136 replies to this topic

[Monstrous]

Rolled her back over yesterday and attached the rear subframe. Excuse the wide boy wheels, had to put them on backwards to clear the jack, fine for just rolling it around.

Can't put the front subby on as ive lost the you bolts for the steering rack, so need to order some more.





Stripped the flitch panel and remainder of inner wings, and stonechipped them, as well as removed the doors







Then today i made a start on making my seat mounts.

Started off by removing the original handbrake brackets then cut the first bit of tubing to length and tacked it in









Needed to make a little support for the middle as there was a gap







Cut the second bit of tubing and tacked that in, with a support in the middle again



Then fully welded each end and the supports, and then drilled the holes for the driver seat







Bolted her in and couldn't resist a little test run







Tomorrow i'll bolt the passenger seat in, and make some new mounts for the handbrake

[Monstrous]

Got the passenger seat in today, nice and snug but still just enough room between them for the handbrake.





Had to make up some new mounts for the handbrake as i cut the old ones off, and they wouldn't of worked anyway.

First i had to make a new clevis, as i lost the original one, crude but it does the job



Front mount made and tacked to the seat tubes





Rear mount made and tacked to the tunnel



Fully welded up and testing the handbrake

[Monstrous]

(picture heavy!)

The last 3 days ive been making up the new column support. It would seem a shame to spend all that time making my seat fit perfectly for me, and then having the standard bus driver mini steering, so i decided to lower the wheel, and get it at a more horizontal angle.

I managed to make a whole new column out of all the existing parts from the standard column.

Firstly, using some box section, i made up the main mount that attaches to the original bolt holes in the lower dash rail, and then bolted through the bulkhead with reinforcement plates welded to the outer bulkhead:





Then i cut down the original outer column to the appropriate length, then took the lower bush housing off the rest of the column and welded it back onto the new shortened column:



Put the new steering rack in:



Then cut the inner shaft to size



Bought a universal joint out of rover 623 and attached it to the inner shaft and mocked up the whole assembly





Welded on a washer as a backstop, to prevent the column moving in and out



Welded on the brackets to attach the column to the support:



Bolted it all together

[MBarnes]

Nice work!

[mhamps]

I really like the look of this build, keep at it and maybe one day i might see it at a meet if i get mine done that is.

Matt

[Monstrous]

Well small update, im heading back to Uni tomorrow so this week ive been getting all the niggly jobs done ready for paint

First of all attached the front subby, and took the wooden trolley out from under the car, so she's back on all 4 wheels





Put the front end back on and made some final adjustments and cut out the headlight holes



Welded up the unused wiper holes in the scuttle, they'll need filling and smoothing before paint, but luckily our bodyguy is doing all the prep work!



Finally painted the few bits that were in bare metal to stop them rusting away, and also zinc primed every bare metal spot on the car





So she is officially ready to be painted, my dad is going to get hold of the guy as he used to work with him, and hopefully arrange a collection date in the near future!

[Monstrous]

Mini should be getting painted at the start of march now, the funds have come through now, so it's just a case of sorting out some transport at a suitable time

On another note, i have begun to gather parts for the engine.

I've got a HIF44 Turbo carb and rebuild kit on it's way to me

A metro turbo plenum with dumpvalve take off

and a fuel pump blanking plate

So no prizes for guessing what route im going with the engine

Now on the look out for a renault 5 T2 turbo, and i'll be going with the mirage manifolds

Just need to find a suitable base for it all, im thinking of going with a MED F.I.S 1293 built engine as with it being a higher output engine, i'd rather have the professionals build it in a clean workshop, rather than whack it together in a dark dirty garage, even if it does cost a bit more

Not going to put up a spec right now, as it will have to wait until ive sourced some of the other bits, but for now lets just say it will be turbocharged

[Monstrous]

Cheeky little package turned up today while i was at Uni

T2 turbo hybrid, just been rebuilt and with 15psi actuator, not bad for £150

also a few of the other bits are here as well

[Monstrous]

Received my T2 manifold, exhaust flange and downpipe today, along with the oil/water feeds and gaskets.

Back home for easter in a week or so, so hopefully can get an engine sorted to bolt all these lovely bits onto

[george91]

looking good, is that a mirage manifold?

[Monstrous]

looking good, is that a mirage manifold?

Yes it is mate, lovely bit of kit!

[mini_mad69]

Looking good there mate, should be a proper little rocket.

[george91]

That is very nice indeed, what sort of power are you expecting?

[Monstrous]

That is very nice indeed, what sort of power are you expecting?

Errm well looking at similar engine builds out there, anything between 120-140bhp. It should be a very driveable engine though, with a nice spread of torque and deliverable power

Should make a nice little weekend warrior

[oliver122]

looking good mate , would you recommend the suspension as i thinking im going convert but some of the other sites , there prices seem abit steep to be honest.also what do you get in the kit exactly? cheers
ollie

Edited by oliver122, 04 April 2011 - 10:18 PM.