Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Mini Vtec Build


  • Please log in to reply
36 replies to this topic

#16 KTM kid

KTM kid

    Mini Mad

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 227 posts
  • Location: NORTH WEST
  • Local Club: Crews missels

Posted 07 February 2018 - 10:03 PM

cool

love the pictures 



#17 Renessy

Renessy

    Speeding Along Now

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 306 posts
  • Local Club: minisevenclub Holland

Posted 08 February 2018 - 10:09 PM

Don't forget to drop the link of your vlog's

 

You'll be the first. Go for it!

 

René



#18 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 28 February 2018 - 01:20 AM

Small Update

 

Cut the front end out.  It was a bit crusty round the edges with dents all over.

 

Attached File  IMG_20180225_120019.jpg   55.04K   10 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20180225_161238.jpg   50.14K   6 downloads

 

As you can see I also test fitted the door to check the roof and whilst the gaps are not all equal at the moment, I think after playing around with fitment it will work fine. This means I can finish welding the roof.

 

I also test fitted the firewall that was in the crashed mini.  I plan to make my own, but I wanted to see how it fit to determine whether to use as template or not.  I think I will use it as template but also will modify it a bit to make it easier to gain access to engine - more on this later in the build.

 

Attached File  IMG_20180225_204935.jpg   63.94K   4 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20180225_204945.jpg   53.71K   2 downloads

 

Next things I plan to do is to clean up the bulkhead, finish welding the roof, and remove rear subframe to clean up all the cutting that was done.



#19 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 26 November 2018 - 06:03 AM

UPDATE!

 

Sorry for the lack of updates, I got married in the Summer which turned out to be a lot of work to organize (who knew? :P) but now im back to more important things, the mini! 

 

Picked up a used fiberglass front end, haven't decided for sure if im going to use it but will try it and see how it looks.  Also picked up a pair of BMW boot hinges for it.  Fiberglass needs a little TLC but for the price I had to get it.

 

Attached File  IMG_20181107_211136-min.jpg   71.46K   4 downloads

 

Last week I took the mini to get sand blasted:

 

Attached File  IMG_20181117_123603-min.jpg   101.55K   5 downloads

 

Attached File  IMG_20181124_131207-min.jpg   94.03K   5 downloads

 

Overall i'm happy with condition of car, however it did uncover a few surprises.  The previous owner had paid a welder to replace a few of the panels and he did not do a very good job.  He covered it with a lot of seam sealer which was removed by sandblasting.  My next update i will show some of these issues and hopefully also show them fixed.  The blasting also uncovered a few areas of rust i didn't know about, nothing major though which i'm happy about.



#20 yeti21586

yeti21586

    He's A Lumberjack And He's OK

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,714 posts
  • Name: Chris
  • Location: Hampshire
  • Local Club: None

Posted 26 November 2018 - 06:15 AM

Looking good

#21 Renessy

Renessy

    Speeding Along Now

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 306 posts
  • Local Club: minisevenclub Holland

Posted 30 November 2018 - 05:56 AM

Keep up the good work!

 

Keep busy!



#22 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 28 December 2018 - 04:52 AM

Merry Christmas everyone! Since getting the shell back from sandblasting I have been working my way round the car patching and welding all area's where there was either rust or a bad repair by previous owner. I am making decent progress but it is slow going due to inexperience with this kind of thing.  That being said I am learning a lot and have had a lot of help from my dad who is helping fabricate patches. 

 

Some examples of the previous repairs that were hidden by seam sealer:

 

Attached File  IMG_20181124_133915-min.jpg   45.73K   5 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20181124_133110-min.jpg   46.78K   3 downloads

 

These kind of repairs are all over the mini and whilst can be hidden with seam sealer, I would prefer to try and clean them up.

 

Some examples of rust discovered from sandblasting and my attempts at repair:

 

Attached File  IMG_20181124_133524-min.jpg   111.84K   2 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20181202_162248-min.jpg   67.53K   3 downloads

I am still learning how to weld so they are far from perfect but they are solid and will grind down just fine (I hope!)

 

Attached File  IMG_20181125_153113-min.jpg   30.39K   2 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20181125_161609-min.jpg   31.22K   3 downloads

 

Attached File  IMG_20181124_133124-min.jpg   27.62K   2 downloads

Going to order new panel to repair this one

 

My dad has also started working on the wiring loom. He is an electrician by trade so I am leaving the electrical to him.

 

I will continue to work on repairing the body and update with some more pictures once I am closer to being done the repairs.

 

Hope everyone has a happy new year!



#23 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 11 February 2019 - 10:45 PM

Back on own wheels!

 

Been working on the body over the last couple months, getting it into better shape. More work is needed but most of it is done now.  The front and rear subframe are now in the car and for the first time since 2016 the Mini is back on it's own wheels :)

 

Attached File  MVIMG_20190127_170045 (1).jpg   60.47K   1 downloads

 

Question for you guys: Why do the zcars front subframe have mounting points for the steering rack, I don't understand why it would bolt to subframe when it normally just bolts to the body.



#24 minibugga

minibugga

    Stage One Kit Fitted

  • Noobies
  • PipPipPip
  • 87 posts

Posted 11 February 2019 - 10:55 PM

Hi, the rack is mount to the frame to control bumpsteer. Check your current bumpsteer first and if you find your toe is not stable change the position of the rack and bolt it to the frame. You might even find that by playing on the rack hight on the frame you can reduce bump steer even further.

Hope this helps. Cheers, Gonzo

#25 Painter man

Painter man

    Stage One Kit Fitted

  • Noobies
  • PipPipPip
  • 84 posts
  • Location: Birmingham

Posted 13 February 2019 - 08:12 PM

Yer what he said gonzo is correct it makes the steering much more stable but have to alter the hole where the pinion sits through the floor to be able to connect steering coloum

#26 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 13 February 2019 - 08:53 PM

Thank you both for information. I have seen a couple different builds on here showing that modification so I will use those as inspiration! Cheers :)



#27 KTM kid

KTM kid

    Mini Mad

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 227 posts
  • Location: NORTH WEST
  • Local Club: Crews missels

Posted 13 February 2019 - 11:14 PM

It's great watching three build.

#28 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 26 February 2019 - 05:43 AM

Question: Anti-roll bars.  Recently learned that zcars sell front & rear ant-roll bars.  What are people's opinions on them? Is there much body roll on these cars without them? Cheers

 

P.S. Just got a shipment from minispares so will have an update soon.  Also working out issue with zcars where the supplier to zcars mislabeled radiator box so I have the wrong rad!



#29 26dtp

26dtp

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 42 posts
  • Location: Victoria, BC

Posted 07 August 2019 - 06:00 AM

UPDATE!

 

Sorry for the lack of updates, didn't have much time to work on it until June but been chipping away at it since!

 

Welded new rear valance to car and cut out slot for exhaust, I love the look of where the exhausts exits

 

Attached File  IMG_20190224_193812-min.jpg   69.39K   3 downloads

 

Also added some tabs to it and used some parts off the old crashed zcars front end to reinforce the bottom so it is nice and solid.  I attached it to what I believe are for rear anti-roll bar but I dont have one and for now not planning on getting one (would love to hear people's thoughts on this)

 

Attached File  IMG_20190224_193737-min.jpg   59.47K   2 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20190224_193754-min.jpg   65.43K   7 downloads

 

Next up was the flip front end.  Spent way too many hours on this and to be honest am not happy with how it all lines up so I think I will switch it out for a removable front end instead, but nevertheless here is the front flip...flipping in case anyone is curious:

 

Attached File  IMG_20190421_171240-min.jpg   70.02K   9 downloads

Attached File  IMG_20190421_171155-min.jpg   49.85K   8 downloads

Those are BMW boot hinges ^

 

Refurbished and rebuilt the steering rack which turned out looking sharp:

Attached File  IMG_20190622_151455-min.jpg   66.05K   7 downloads

 

And most recently took the front hub assembly to pieces, sandblasted everything and had a go at doing my own powder coating. Then added new wheel bearings and ball joints. Im happy with how it turned out and with it all being powder coated it should stay in good condition much longer than paint. Wish I took more pics of the process and the hubs themselves as you cannot even see them! But you can see some of the powder coated parts (under a coating of fiberglass dust!)

 

Attached File  IMG_20190720_093352-min.jpg   48.94K   7 downloads

 

Currently working on a couple different things. The firewall, the steering column, and finishing the fiberglass front. Will post an update on those when I have something worth showing!



#30 Renessy

Renessy

    Speeding Along Now

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 306 posts
  • Local Club: minisevenclub Holland

Posted 30 August 2019 - 03:39 PM

Good work! looks awesome so far. Who new a mini body needed so much TLC...  :lol:






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users