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Hillclimb / Sprint Mod Prod Build


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#1 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 01:02 PM

Hi All

 

I've just started on the build of my hillclimb / sprint mini. I've been competing on and off in speed events for years after giving up rallying because I had no money or talent.

 

I had a good season last year in a Clio Cup but they are not really my scene (I'm too old) and I've been keen to get back into minis. 

 

I bought a 1275GT off eBay that, sadly, needed more work than the seller suggested. In the quest for some panels I came across a bare shell (again on eBay) that looked pretty sad but had a nearly new floor but with bad welding. The plan was to buy the shell, cut out and clean up the floor to use in the 1275 and scrap the rest. I had it delivered for a really low price and when it arrived, I was quite pleased to see that the shell was pretty good with newish floor, cross member, sills, some decent repairs and some shoddy ones. A plan was hatched to use this shell as the base for a Mod Prod (Modified Production) car.

 

 

I had already ordered a Safety Devices Multipoint bolt in cage from Minisport and after months of being messed around by them it finally arrived. As my welding isn't good enough, my plan was to fit the cage, tack the (19) mounting plates and then ship it off to somebody with better welding than me! 

 

The cage is a tight fit (reassuringly so - I've rolled a mini so want it right!)!

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Edited by lsdweb, 01 September 2017 - 01:06 PM.


#2 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 01:12 PM

I was hoping to get the car into Endaf Owens (Endaf is down the road from me and did a pile of work on a Sylva Striker of mine a few years ago) for the welding but he's flat out busy so I had to find an alternative. 

 

A friend suggested a guy who used to weld for Endaf and I ended up dropping the car off with him. Sadly, he didn't touch it in four weeks and left the bare shell outside in the rain. I picked it up and was gutted to see the corrosion on the new cage plates and everywhere I'd cleaned up. 



#3 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 03:16 PM

Gutted!

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#4 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 03:29 PM

The delay did give me a chance to get the steering column roughed in

 

Attached File  Column.jpg   59.49K   4 downloads

 

and the sill stands tacked in too.Attached File  SillStands.jpg   99.88K   3 downloads



#5 mattmiglia

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 08:59 PM

I was hoping to get the car into Endaf Owens (Endaf is down the road from me and did a pile of work on a Sylva Striker of mine a few years ago) for the welding but he's flat out busy so I had to find an alternative. 
 
A friend suggested a guy who used to weld for Endaf and I ended up dropping the car off with him. Sadly, he didn't touch it in four weeks and left the bare shell outside in the rain. I picked it up and was gutted to see the corrosion on the new cage plates and everywhere I'd cleaned up. 


Sounds a good project. 4 weeks of this guy doing nothing while it sat out in the rain...I hope you slapped him for his help!

#6 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:21 PM

Sounds a good project. 4 weeks of this guy doing nothing while it sat out in the rain...I hope you slapped him for his help!

 

He knew I was pissed off!  But I landed on my feet and the car is with somebody else now and his work is spot on!



#7 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:28 PM

So, yes, I had another recommendation and this time it's worked out!

I dropped the shell of with Chris and he started on it straight away! He's welded in all the cage plates (hated my tacking!), welded up the steering column bracket and managed to deal with my mad request to position the seat centrally on the line of the steering column. 

 

There were some bodged repairs to the bulkhead so he decided to replace it totally (and checked with the local scrutineer that what he was doing was ok!)

 

Attached File  20613852_191941658010178_219702928_n.jpg   28.27K   1 downloads

 

Attached File  20614701_192232877981056_2092714066_n.jpg   24.85K   1 downloads

 

Attached File  20624542_192539401283737_1164499162_n (1).jpg   27.91K   2 downloads

 

Attached File  20624595_192308647973479_1596283965_n.jpg   53.03K   2 downloads

 

Attached File  20643763_10155627973544850_285464542_n.jpg   58.75K   2 downloads

 

Attached File  20643925_192308644640146_180728779_n.jpg   46.91K   3 downloads

 

 



#8 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:34 PM

Bulkhead with header tank.Attached File  20891246_196916950845982_722048418_n.jpg   44.7K   1 downloads

 

Final seat position Attached File  Seat in.jpg   31.59K   0 downloads



#9 Racer Dan

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:44 PM

Watching this with interest. I am currently building a modified production sprint and hillclimb car also, which is at a similar stage.

The latest work done by the fabricator looks great.

#10 mattmiglia

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:44 PM

That's some lovely welding!

#11 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:50 PM

I'm happy to work to pay for welding of this quality! 

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#12 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:54 PM

So while the shell is away, I've been strengthening the front subframe Attached File  cardboard.jpg   55.3K   2 downloads

 

 

and starting to get my head around the engine mods. Attached File  Resixed20170629_093821.jpg   42.95K   2 downloads



#13 nicklouse

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 09:59 PM

mmm might have to push for an 8 valve championship ;) loving the work so far. top tip before you start welding the subframe get the top mounts bolted to a jig or they can spread.



#14 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 10:02 PM

mmm might have to push for an 8 valve championship ;) loving the work so far. top tip before you start welding the subframe get the top mounts bolted to a jig or they can spread.

 

It'll be quite a basic 16 valver... 

Thanks for the tip on the subframe. I tacked a bit of angle across the towers before welding in the strengthening plates so should be ok.



#15 lsdweb

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Posted 01 September 2017 - 10:07 PM

I've also managed to find a fibreglass Clubman front end (ugly but cheap and local!) Attached File  UglyFront.jpg   9.49K   2 downloads

 

 

and bought enough polycarb (B&Q online) to make side and rear windows Attached File  polycarb.jpg   30.44K   1 downloads


Edited by lsdweb, 01 September 2017 - 10:09 PM.





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