14 replies to this topic

[mini dee]

i am thinking about building a mini shorty,
any tips or pictures will be appreciated :wink:

[Pavel]

Pretty sure its not too hard if you can weld and got the space..

Basically chop at the a panels, and at the b pillar (rear of the door). If you want it even shorter, keep cutting more off the rear section of the car.

Then get the two halves on a trolley or something and bring them together. Measure several points across and diagonally etc. to make sure they're straight (you don't need to use a jig and quite a few successful shorties were done without the use of one. Maybe even the one featured in the magazine this month?).
Then simply weld the two parts together.

I strongly suggest you have no roof on your shorty, and basically the way i'd make it shorter is I'd keep cutting it and bringing it closer until you're comfortable sitting on the rear seat pan, so you can reach the pedals and steering wheel and all! Since once its done, there's no seat adjustment heh

Weld in some strengthening box-sections along the sills and along the top of the body to keep the rigidity of the car without the roof, then finish chopping the roof and pillars off, sand paint etc.

[Boab]

I think he got the message

[Jordie]

F/glass one in projects.....

[cowboy]

i think pavels been having trouble with his pc

[Pavel]

somewhat! lol

And my mod status seems to be gone!

[mini dee]

will there be any problems with mot,insurance etc?

[TimS]

my mod status isnt working wither, nor is madmax's

[TimS]

ok, iv got my mod status back now so have just delete the repeats

[Dom]

what are the costs for building a mini shorty

[Dan]

Yes it will need specialist insurance cover, and they will probably want an engineers report on the shell since it will basically be a cut and shut. Be very careful about the paperwork as well in case the police don't like it.
Try HIC or Miniworld insurance. Or Adrian Flux if you're loaded.

[Woody]

I also have moderator status , didnt have before !

[Pavel]

What else is there that you would like to know Mini Dee? You seem unsatisfied with these answers since you started a new topic? :]

Let us know how we can help you.

Good luck with your project!

[monkey]

hey sorry to bring this ol' thread up again... i been considering this for a while since i have shell with grotty roof sitting in the garden, i understand the bit about just cut and weld it but im not 100% sure how you would get it straight? I'd be afriad i would end up with the rear end being wonky compared to the front or something silly like that!! Also, i would reather keep the front seats and loose the rear seat... would that be hard to do? obviously you could just leave the seats in, but that would mean cutting out the rear seat, but i have been told that that is where alot of the strength is in the mini? And so cutting that out would loose alot of the strength? On dear i have been rambling on alot sorry.....

[jack_marshall]

If I was to do one, I'd be cutting it somewhere behind the front floor cross member to keep alot of the strength.

Keeping the rear bins and boxing up the sills and along the waistline on the inside of the car would be what I'd do.