13 replies to this topic

[Dog]

The Mini Minus....
Wanted by almost every mini owner...

I know about the strenth, lightness of these shells.... etc.

I have a few other questions.... has anyone ever done one of these thats a road car....
as in backseats and all?
Also, how hard are they to build into a Mini?
What sort of work is it to build a Minus, into a road car?
Where can I get one? either already registered, or a second hand one?
What sort of defects etc do I need to check if going to view a minus?


Cheers, I am sure I can think of more, so be prepered...

[Jammy]

A minus is/was designed as just a replacement for a standard bodyshell, so just think of them as a standard shell, only fibreglass and smaller.

They aren't really that lightweight.

You can have Andy Royale's Minus for 16k, or try Ebay, other than that, private ads.

Now, question of my own. Is this project ever going to get off the ground, or is this 'Dog's weekly idea'?

[Pooky]

Lol @ jammy

How do they provide electrical earths for stuff in Minus's? Do they have to run dedicated wires to everything?

[Pie]

mini turbo
clubby estate
minus what other projects will you be going for?? VTec? Vaux? Z cars(more of a when when than if)

[Dog]

No this is not a Dog weekly idea at all....
I am thinking of reshelling my Mini... its a bit rotten and well it needs over 1k worth of work done to it, and thats before I poke the bubbles of rust...

So was either going to go for a brand new spanking shell, or a second hand 100% rust free, or a Minus.

So as each are around the same sort of prices, I might as well look into a Minus.

Can you get them new? or as new?
And as pooky said, how the hell do you earth a Minus?

p.s... leave me alone, I am only airing my ideas, theres no harm in that.
It better than spending money and then giving up, because I didn't reaserch into it properly...

[Jammy]

Have a look into Q plates first!

Personally, I'd look into repairing your shell. My dad always said that the mini I have now, despite me paying finance for it, is the cheapest mini I could own. This is because I know every little thing about it, I know what troubles I've had with it in the past, I know its history, I've built the engine, I know what may go wrong with it, etc. With any new/different shell, you'll be buying new bits, new screws, replace cruddy brake lines, etc, and it will cost more than whatever it will cost to sort out the shell you have at the moment, and be a lot more work.

[Sam]

No this is not a Dog weekly idea at all....
I am thinking of reshelling my Mini... its a bit rotten and well it needs over 1k worth of work done to it, and thats before I poke the bubbles of rust...

Why can't you fix it yourself??

[Dog]

Q plates aleady done... I know quite a bit about it.

Well thing is, I can see, the bubbling paint is a good indection... that I have more problems lay under the paint work...

I would do the work, but I have little tools to do the job properly, and well as it the subframe mounting thats going, I'd prefure someone that KNEW what they were doing.

This is just an option I could go for, unless I can seal the offer on a decent shell.

[Ade]

What sort of work is it to build a Minus, into a road car?

Mines a road car

And earthing is not a problem! All you need to do is run one lead from you battery to the front and then join all your earths to that be it bolted to fibreglass or metal it make no odds at all???? I've always hated the idea of using chassis earths anyway! to much to go wrong with rust!!! lol

[Dog]

Aye yours is an R1... I am looking at a normal use type Mini...

[minisprint]

I might as well look into a Minus.

Can you get them new? or as new?
And as pooky said, how the hell do you earth a Minus?

p.s... leave me alone, I am only airing my ideas, theres no harm in that.
It better than spending money and then giving up, because I didn't reaserch into it properly...

iam at the monent getting some repair pannels made for minus's ive got bonnets and having front ends made.mabe a hole shell if there is enough interest so if you are iterested pm me!as for wiring its quite simple as ade said!

[Alburglar]

I hope to answer a few questions for you Dog.
My minus gets driven everyday (or it did before the re-build and will do after it) in all weathers.
It had cut down rear seats in when I bought it, but I removed them as the bench was too shallow to be of any use other than to an 8 year old.
If it comes with doors, make sure they're solid, if not then make sure you don't pay top dollar as these will be a little pricey to get made and they are a little tricky to make. Also make sure that the fit of the doors is good for cosmetic purposes and to make sure they won't let any water in. This is especially important as they don't have a roof gutter.
Get on your hands and knees and check out where the y-piece is as if mounted poorly in it's life then it can melt the grp in this area. that's about it really.
Also make sure that it comes with the bonnet as that has clearance for SU and oil filler on rocker cover. Unless of course you are prepared to make your own.
They're pretty solid.

And as Ade says you can run a cable from neg side of battery to front sub. or to rear sub then on to front. or to roll cage then on to front sub. Whatever really.

I have gone straight from neg to front subframe then run smaller guage cable from subframe to one point behind the dash, which all instruments earth from and then on to rear for lights and rear screen demist,

If anyone want my minus rear bench then you are welcome to it if you are prepared to pick it up

[Dog]

That is spot on info!!

Next question, I can get a brand spanking new Hertiage shell for £1800, how much are Minus shells?

Where can i get one?
and what bits need to be "made" for the minus... as I know you can't do a stright swap on something in a Mini

[minisprint]

That is spot on info!!

Next question, I can get a brand spanking new Hertiage shell for £1800, how much are Minus shells?

Where can i get one?
and what bits need to be "made" for the minus... as I know you can't do a stright swap on something in a Mini

parts which require mods are doors bonnet brakes if duel circuit.carpets rear seat ,door panels.wiring.dash board,

That is spot on info!!

Next question, I can get a brand spanking new Hertiage shell for £1800, how much are Minus shells?

Where can i get one?
and what bits need to be "made" for the minus... as I know you can't do a stright swap on something in a Mini

parts which require mods are doors bonnet brakes if duel circuit.carpets rear seat ,door panels.wiring.dash board,as for price i will have one in afew weeks!!just being costed up now!