Michael and I were at Cars & Coffee this morning and he brought up the new turbo kit for Mini A-series motors from Jet Motors. I was prepared to be unimpressed with it until he started listing some interesting specifications.
So I've looked into it a little more now and it now seems very interesting (and simple to install). Incredible gains in power on a totally stock engine. And with only 6lbs of boost!
Here are a couple of videos describing it. The single stumbling block for some cars would be the need to remove the brake booster due to space limitations – but that is not a real dealbreaker. Why do you guys think?
I made my first manifold based off their old design. I emailed them earlier in the year about buying the new manifold but was told it wasn't out yet. At some point I'll probably follow up. Part of the reason I got the efi kit from DIY mini was to accompany the turbo kit. The DIY turbo made something pretty impressive like 160hp. My CB blackbox will be able to handle the timing for the boost. If I can ever find the damn time!
That is some serious HP in a Mini, esp one that's very stock Mk1 looking like his is.
Having driven Don's with 135hp, I can't imagine what this must feel like.
I have to wonder if the transmission can handle that. But I guess there's only one way to find out...
He says in the video that the trans was built for this HP (not sure how, as it has helical gears) but that he didn't want to do straight cut drop gears, so he has to be mindful of that weak link.
Seems like with that much HP he could smoke those 10" tires in 3rd gear!
I'm confused. Any connection between the Jet kit and the Mini DIY car?
Other than they both are turbo kits?
The one Cole built (Classic Minis DIY) benefitted from some really high end stuff (head, forged lower end, custom gearbox, EFI etc) where as the Jet Motors kit is designed for a stock motor. As such it makes about 1/2 of the HP that Cole got with his.
Coles setup should be easier to tune as well. I just don't want to fiddle with carbs when I make the jump. I might up the turbo size to match what he's got. Although the size down I have it pre set to 13psi and should be plenty for what I was shooting for. Of course once you get used to X amount of power you always want more!
To elaborate...if you were to make your own kit it's very easy to buy a turbo, buy an efi kit, or convert your carb over with the proper plenum. Buy some piping from turbo to plenum and source oil lines. The hard part is the manifold and the timing situation. You can lock a standard distributor out but you're really limiting the cars performance. Having something fully tunable is best. Fuel injection like what Cole has you can really fine tune your fuel to perfection, and performance as a result.
Can you run 13 psi without lowering the compression?
Thanks for the explanation. I believe I heard on one of the Jet videos that they would also have an EFI option in place of a carb. (of course, that could be vaporware – pun intended!)
I do understand the appeal of getting more and more power out of an engine, and the achievement of meeting that challenge. Over 200hp out of an A-series that Cole has done is incredible.
But to me, a simple gain of 20 to 40 hp (and accompanying increase in torque) on a mostly stock engine that Jet is claiming without any real concern about turning the drivetrain into a hand grenade has its own appeal. Modest gains for modest cost?
Quote from: MiniDave on December 11, 2022, 07:59:26 PMCan you run 13 psi without lowering the compression?
It should be lowered. Well I can't run 10:1 anyway. I was planning on 9:1 max.
Quote from: BruceK on December 11, 2022, 09:08:15 PMThanks for the explanation. I believe I heard on one of the Jet videos that they would also have an EFI option in place of a carb. (of course, that could be vaporware – pun intended!)
I do understand the appeal of getting more and more power out of an engine, and the achievement of meeting that challenge. Over 200hp out of an A-series that Cole has done is incredible.
But to me, a simple gain of 20 to 40 hp (and accompanying increase in torque) on a mostly stock engine that Jet is claiming without any real concern about turning the drivetrain into a hand grenade has its own appeal. Modest gains for modest cost?
Yeah an extra 40 is all I was looking for, which would put me 120 to the wheels. I would want to go with a taller final drive too in my situation. I'm guessing the jet motors kit is outrageously priced. I'd still recommend piecing your own kit together. Aside from that exhaust manifold it really shouldn't be difficult.
Seems pretty high at 3 grand (currently on sale for 2700). Like you said the real difficulty is the manifold and possibly the down pipe. The rest is just parts really.
I wonder if they will eventually offer the manifold for sale by itself at a reasonable price. That would make doing the rest yourself pretty straight forward I think.
Doing a turbo has always been a desire of mine, and I am really considering getting one of the classic mini DIY throttle bodies. Had it been out before I managed to source an hif44 I likely would have already bought it.
I need to do a lot more research on the software end of things. Like Dan I need less work and more free time.
Does that CB black box just do timing control or can it do the fuel stuff as well? I have not looked into what is needed to run the injection on the throttle body
The cb black box is just timing. You lock out a distributor, then wire in the box and go from there.
If they don't sell their latest version of manifold I'll just use my existing headers and modify as necessary to match. But I have a welder and pipe to do it, not everyone does.
You can buy those side mount exhaust manifolds in England, I've seen them for about $500....all SS.
The pre orders for the jet motors kits are available. $2700 holiday sale.
I just emailed about manifold only.
Well, Bruce makes a good point - you could futz around for weeks making your own setup, or just buy this and bolt it on and "presto", Turbo Power Kitt!!!!
One other point, although the car was drivable as soon as the kit was bolted on, it took a rolling road session with someone who knew how to adjust the maps to get the most out of the kit
The dyno graph looks suspicious and getting 200 hp from a 1275 with that setup is even more suspicious.
I think this is the person in the UK, but I dont see a side mounted turbo manifold on his site.
https://www.fusionfabs.co.uk/
Yeah, I looked last week but didn't see one on there either, but that is the guy who makes the manifold Cole was using. May have to email fusionfab to see if they're still making them.
Fussion Fab kit is the one that I am using.
For the side mount, you can can get it from here:
https://www.bagsportfab.com/shop
phil
Quote from: cdnmini on December 17, 2022, 05:07:34 AMFussion Fab kit is the one that I am using.
For the side mount, you can can get it from here:
https://www.bagsportfab.com/shop
phil
Good find!
Not a bad price on the genuine garrets, although 0.5 bar is kinda low (6-7 psi). A quick search found where you can buy them set higher to 1 bar and up.
https://www.turbokits.com/garrett-club-line-gbc20-300-turbo-896053-5003s.html
So I assume the pictures shown on that side mount are the external recirculating waste gate version?
The garrett 20-300 is internally waste gated correct? So you would order that side mount manifold accordingly? They don't give a lot of info really, but I'm sure they would provide more if a guy reached out to them.
Yeah they have an external wastegate pictured. If you wanted to control the turbo more precisely rather than 6psi, 13psi, 22psi settings, you'd want the actuator removed and that external wastegate installed. My rx7 for example is external wastegate, but also on the size I'm running that's the only option. I don't even plumb it back into the exhaust. It's just dumped overboard and loud as hell when boost comes on.
Thanks, that is what I figured they were showing but when a guy is looking at potentially spending several grand on something you just want to be sure LOL.
I have some experience with turbo's but nearly all of it on diesel trucks so I know just enough to be dangerous I suppose. I have always wanted to play around with one on a car, but sold my WRX before I ever had the chance to play with it any.
Turbos, mmm.
What do all the little ports around the inlet do?
Probably something to do with smoothing out air flow but I really don't know for sure.
Like I said, I know just enough to be dangerous......the holes are for what they call anti-surge, but that's really not possible so it's more accurately less-surge. It's basically a leak from the outlet side to the inlet side of the turbo housing. The leak increases the flow rate, with the obvious downside being less CFM at any given RPM.
Quote from: 94touring on December 19, 2022, 11:57:20 AMTurbos, mmm.
The Mazda rotary engine has always intrigued me, being a motorcycle guy the screaming high RPM potential has always been a draw. I have never owned one, driven one, or even seen one in person but man oh man does a high revving engine sound so good!
Jetmotors never replied. Nor did fusionfab.