn proof as your motor. Plus it's nice to say it's just a mini engine when asked

Avon 2010 class c 3rd
Avon 2011 class c 2nd 13.8 @ 98mph