22 replies to this topic

[miniman andy]

Should be great seeing this come together Andy!

 

May I ask why a specific Metro frame ? I thought they were all the same

 

Cliff

the engine mountings are differant. and fits the engine im putting in alot better.
so i dont have to do what most people do and fabricate something (or bodge) together
makes it look propper. everything i am using has already been type approved.

its is getting frustrating as i want to say whats going on. but i want to show my vehicle before anyone else gets the idea.
basically i would be the first to do it. and im already working on ways to improve it further.
all i can say is..

 

not a Mini engine, over 1.3L, has more than 7 ports, Cross flow engine, HAS 5 GEARS! needs to run on something bigger than 13" wheels

 

during phase 2.

Fitting ABS

Nitrous
upgraded exhaust system.

 

the main bit at the moment is to tackle mini issues such as rust.
i have already designed a much improved wiper mech for it. so it should wipe rain actually off my front heated windscreen and wipers that are not going to fly off, (yes i have lost a few over the years on the M6)

my next task before the dash goes in which is my other mini issue is the heater. so im designing a new more efficant one of them from scratch. that is compatable with the dash i am going to use.

and just like how a minis is designed im going to use flat steel. or aluminium, with a fan big enough to put some serious wind actually on to the windscreen.

 IMG_0863.jpg   61.13K   13 downloads
 

Edited by miniman andy, 20 March 2015 - 09:41 PM.

[miniman andy]

this make me feel alot better about my T2 mk1 catching fire...

still building mine after its fire on 4/4/2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOTEBpLOxMw

Edited by miniman andy, 14 March 2015 - 01:38 AM.

[miniman andy]

does anyone have any scrap 175/50/14's anywhere at all?

at the moment im messing around with some Ford wheels that are 14's which i want to put on my mini
but i need the overall diametre of the wheel to be under 22" and better still 21"

 

i dont want to resort to going wider and bigger on the wheels as the smallest profile i can get is 175/50/r14

unless someone knows something smaller for a 5x14" rim

 

[miniman andy]

WOW MASSIVE UPDATE...

Had a few major setbacks.
first of all where i was building T2. i had to get out as the guys i was in the unit with are complete retards who have no repect for anything. so im having to make do in my own secret location away from prying eyes. and anyone how even attempts to do anything for me on my mini.

secondly i got a new Truck. a nissan cabster. some of you may have seen it at santa pod saturday and sunday just gone. (MITP 2015) im needs a little work, but its a work horse that will be transporting alot of parts what i need, what i dont and any scrap i may have.

Thirdly  i have closed A5 Minis. and the rest of the members have joined tamworth mini maniacs. along with myself.

UPDATE ON THE MINI>>>>
i sorted the wheels and now have my chosen 14" wheels ready to fit. but have not hit another problem....
getting 108x4 wheels on a 98x4 hub. wheels spacers you may say.... well lets just say that is a custom made job. so if anyone can do them please PM me

Edited by miniman andy, 22 February 2016 - 01:26 AM.

[miniman andy]

slight update.

front end is ordered. i have finished stripping a fiesta zeetec s for more bits to use on it. eg. ABS system.all the hubs so i can use my ford lattice wheels.
i have.
just in the process now of sorting out the wiring loom so i can use the ford ABS system in there.
im not planning on having the abs working for MOT.
the main priory is to continue the welding even though its really boring and i rather do something more fun. 
should be a bit better now since i upgraded my welder.
and changed it from CO2 to Argon :)

the cabstar is now Thunderbird 1,

just so you know this below was my old one. its looking at photos like these that i had in the past that keep me going.


also that other mini  J787BAK! which i called "reddy eddy" i would love to know what happened to him.

another update too, i got my misses a mini called LEO from dave in skegness (thanks dave)

but i like to call it "thunderbird 3 themini" or "Thundermini 3"

 

its not much of a rescue mini yet. but sure helped out others at  Silly mini this year, and also won best fancy dressed mini.
Thank you Laney. :)

Edited by miniman andy, 24 April 2016 - 11:39 AM.

[miniman andy]

Progress is very slow starting off this year mainly due to to the weather and the fact i been very busy running a graphics company.

on the other hand  i have been purchasing a lot of mini parts ready for the rebuild.

as im coming into alot of money now im in a decent full time employment as a HGV mechanic for CEVA logistics
doing overtime when i can to get myself my own garage and my own house. where i can get my minis in, in the dry. a decent garage to work in that actually has electricity that i can access 24hours a day. as due to my shifts i work afternoons. which seem to be getting longer and longer. 
so i might as well work nights.

The flip front for T2 should be here soon. thanks to Arc Angels. which will leave me to weld up some more sill on the other side.
and tub the NSR (passenger rear) wheel arch. to fit them massive 14" wheels i still have ready

Im also still stripping a fiesta zeetec S for the ABS wiring loom. that i hope will work. in the mini. as im using the hubs so i can fit the ford wheels. the abs was tested before dismantling the fiesta but i do hope it works for the mini.

[miniman andy]

'Sigh' yearly update,

First things first. Welding has all been done!, Woohoo!,

Roll cage is in the process of being put in. As is the rear beam axle, that I have purchased.
I have started the conversion of my rear hubs, will post photos soon. So you guys/girls will see what I'm doing.
Soon enough. I just like to keep things top secret at the moment, until it's done, no matter how long it takes.

Life update is... I brought myself my own house! and now in the process of building me a T2 hanger. (Bigger than your average Garage) complete with palm trees. And a tipper bed (thunderbird 2 take off ramp) that may come in handy for maintenance of such a beast of a project.

Roofless if you have any fake palm trees for sale or can send us a link for some any help is most appreciated. Thank you

Until I get the garage built this year, I'm afraid T2 is on the back burner again. But parts collection is still happening as and when stuff comes available at the right price too,

[miniman andy]

(looks at the last post) JEEZZZ! has it been that long?

well.. update where do i start. 
roll cage was put in. inside and underneath hammerited to death. a whole 5L tube nearly gone.

moved into my own house in march 2018.
summer of 2018 started making the floor and even dug a pit in the garage
complete with working pit lights
august 2018 garage came and was put up in time for the winter another mini was stripped for bits. as it was due to be welded
so the plan is made that the engine was to be partly stripped as it was leaking oil in the usual places,
everything cleaned up and painted and fitted to T2 (mk2)
this has been my current situation T2 is on the rebuild. but by no means is it near completion.

parts have been collected and is now a good job since i got everything now and now cant afford it but got loads of time.... soooo its time to get building...

when its on the road under its current build plan.
im going to use the other shell i need to weld up as a bench for fabricating some custom made stuff saves damaging the paint and all that.
to make changing the engine and subframe to make it somewhat modular. which would be easier for racing set ups. since i cannot make my mind up about an engine for it
im thinking about the future on this... and becoming electric. or hydrogen powered. 

or maybe even both hydro-electric? haha if only!
now that would be a first.. where you use the rain off the roof to power a tiny generator and a few inverters later...  ..... whats the betting that would work... only good for rainy days.
or maybe tiny wind turbine? solar maybe? there is some decent 24v supplies these days?

then more i think about it the more its going to be electric,
but i would definitely miss the engine noise, all the noises of an A-series.
but bringing a classic into the 21st century will always be my mission of T2. 
to keep up with today's technology. with a light classic mini shell must be the way forward

and to do away with the heaviness of a over engineered box on wheels.

all i can say at the moment is watch this space.