Stu,

Don't let them discourage you, if you can afford that much of an investment, which cannot be recouped by sale, and it is what you really want to do, then go for it.  Just please don't make any permanent changes to your Mk1 that cannot be put back by a later owner.

But note what they said, if you can drive an already completed one you will have a much better idea of what it will be like when you are through.  


As with so much in life, it is far cheaper to buy a completed project than it is to do one from the beginning yourself.  Many will say, "ah, but the challenge is the thing!", but rest assured that a 'completed' one will probably need far more work to get it right than you expect, providing a great deal more of a remaining challenge than you think.


It is interesting that so many of them are sold shortly after they are completed, though.


N

I still think you have to be either STONED or just plain STUPIC to convert classic mini engine to bastard honda engine and tranny.. and expect to spend at least $25k on this nonsense..   seems like they ALL come up for sale. in few weeks after owner has finished with the stupic conversion... later bc

Yes, count on spending at least $25 large on it so that when you finish and decide to sell (as alot of VTEC owners do) you'll be lucky to get $15 large for it. If you've never driven one you might want to find one to test drive before you take a bath building one. Just a thought.

Stu2211

And from what l know, have $25k in your bank to complete the project Big AL

Yes correct bring it to DMV and have it registered as original classic mini, when you get your title , reg and license plate,, then hell with the DMV, you can do whatever you want to your mini, just dont get stopped by the CHP in the highway otherwise they'll ask you tons of questions and when they find out that you swap it with vtec, they'll slap you with all sorts of penalties. 

Awesome thanks for the suggestion! It's a 1961 and everything is already been transferred over to my name as operational so there won't any weird title issues. 

You might contact these guys, //www.moala.org/ Do you have a title? What year is your car (shell)? If you haven't already, I'd get it registered in your name. And I wouldn't tell DMV that it's getting a Vtech. If they ask, tell them it's getting restored to original. Once it's titled, you can do whatever you want to it. Being an MK1 shell it should be smog exempt. You will probably need insurance on it to get a tittle in your name, but you can insure a project car through any number of classic car insurers. I use Grundy, but check around, I'm sure more classic insurance companies do it. Then if it's not finished when it's time renew the tags, nonop it before they run out. The moala site has a section for modified mini's in the gallery section, and I see 2, or maybe 3 Vtech cars.

Hey guys,

This is my first foray into minis after pretty much completing my previous project, just picked up a mk1 shell with plans to do a vtec swap! Unfortunately since so much stuff is missing , I'm kind of stabbing in the dark. 

Is there anybody on the forums local to the la/Oc area with a vtec mini that I might be able to check out in person and ask a couple questions? If anybodys interested in rx7s, I can bring mine by!