39 replies to this topic

[redhotminilewis]

Yes you can cut it, you can do what ever you want to your mini, but personally its not a great idea as it would flex like a flaccid........ piece of paper.

If you do cut it out, you will need to brace it like a space frame with a rollcage custom made to put all the rigidity back into the frame. But you can kiss your MOT goodbye as you need a firewall between the cabin and the tank and will probably need an IVA test after that drastic modification.

So its completely out of the question to do if its a road car but if your making a track car to make lighter then with correct bracing you could. I would imagine thougth, the amount of bracing needed would probably be heavier than the actual back seat that has been removed.

Edited by redhotminilewis, 24 August 2012 - 12:38 PM.

[mini93]

Going to cause me no problems at all. my front end is braced fine, my rear suspension pick-up's are reinforced (using a beam to the rear-most mounts arent an inssue)

so... yes... you can remove them but you have to do alot of work to put back other material.
A full propper fire wall will be fitted aswell

[MyZeemaxMiniTurbo]

mini 93....thats what im talking about,

and as for weight lets face it the majority of people thinking of doing this mod, probably have a fast mini and most likely have already got a cage (would be stupid not to), its just a different type of cage, there wont be much difference in weight.....fire wall can be aluminium, or cut the boot floor, put in a flat floor, and mount a slim rectangular aluminium race type fuel tank underneath , in the space where the spare wheel and battery box would have sat and sitting inside the rear subframe (if you have 1), lowers the centre of gravity, and locates the tank central in the car for a more even weight distribution, and the boot floor then becomes the fire wall......like how most modern cars are set up

Edited by MyZeemaxMiniTurbo, 25 August 2012 - 02:27 AM.

[MyZeemaxMiniTurbo]

also where did you get your cage done mini 93??

[mini93]

I think its an old rollcentre design, Im not sure, it was done when i bought the car

[tiger99]

And just how much heavier than a standard shell is it going to be with that cage?

I would also point out, for those contemplating spaceframes, that while they can work, and indeed work very well, there is the problem of joining a space frame, which concentrates all stress in its tubular members, to a monocoque, which disperses stresses widely. Take care where they join, to ensure that the concentrated loads in the space frame are well spread into the monocoque, or there will be a serious risk of fatigue fracture. You tend to need large, thick spreader plates where they meet.

If you want to make a full space framed Mini, with unstressed shell, which could be GRP, that of course would be another matter altogether. A full space frame can behave very well in accidents, and the early Renault Espace (not sure about the latest model) was built that way, more or less, with plastic body panels over what was not quite a true space frame, but similar.

[mini93]

And just how much heavier than a standard shell is it going to be with that cage?

Is that really a concern?? really?? remember is a rollover protection, not simply there to allow me to chop out certain pannels
The miglia spec cage, (which is what its going to be in essence once its had a bit of a chop) is 50kg's in T45. Being a CDS and T45 mix, will probably in at 55-60kg's not even the weight of my medium framed person.
The other things done to this shells outweighed this im sure, roof, boot floor, rear seat, front bulkhead... all being replaced with aluminium, then theres the other pannels iv replaced with composites. I obviously wont know till its weight till its finished but at the moment in shell spec stage its easily picked up by 2 people and carried as required.
not to mention engine upgrades its completly irrelivent when its about power to weight. Unsprung has also been reduced.

[MyZeemaxMiniTurbo]

race spec cages and decent space frames are alot lighter than say minispares/minisport style full roll cage, i bet the whole miglia frame weighs as much as 1 of those rear "show cage" pieces of poop......mine had 1 in when i got it, i swear it weighed more than the rear subframe, its now bolted to my garage wall with coats and overalls hanging from it

[tiger99]

The front bulkhead is primary structure, and necessary for impact protection. Removing that and replacing with ali is completely senseless. It will all end badly.

[mini93]

no it wont

[mini93]

sure my knees are going to be just fine

[alexcrosse]

lol

[1380rich]

Haha this is funny! How can that be structual with any form of decent rollcage? Far too much cage in there dave ;)
I presume you'll be getting an iva test mate lol .... Gays!


Rich

[MyZeemaxMiniTurbo]

rover/mg cut the bulk head and welded a steel box in for the era turbo minis, but if its a webber box, cut above the structural beam that runs accross the centre of the bulk head would there really be a problem? i see this done all the time, luckily i dont need it on mine so im not going to go cutting anymore holes in her

[mini-luke]

I still don't see the point in replacing a light monoculture with a load of heavy steel to hit your head on...