Welcome to my new website dedicated to my latest project

The websites pretty new, but i'm hoping to get it all up and running with plenty of useful content as soon as possible

The turbo Midgets story to date:

The Midget Mk3 RWA was bought in 1999 locally (after looking at some very rough concourse cars). The car was in reasonable condition needing its sills and valance replacing which was all done before it was put on the road. 

The car was restored and went down well at college, definitely the coolest thing in the car park

 

I first started researching the possibility of tuning the A-series over the next couple of years of driving and decided to try my hand at porting the carbs and intake. In addition to using the “Midget” K&N filter with stub stacks we managed to get 65 whp out of her on the rolling road, an increase of 15hp over standard.

As with all tuning projects the goals for more hp always move and approximately a year later the car decided to start burning oil and so a rebuild was in order.

After many hours researching I decided to go down the turbo’d A-series route, because at least that way the car retains some of it’s originally, but yet the power potential is breathtaking. I picked up a nearly new metro turbo kit (head, turbo, carb and manifold) off eBay for a bargain £120. After rummaging the internet forums I decided on a company called MED engineering (whom I can recommend highly) to provide the machining required for my engine.  We decided on the specifications as below as a “kit” engine as this was a good way to save some money.



CAR SPECS

Engine

Bored and honed to 1293cc, 10cc cast omega pistons, wedged and lightened crank and rods. All balanced into an AP clutch and billet lightened flywheel for increased reliability. New vandervel bearings all round and a centre main strap to hold everything together.

Cylinder head modification to reduce compression ratio to 8.4:1. Kent turbo cam.

Group A head gasket £100 but worth it!!!!

ARP rod and head bolts

The engine was built in my mother’s conservatory much to her dismay, and was built within about 4 weeks of spare time here and there.

The engine was then hoisted into the car with the addition of:

A new radiator and kenlowe

Motel oil cooler

Intercooler

Remapped dizzy courtesy of Aldon automotive

“Green” air filter

Malapassi rising rate fuel pressure regulator

New bosch fuel injection pump

2 inch Maniflow exhaust – which sounds awesome!

New fuel tank with 8mm welded return pipe

Body

The car has just received new front wings and aluminium louvered bonnet

Cockpit

Motalita wheel
Fuel and boost pressure and voltmeter designed to look like the original “Smiths” gauges
Roll Bar
Willans harnesses

6x9 Speakers
Hidden CD player with joystick control 

Suspension and brakes

Telescopic shock absorbers all round, up rated anti roll bar, Mintex M1144 pads and shoes (a BIG improvement over greenstuff – although dustier), Tarox discs.

How does it drive?

The car has just been set up by Mike Barrett of  MBE engineering who has a lot of experience with rolling road tuning for both carbs and injection and comes very highly recommended.

The car is set to run on the road a 7psi for long term reliability but at the flick of a switch a solenoid opens a bleed valve to increase boost to 10psi which equates to 90bhp at the wheels and a ridiculous amount of torque. The boost was turned up to 12psi on the rolling road which gave 100bhp (166BHP per ton at the wheels!!!!) and should run 15psi although as the cars running a standard gearbox, diff, and half shafts its risking it a little running this power level, especially as I cant afford to replace them at the minute - although have now sourced a toyota 5 speed for her so soon will have more power :-)

On the road the car is a dream to drive, it is such a transformation from standard, the power and amount of grip the cars got makes me wonder why BL didn’t produce a turbo Midget as their top spec model. It’s quite amusing to see the frustration on the faces of drivers when it’s got the power to out accelerate some of the modern hot hatches. I’m intending on really trying it out at Outon Park in the near future- photos to come!

How much then?


The cost for the transformation would probably make my cry if I added it up, but the car's worth it. If you intend to do this to your Midget properly then take how much you think it will cost and then double it and you’re probably about there. Also the project is very very time consuming!
 
If anyone is seriously interested i'm quite happy for them to get in contact with me.

Happy motoring

Rob