66 replies to this topic

[mmaci]

Happy New Year everyone,

 

The Mini's been home for just over a month now so it's been good getting stuck into it. Before parking it in the garage I managed a quick hurl (on a private road etc). I'm sure most will agree with me when I say you'll never forget the first time you drove one. So different to anything else and I couldn't stop grinning!

 

Delighted with the quality of the loom build from Racing Circuits. Can't recommend them enough and now they've built one loom for a ZCar mini I'm sure it will be a doddle for another. PerformanceTek have done a cracking job of the tuning and thankfully (considering how little we knew about the engines history) she sings as she should, sits happily on idle and can all be monitored by bluetooth until I sort a more permanent dash.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Off with the wheels mainly to sort a wee leak from the rear callipers (and so it sits at a workable height!)

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

So far the front section of the bulkhead is built with grommeted holes for the important stuff to get through. It's nutserted to the cage:

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Still undecided how the aluminium will be finished. I like the thought of powder coating it once we've finished drilling holes in it. ECU will be mounted on bobbins near the battery and that's about all to finish that off.

 

The top section of the bulkhead will be sorted at a later date but that will be aluminium round the edge and possibly a clear perspex over the centre. Be a shame not to show off that rocker cover....

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

The Arc Angels carbon front is just about ready to be hinged on. It's a painstaking job cutting and then sanding where it meets the scuttle but its getting there. The A-panels will be welded on when the whole front is getting painted. This wasn't done before mainly because we were going to use a one piece front with A panels. Carbon Weezel arches are ready too and should be here any day. 

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Slowly but surely jobs are getting ticked off, with any luck she'll see a dry road this spring/summer!

 

Cheers, 

 

Mark

 

 

 

[KTS]

that must have been an interesting driving experience;  a bit breezy i'd imagine with no doors or glass...

 

Great work on the build - looks superb !

[mmaci]

that must have been an interesting driving experience;  a bit breezy i'd imagine with no doors or glass...

 

Great work on the build - looks superb !

 

Certainly was, eye were watering!  Arches came today too, very pleased with Carbon Weezel's work and they were ready much sooner than anticipated. (Still not looking forward to fitting them!)

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

[KTS]

i know what you mean - a bit daunting taking a drill to a nicely painted panel

 

you know what they say; measure twice, and then twice again, and once more to make sure, and then again just to make really, really sure, and then cut.  or have a cup of tea first, just to calm your nerves, and then do it all again 

[mmaci]

Measure once cut twice you mean!

[Painter man]

How wide are your arches as I need a set for my zcar but I need 6”wide for the rear do you have a photo of your fronts thanks craig

[mmaci]

How wide are your arches as I need a set for my zcar but I need 6”wide for the rear do you have a photo of your fronts thanks craig

Hi Painterman, they are Carbon Weezel Miglia arches but I’ll give them a measure tonight and let you know. Front ones are identical.

[mmaci]

How wide are your arches as I need a set for my zcar but I need 6”wide for the rear do you have a photo of your fronts thanks craig

Hi Painterman, they are Carbon Weezel Miglia arches but I’ll give them a measure tonight and let you know. Front ones are identical.

Arches give 4 inches per side

[Painter man]

Thanks for the info but as i am using 235-45-13 on the rear I need 6” to cover the rears but they will work on the front

[drmandy]

Looks really clean. Great job. I have ordered some arches from Rogue se7ens and can't wait to see how they turned out. 

[mmaci]

Thanks drmandy!

Got the doors on last night and Silent Coat onto the roof and inside of doors. Will do the driver side of the floor tonight hopefully. Already very impressed with the difference it’s made just by knocking on the panels.


Anyone have a general guide to how much to trim out of the front wings for wheel clearance?

Edited by mmaci, 22 January 2020 - 04:14 PM.

[mmaci]

Afternoon folks, I hope everyone is well and staying safe.

 

I'd hoped this next update would have the Mini with it's front on and painted but unfortunately it's stuck in lockdown with our paint guru! Nonetheless there has been plenty progress since my last update.

 

Rear bulkhead is ready to fit once the car is home. I don't think I'd have believed you if you told me just how much cardboard would be needed for this project..

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

The centre panel will be perspex, mainly because there's no point in hiding that notorious red rocker cover! Still undecided on what to do with the aluminium but that can wait.

 

I decided in the end to send the arches back to Carbon Weezel and have them trim them, not worth the risk on something which will be on show permanently. Hopefully they'll be back with me soon and accompanied by a nice carbon bumper for the rear.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

I've also managed to get Silent Coat into a few places. I know this thing is going to be noisy whatever I do but at least we can take some of the tinniness out of it. The difference in the roof is unbelievable. I only used 8 panels in the roof - just to take the vibration out but without adding too much weight. Also got 2 panels into each door and rear part of the floor. The main reason for covering the full footwell was to protect it from shoes/boots as much as anything. 

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

The Kindle I'm using at the moment as dashboard has been ideal. It's not mounted yet but handy to check temps and whatever sensor you wish. Only thing it's doesn't seem to have is an odometer.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

We've decided to add some bevelled holes to the boot, under the number plate in order to help with some airflow. We already had the boot painted so we've added the holes to a spare boot lid which is getting painted along with the front. The number plate will then get spaced ever so slightly to allow the air to flow.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

 

Hopefully once all this passes and we can collect it it'll be sporting A-panels and a painted carbon front. We've got a nice stock pile of parts waiting for it including a heated windscreen, front lights, Sparco harnesses, perspex two piece rear screen (so we can access engine from the rear easier) and hopefully the carbon arches/bumper. Need to make a decision on a grille too! 

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

(not convinced by the colour of the tint top - if I don't like it once its fitted there will be a sun strip soon to follow..

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

 

 

We'll see the road this summer!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[mmaci]

Evening folks, hope everyone is well!

 

Nice to have some good news, we managed to collect the Mini yesterday from getting its nose job. Better late than never! 

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Me and the oldman are both still working through this lockdown but we do have more time off. Made some progress today which is good, our ACW Motorsports rear window has started to go in, the centre panel is slightly to tall but we'll cross that bridge another night. The hinges for the flip front are now on too. We made these ourselves from two L shaped brackets bolted to the carbon front and then bolted to a rose joint mounted on the front subframe. Waiting for my Carbon Weezel arches to come back from being trimmed and with them should be the back bumper.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Polycarbonate side sliding windows in the doors now too.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Coming together now! Thanks for reading 

 

 

[KTS]

Coming along nicely

[mmaci]

Few updates from the last two days. Front is now wired and all working. It's wired to two plugs to make it nice and easy to detach the front. We also decided against where we'd originally mounted the hinge to the front. It looks much better now and fits better at the a-panels than it had at first. Annoyingly it has left two wee holes either side but unless I run you over you won't see them!

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Also fitted the driver's harness and door cards.

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Untitled by Mark Maciver, on Flickr

 

Not sure at the moment how happy I am with the seating and steering wheel position but that can be fettled with once I've driven her in anger a few times!

 

Hopefully get the grill on and rear inner arches shaped over the next week or two.