Midas Cars Forum - www.midascarsforum.com

Has anyone successfully fitted a K series into their MK3 Gold Coupe?
I'm planning on building a race car and am considering the Honda B series but the Rover K series is 70-80kg lighter.
I see that Watson's have got a range of front subframe conversions so I know they all should fit, but I'd really like to hear from someone who has done it before I decide which way to go.

Thanks All!!

I have a Mk3 Gold coupe with a K series fitted but did not do the conversion myself.
You are welcome to come and have a look or I could perhaps answer some of the questions you have.
My K series is an 8 valve. I think you would need serious bonnet/headlamp/front wing conversions to get in a 16 valve. It's very cosy at the front of the engine bay as it is.
The conversion appears to work well but I am not 100% sure the handling is as good as with an A series - perhaps the steering geometry is not quite right. Also mine has been fitted with a coilover conversion at the front. I have never driven an A series Midas so have nothing to compare it with other than a Mini Marcos from many years ago.

John Mellors

A few people have done it but you have to move the headlights right forwards because the cambelt side of the engine is right where the headlight currently is. I'm about to start this swap because the A series is showing its age but I'm doin things a bit differently. I'm putting in a 1.8 and welding suspension towers onto the subframe (like the MGTF). Gettin rid of the headlights altogether and making up my own pods which will use the small headlights/sidelights etc like the TVR speed six. I know some of the old guard aren't keen on this because it will not look like a Midas anymore but you've got to move with the times. To keep everyone happy I'll call mine a Midas Evolution.
In the middle of drawing all the plans up including a pic of what it should look like when finished so will post them up when finished

10 out of 10 wolfie, keep up the good work! Thats exactly the kind of spirit which will revive the mark and I know a few who would agree with you on that.

mellors55 wrote:I have a Mk3 Gold coupe with a K series fitted but did not do the conversion myself.
You are welcome to come and have a look or I could perhaps answer some of the questions you have.
My K series is an 8 valve. I think you would need serious bonnet/headlamp/front wing conversions to get in a 16 valve. It's very cosy at the front of the engine bay as it is.
The conversion appears to work well but I am not 100% sure the handling is as good as with an A series - perhaps the steering geometry is not quite right. Also mine has been fitted with a coilover conversion at the front. I have never driven an A series Midas so have nothing to compare it with other than a Mini Marcos from many years ago.

John Mellors

Hi John
Yes, I certainly appreciate being able to have a look at a K Series in situ. I'll give you a shout when I'm whipping out the subframe.
Cheers

Mark

wolfie wrote:A few people have done it but you have to move the headlights right forwards because the cambelt side of the engine is right where the headlight currently is. I'm about to start this swap because the A series is showing its age but I'm doin things a bit differently. I'm putting in a 1.8 and welding suspension towers onto the subframe (like the MGTF). Gettin rid of the headlights altogether and making up my own pods which will use the small headlights/sidelights etc like the TVR speed six. I know some of the old guard aren't keen on this because it will not look like a Midas anymore but you've got to move with the times. To keep everyone happy I'll call mine a Midas Evolution.
In the middle of drawing all the plans up including a pic of what it should look like when finished so will post them up when finished

Ah yes. The 1.8. That's my plan exactly. Great minds and all that.
I'm not that handy with welding though so I was thinking of putting that part of the job out to Watsons as they seem to be experienced at engine swaps and subframes. Ideally I'd like to get a double wishbone solution on the car, which I understand the MG's had a version of.
My thoughts on headlamps were that I'd see how much space is left and maybe run just the lens covers to keep the look.
So apart from the suspension towers do you actually have to change the existing subframe to fit a K series?

Cheers

Mark

markhope39 wrote:So apart from the suspension towers do you actually have to change the existing subframe to fit a K series?

Mark the A-series subframe and K-series subframes are vastly different from each other, the K-series engine won't fit the A-series subframe and the K-series subframe is not a direct fit to the Midas shell. Also if you go to Watsons I'd imagine you'll be their first Midas customer, also they may not be your best port of call for your conversion as they really specialise in converting subframes to fit into Mini's.

I see.
Well that's good to know.
So that only leaves me to figure out how to do it
I assume then that I convert the existing A series frame to take a K series or do I take a K series ubframe from a TF for example then modify that?

I guess someone done it before. Well I hope anyway

Starting with a Metro/Rover 100 K-series subframe is probably best, then mod the subframe to fit the shell. Stan modded the car to fit the frame.

You could also mod the A-series frame to take another engine, I've had a Vauxhall 1.6 8-valve in an A-series subframe and that looked like it would fit with no mods to the bonnet or headlights.

Here's the vauxhall engine in the A-series subframe, post 14 and 15, all most photos are stuck on an old hard-drive that doesn't want to run.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/Midas1/m ... ing+%3E%3E