Mini Cooper Innocenti Turbo 2.0 1974

Vehicle Description

Mini Cooper Innocenti Turbo 2.0 AWD 1974I did a lot of research to find more hp but not at the cost of blowing up the motor. Called Darton Sleeves in SoCal and they advised me to get a b18b block and they would bore and sleeve it to a 2.0. I purchased the best for longevity. Was told, by Darton, that the block could handle over 1000hp. Yes please! Went out and bought b18c5 parts and had a performance Honda shop in Hayward Cali switch the parts out of my stock b18 Vtec head for me. I then purchased H-beam Crower rods, JE pistons, and an Eagle crank for that block. I was deployed a lot at the time do I had a trusted and good buddy, who’s been building motors since he was a kid, to put the motor together for me while I was gone. He had the block honed as well. Got back and received orders to move once again. This is also when my body started its down hill course. Just pushed it too much. This was supposed to be my last move. Back to Alaska I went. Had to ship the 74 Mini. It was barely put together at the time did have a few Honda tune places to dial in everything, but I ran out of time. Ordered an ACT clutch pack and Installed it. Purchased a CRV manual trans from Japan. Pretty rare in the states I found out. I also had bought the AWD subframe from Mini Mania as well as the CRV diff and Miata rear outside drive components with discs. Couldn’t install them on the car. No time. Just got it enough together to drive it onto the shipping truck. Trailered it to the truck though. I guess someone backed into the mini at some point along it’s trip and dented the trunk lid. They fixed it but I was Furious! Besides the nose and the hole in the roof the car has it’s original factory paint on it. Enough on that. Still upset. Now in Alaska had my medical stuff to deal with so no time for any minis. Just start ups and oil changed and maybe a round of the block. It sucked. Only a year there and then moved to Connecticut. Had the Mini shipped there as well. Having some time between work and medical I had the next 3years to install the AWD system. Got the courage and unbolted the rear subframe and started cutting the trunk and floorboard as directed by Mini Mania. Had the driveshaft made just for this Mini at Overland Driveshaft in CT. It was just down the road from me. They normally do big rigs and dump trucks so I think the driveshaft can handle anything. Removed the 2WD trans and installed the Crv trans. Had to hand make the trans mount to the top of the frame. Took a factory Crv trans mount and cut off the bottom mounting plate, cut my own and welded it together. Installed the exhaust going out the side because running it under the car it will scrape the ground. You could u-turn it up through the hood but it would melt some stuff and I’m not drilling a hole in the hood. Could also have it dump straight down but then heat displacement and fumes going into the car. Put the AWD subframe together with the CRV diff, Miata outer drive with discs and installed it in the Mini. Installed the driveshaft and I handmade an aluminum cover for the back end of the driveshaft. Not the prettiest but it works. Instead of building a tunnel to go over the driveshaft I cut a sheet of aluminum and put it under the driveshaft, just in the back. The driveshaft is now protected from scrapes and hits while off-roading. If at anytime the driveshaft brakes, at the u joints, I didn’t like the idea of getting catapulted as well. I also liked the way you can look behind you and see the driveshaft spinning in the car. The next buyer can put a cage around it if they want. I then handmade an aluminum plate to mount the shifter components. I left the tunnel in front of the seat crossbeam for rigidity. Had to manipulate the tunnel a little though for the driveshaft. All the parts I hand made are bolted down to be removed to access the driveshaft as well as move the shifter components. After all that was in I purchased QA1 rear fully adjustable coil overs for the back. I purchased a 10 gallon aluminum race tank and made sure it had the float for the gauge. Not connected either. Purchased a Miata fuel filler cap with hose and welded a pipe to the tank for the hose to attach. Handmade a plate to protect the tank that’s mounted to the rear subframe. After all that I retired from the military and moved to Florida for school. Did not have the mini shipped had it put in a climate controlled storage. After graduation I had it shipped to me during the holidays. Since I got it back I’ve changed all fluids replaced the rear main seal and right outer seal while I replaced the clutch with the ACT. Rebuilt the front calipers from sitting as well as paint them green with G2 caliper paint good for, it says, 980 degrees. Also found out that the front calipers are off a 89 Honda Civic SI. That took some digging. I relocated the battery to behind the passenger seat, in a boat battery box, that is mounted to the floor. I have the tack hooked up but no other gauge is connected. I tried at least to get the speedo but Honda is digital and it has a mechanical gauge installed. Have to do more research on that. All the lights work as they should, in a Mini. Has a HondaData but is being worked on at an electronics shop. I do have a stock ECU on the car to start and run it. Was going to get a couple more QA1s coils for the front to raise it, but more pressing things happened. If it doesn’t sell I still might. With the rear end you can change a lot of things, toe in and out lean, angle of tire, height of each tire. It’s almost as low as you can go in the back. There is no emergency brake. Ran out of time to mount it as well as finding a place to mount it. The rear Miata brakes are set up for it so the new owner will have to find a good spot. I would also do a fuel system clean. From sitting. No rust In the tank at least. No idea of how much boost on turbo. The guy before me said it was turned all the way down until he could get it tuned. I’m guessing the car came to the states in Massachusetts because it still had the state inspection sticker in the window. Was titled in Washington when I bought it. Hope that answers a lot of questions. Vehicle is sold as is.