Always wanted a fast Mini, so I thought at the time I would do it the easy way and do an engine conversion. I bought a '61 rolling shell from Doug in Pinetown for R3000 and then cut the front end off and started making the new subframe for the Toyota 16v engine. Unfortunately I don't have many pictures of the shell and subframe.
I bought the engine from Engine Den in Durban and it was only after a year or so That I stripped the engine only to find it was a mess. Full of sludge and worn big ends and main bearings. The head was sent off to be reconditioned and the crank recut.
After some body work it looked like this
Flip front
Big brakes based on Toyota 240mm discs and Wilwood four pot calipers
Had some fun with it on the track
Then I decided to get into racing, as the Miniota was not allowed to race because it did not have an original engine I started building the race car. At the same time I started regretting having done the Toyota conversion on the mk1. After some time I decided to convert the mini back to an a-series engine, not much work has been done so far. As the car stands now, it's stripped and all the Toyota parts have been sold.
I bought the engine from Engine Den in Durban and it was only after a year or so That I stripped the engine only to find it was a mess. Full of sludge and worn big ends and main bearings. The head was sent off to be reconditioned and the crank recut.
After some body work it looked like this
Flip front
Big brakes based on Toyota 240mm discs and Wilwood four pot calipers
Had some fun with it on the track
Then I decided to get into racing, as the Miniota was not allowed to race because it did not have an original engine I started building the race car. At the same time I started regretting having done the Toyota conversion on the mk1. After some time I decided to convert the mini back to an a-series engine, not much work has been done so far. As the car stands now, it's stripped and all the Toyota parts have been sold.