Irish Mini Owners Club

So i need an engine for my mini that im building and heard lots of storys of 1275cc engines not lasting long and unreliable... i heard 998cc are not that quick but reliable... i want an engine with abit of 'go' but can drive most days every week.. what do i choose?? please help id love to gain some advice
thanks, Kieran.

998 with twin carbs and Maniflow exhaust.

998 with sw5 cam...

998 with a big valve head stage one kit and a Sw5 cam

jocelynn wrote:998 with a big valve head stage one kit and a Sw5 cam

I like the sound of that.. that cost a lot??

Most of the money i spent was on the head but then again i am in the business of all things minis and performance things come through the door the odd time


the head i got was 300euro as it was a 12g295
Cam was already in the engine i have
Stage one kit was lying around the garage

jocelynn wrote:Most of the money i spent was on the head but then again i am in the business of all things minis and performance things come through the door the odd time


the head i got was 300euro as it was a 12g295
Cam was already in the engine i have
Stage one kit was lying around the garage

You sound like you have a lot of bits around... i want discs instead of drums on the front of my mini but want to keep the 10'' wheels... you dont have them disc drive assemblys lying around or any brakes that will suit me?.. new brakes are very expensive
Thanks a mil

Another q......
Would a 998 engine with the sw5 camshaft and the right timing gear fit straight on to a standard engine and drive good? i wont have to mess with the pistons or anything?.. thanks

If you have a 998, changing to a SW5 and a better head it relatively straight forward and you shouldn't need to change a whole lot else. It really depends on what you're after as changing to twin carbs means a new inlet manifold (not expensive). Stage 1 kit is a good start on a 998; includes exhaust, cam, carb needle and filter I think.

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

One thing you havn't mentioned yet is budget. 998 engines are cheeper to buy but will cost more to get the same power as a standard 1275 which can be quite reliable in standard form. The more mods you make to the 998 the less reliable it will become as the more power you try to get from it the more stress is put on parts. 1275 engines from '90 to '96 are easier to get now as these cars suffeered badly from rust. A stage 1 kit is a good buy as it will fit either 998 or 1275. Not all standard 998 engines are the same , the best one to get is '82 to '88 high compression which also has a better cam.

thanks for the info there woody so should i go 998 or 1275?.. think i should go 1275 twin carbs?..

1275 single carb with a good head an cams with good manifold and exhaust be fine!!! Dats wat my old engine was and it was nippy enuf and reliable no different to a 998 it's how u look after them!!!!
But it wasn't fast enuf so I vtec'd mine haha booooom

For everyday reliability stick with a single HIF carb.