12 replies to this topic

[blister]

i know you can remove the rear door bins and the seat but can you remove the parcel shelf and back of the seat so you can see into the car through the boot if you understand i will be putting in brace bars in place

[basher]

im guessing not as then the petrol tank will be exposed to the drivers cabin, also its structural so the bracing would have to be surficant

[satvinder]

that big pannel is a main bulkhead. so u gotta build in supports otheriwse the car will twist n bend

[The_Mistro]

im guessing not as then the petrol tank will be exposed to the drivers cabin, also its structural so the bracing would have to be surficant

but what about Z cars and rear engined minis? they do it dont they?

[Dan]

No, the parcel shalf and rear seat back form the rear bulkhead and as well as being a fire break are massively structural. Also the rear bins are considered part of the structure in that they triangulate the B pillar to the floor. I know there are some on here who say they can be removed without a problem but they are fairly important.

[mini_mad69]

What about if fitting a roll cage with extra seatbelt mounts?


Edit: quote didnt work, im talking about removing rear bins, not bulkhead. So a roll cage which then also bolts too the seatbelt mounts inthe B pillars.

Edited by mini_mad69, 19 February 2009 - 06:23 PM.

[blister]

well i was thinking along the lines of z cars aswell and i was going to put brace bars in and a central alloy tank with two heads like the vauxhaul engined hornet the baby blue one had the tank exposed

[Dan]

Yes as long as something is fitted to replace the lost strength it's fine. Although the rear bulkhead takes a lot of load, the cage that Z cars build to replace it is quite substantial and a couple of brace bars wouldn't do for that but for replacing the bins it'd be alright.

The fuel tank may not share the passenger cabin. If you've seen a car like that and it is being used on the road then it's either illegal or what you see as a tank is actually a shroud forming a fire bulkhead around a smaller tank within. That's how I believe the law stands on this anyway.

[blister]

i got a half rear cage in the mini at the moment but was going to go up to miglia spec cage would the be substanial enough?

[Dan]

That I really can't say. to be honest if this is for a road car your insurer is probably going to want an engineer's report on the shell and the work done to it in any case so it might well be worth contacting an engineer who would do such a report before you start and asking their advice. This car will count as radically altered as far as the DVLA are concerned so be careful with what parts you replace.

[blister]

thanks for the advice i just thought dvla would need to kno it might be a thing i should do alot of reserach on it will probly affect the handeling

i only thought about the idea today when i was in the mini and i thought it would be a good way to lose alot of weight

where can i get a carbon fibre rear shelf i cut holes in mine for speakers and i dont want them no more

[Dan]

Try asking Stig.

[Baldspeed Racing]

My mate Darrens old Pro Motive demo car with no rear seats, as you can see a strong roll cage would be needed