You Need This: An old-school Mini with modern K24 power

Colin
By Colin Wood
Sep 23, 2024 | Mini, You Need This, K24 Swap

Photography Courtesy Row Your Own

How much power is too much for a Mini? Well this one with K24 swap is good for over 200 horsepower at the wheels.

The swap, which consists of a K24A2 from an early TSX paired with a six-speed manual from an RSX Type S, was completed using a swap kit from Mini Tec.

Other notable upgrades include Recaro seats, Racepak UDX dash, fuel cell, roll cage, Exedy clutch, TWM individual throttle bodies and camshafts from a Japanese-market Integra Type R.

Located in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, this 1979 Mini with K24 swap can be found over on Row Your Own. The auction closes on September 25.

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Comments
David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/23/24 3:59 p.m.

K24 all things. 

lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter)
lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) Dork
9/23/24 4:14 p.m.

My old Mini had a 105hp 1275cc A-series motor and was soooooo much fun! Having 200hp and with modern tires, transmission and shocks would be fun to have sitting in the garage. 

buzzboy
buzzboy UltraDork
9/23/24 4:26 p.m.

Aside from my personal vendetta against the company, I couldn't imagine a mini with that much power. Driving my friend's 1275 car feels like PLENTY of power. I bet it's a rocket.

offroadwine
offroadwine New Reader
9/24/24 6:52 p.m.

All I can think is "torque steer?" Which can be really fun.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/24/24 7:37 p.m.

In reply to lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) :

Mine had a Cooper-spec 998 and was fun, too. 

MiniDave
MiniDave HalfDork
9/24/24 9:25 p.m.

I generally agree that 200 hp in a front drive classic Mini is a bit too much......my buddy had a D series in his and at 135 hp it feels just about right.

Mine will have 250 hp, but it will be rear drive.......

OHSCrifle
OHSCrifle GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
9/24/24 9:32 p.m.

Why not make it a lot dangerous with some date code 4606 tires?

buzzboy
buzzboy UltraDork
9/24/24 10:01 p.m.

What's more fun than torque steer? Not securing the steering shaft! This was only a B18, so I guess we may have been going faster had it been a K24.

lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter)
lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) Dork
9/24/24 10:52 p.m.

I have an experience that might be more fun? When rebuilding my Mini back in 1992, I had removed the stock brake drums to clean/paint them. It had been a while since I had driven it  and forgot that they were off. My brother had to move the car and put the wheels back on to roll it around the garage. I came to the building, saw the car outside and decided to run down the road to grab lunch. Fired it up, threw it in gear and took off for the little sandwich shop 2 blocks away. Half way there, a nun crossing guard steps into a pedestrian crosswalk at the local church daycare. There she is in her full nun outfit with a hand-held stop sign in the middle of the road. I go to step on the brakes and you guess it, nothing! Grab the emergency brake because this is quickly turning into an EMERGENCY and nothing again. God help me at this point as the next 4 seconds of my life we're going to be very, very bad! I downshift to first and lay on the horn. The window was down and I start waving my arm and revving the motor so she sees and hears me. I couldn't stop and go past her apologizing out the window. Good thing the kids were still on the curb! I get to the end of the block to the 4-way stop and by this time I'm only going 10mph, so I blow the sign and turn right to head back to the shop. A few more turns while idleing the car along and I make it back and do my best impersonation of Fred Flintstone using my feet to slow down and stop the car. It's shocking how much trouble you could possibly get into going 15 mph. Disaster averted but one I'll never forget.......

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/25/24 8:52 a.m.

In reply to lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) :

Of course it was a nun.

I'm glad that no one got hurt, though I can only imagine how hilarious the whole scene would have looked like from the outside–I bet that nun was glaring.

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