top of page
  • What size engines will it fit?
    All mini engines from 848 cc to 1275 cc and up.
  • How much does it cost to get 100 HP from a mini
    It used to cost $10k plus to modify your engine to make this power Fully modified A series was about $25k A Honda engine installed was about $25k, if you did the installation yourself BMW conversion was about $20k
  • How do I know if my engine is ready for a turbo?
    We would recommend performing a cylinder compression check on your engine to make sure it is within specifications. The tool needed to do this is inexpensive and the the spark plugs easily to access.
  • Carb vs. fuel injection?
    The carb system does work well for those on a budget. The carb system can be dialed in with an Air Fuel Ratio Gage mounted on the dash. Obviously, if you can afford it, the fuel injection / spark system is the best for our turbo kit. It will provide you with the best control over fuel and spark that allows you to make quick changes to both.
  • SPI question
    Turbo kit + ignition kit + carb kit + rising rate fuel pressure regulator Already has fuel pump and return line One of the easiest conversions set timing to 17 degrees at 4000 RPM, no vacuum advance
  • The main one, how long will I wait to have the kit?
    We are expecting them to arrive end of January or February at the latest.
  • Will it fit Carb, SPI or MPI engines?
    This is an answer in progress 😀Please call us with any questions you cannot find on this FAQ.
  • How much HP stock vs turbo?
    Our goal is to double the power output of your engine. The stock HP of a mini engine is from 28 to 76 HP depending on you engine model.
  • How long to install?
    About 2-4 days depending on your experience working on mini's
  • Can you install a knock sensor?
    Yes, with the fuel injection system.
  • Why did you choose a GT15 instead of something else like a GT17?
    We did look at various sizes including the GT17, we chose the GT15 because it gave us the most engine size and good boost. Anything more than double the stock HP we will drastically shorten engine life. The GT15 is capable of delivering up to 225 HP and 15 psi of boost. We recommend a lower boost pressure so you can use your stock engine. The GT17 will provide even higher boost pressure but you need to modify your engine to do this due to the added stress on the internal components.
  • Is there a problem with engine knock?
    It depends on how much turbo boost you give your engine. Our fuel injection kit with a knock sensor is the best way to address this concern.
  • Do you recommend water/meth injection?
    Yes, if you want maximum power without risk of knock
  • How much fuel pressure?
    For carburetors, about 3-5 psi above your boost pressure. The rising rate fuel pressure regulator will automatically keep the fuel pressure above the boost pressure. Fuel injection info coming soon.
  • Manual boost control
    This can allow you to easily adjust boost pressure from 6 to 15 psi. The convenient part of this solution is you can manually adjust boost pressure from inside the car by placing the controller on the dash.
  • The pistons, rings, connecting rods are strong enough to withstand the turbo charge?
    Yes, as long as you engine is still in good operating condition.  We do recommend a compression test to verify its health.
  • Stock distributor vs. aftermarket?
    We recommend the JET Motors Master igition kit for the highest reliability. Poor spark timing can damage your engine, especially when you are making more power.
  • Why no intercooler?
    If you can fit one into your mini, they are always a good idea. Your turbo will run in a more efficient area on the compressor map with one. With an intercooler, you can run a lower boost pressure and for the same power as an engine without one (about 3 psi lower) We have tried our turbo system with and without an intercooler and have not measured much difference.
  • Ball bearring vs. journal bearing turbo?
    For street applications, journal bearings work great.
  • What is AR ratio?
    The area vs. radius of the compressor and turbine section of a turbo.
  • Do we need different engine oil that is approved for turbos?
    We recommend this OIL
  • Is an oil cooler necessary?
    An oil cooler is not necessary, we have not used one. If you want to install one, that is always a good idea to improve the longetivey of the oil and the engine.
  • What is correct compression ratio? Do we need a thicker head gasket or spacer?
    There is no correct or wrong answer for this one. The lower the compression ratio, the higher the boost potential (more HP) The higher the compression ratio, the improvement in turbo responsiveness (lower HP) It is important to know and understand what your engines compression ratio is depending if it's stock or modified. This will help you know how much boost you can give your engine.
  • Do we need to change piston ring end gap?
    If you keep the boost pressure under 15 psi, your ring end gap will be OK.
  • Do I need a larger engine oil pump?
    The stock oil pump will be OK depending on the condition of your pump and the clearances inside your engine. We do recommend keeping an eye on your engine oil pressure. There is an orifice on the oil inlet fitting to the turbo to control the flow rate for lubrication and cooling.
  • How much boost pressure?
    Our turbo can provide boost between 6 and 15 psi depending on how much power you want. This also depends on what engine you have. The rule of thumb is every 1 psi of boost will give you a 7% increase in power. So at 15 psi of boost, this will double your stock engine HP. The more you boost your engine, the shorter your engine life span. We recommend starting off at 8 psi of boost and slowly working your way up from there. A boost gage on the dash is highly recommended.
  • The oil connection to cool the turbo, how do I know if I can connect it?
    We will provide a T at the oil pressure sensor for the oil supply to the turbo.  The oil drain from the turbo will go back to the clutch housing or fuel pump area.
  • What is recommended fuel octane?
    For turbo applications, higher octane fuel is recommended. The higher the octane, the higher the boost pressure.
  • Do I need an electric fuel pump?
    Yes, if you have a carb engine, you will need to install a 12 volt electric fuel pump. This is easy to do since we have developed a simple recirculation system so you don't have to add any addition holes to your fuel tank. If you already have a MPI or SPI system, your fuel pump is good. You may need to replace it if it is getting old and may not supply enough flow.
  • Is the turbo thermal cover necessary?
    The turbo thermal cover will keep the temps down under the hood.  We do recommend them with customers who want to drive their cars hard on hot days.
  • Cost of shipping to different countries
    About $300 to Austrailia Canada? UK?
  • What additional upgrades do you recommend?
    We think the best upgrade is the fuel injection system since it allows you to precisely tune your spark and fuel system. Our Intake Assembly JET Master Kit is highly recommended since it works better than any other carburetor we have tried Our Ultimate Ignition Upgrade JET Master Kit will really improve the spark timing over the stock ignition
  • What is proper igition timing?
    Set ignition timing to 15-17 degrees at 4000 RPM with no vacuum advance.
  • Do we need different spark plugs?
    We recommend the NGK Iridium BPR6EIX spark plugs that we have for sale on our website (please click the link) https://www.jetmotorsmini.com/product-page/spark-plugs-ngk-iridium-bpr6eix
  • What car years will it fit?
    Any classic mini made from 1959 to 2000 both right and left hand drive. You will need to removed the brake booster it it's on the right side of the engine compartment since we need that space for the turbo. We have done this many times and the brakes still work great.
bottom of page