another newbie.

hi all....im starting a project with my mini using the engine from a williams clio.


iv a fair bit of work to do yet like, but hopefully will be done for next season.(yeah rite)

wheres the best place to get shafts shortened etc as im quite new to this conversion thing hehe

any advice appreciated.

cheers

[MarkLD]

Welcome

There are a few companies mentioned in this thread and the linked thread for driveshafts

http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2696&highlight=driveshaft

Whats your plan for the conversion, front or rear mounted engine? Good to see someone trying with a Renault engine as there very good in standard form.
ps Are you an old Cliosport user?

Mark

im aiming to put it in the front mate...complete with megane head and carbs, and hoping to utilise the 16v clio suspension and brakes.

and yes...im an old cs user.


the f7r engine is a good lump...mines running 14.0s with fairly basic mods in the clio.......so should be fun in the mini lol


btw.......thanx for the link

[BassAddict]

Welcome to the forums - sounds like a v interesting little project !
Is the F7R the 2litre 16 valve ?
I've got the seemingly uncommon old F3R 2litre 8valve in my daily driver Megane - get occassional idle probs, but on the whole its a good lump !
Rich

yes mate the f7r is the 2.0 16 valve lump, as found in the clio williams(which the engine im gunna be using will be) and the megane 2.0 coupe

they push 150 bhp and 175nm as std.

its a complete learning process in a way for me, iv messed with minis, and iv messed with clios....now the fun begins trying to join the two lol

[MarkLD]

Whats your thoughts on the front end, are you trying for a round nose or clubman? I can see the round nose being a tight fit with the normal engine angle and inlet manifold, have you got to the fitting up stage yet?
Would be good to see some photos of the project, so keep us upto date with your progress

well i have a 1 piece steel front end that i intend on using,round nose, iv offered the gearbox driveshafts and hubs and struts up to the bulkhead and theres plenty room from the guestimations lol.

iv had the engine covered with the front end of the mini, again.the under bonnet space seemed to dwarf the engine in both ways, width and legnth, so hopefully without having to use the massive inlet manifold (as fitting carbs) i think the carbs will stick thru the front grill, and at worst the wings/a panels will have to be stretched a little......i think itl fit as is tho...


need to weld the floor and sills up before i get to the real squeezing the engine under the oe bodywork problems lol.

[mini-GSI]

will it need to have the same bulge like on the clio williams? :wink:

glad to see someones trying a different engine, though i always assumed due to the arrange that this particular renault one would be too big or awkward to fit? i know some of the later ones would more then likely foul the cross member/bulkhead, but i'd be really interested to see what happens. id still love to see a r5 gtt engine in a mini mind :D

[MarkLD]

id still love to see a r5 gtt engine in a mini mind :D

I think there is some pictures of a blue van in the gallery with one fitted

couple of pics i took today after a bit of grinder wielding lol

the willy box, shafts, struts and hubs rested in place.....ish
http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916524263.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916525452.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916530268.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916531127.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)







now for the bodywork lol


inner sill n/s

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916533121.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916534410.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

n/s front floor

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916535735.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)


and under the scuttle panel

http://x10.putfile.com/10/27916540660.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)



goin up tomoro to try to weld summat together hehe should be fun

[MarkLD]

At the early stages I see. Are you planning on trying keeping the standard Renault track and finding some arches to fit or are you going to keep the mini track?
Bodywork doesn't look too bad for a mini :lol: , just time consuming and not the fun bit. :(
Good luck and keep us upto date with your progress

well i was going to try and incorperate the whole front end of the clio, and shorten the shafts, but im thinking now that il have to merge the 2 hehe.

the turning circle would probably be crap if i shortened the shafts enough to keep the stock arches on the mini, i want a sleeper lol.


iv had the mini for about 13 years now, but its been in storage for the last 7 of those

didnt get chance to go and do any welding as i had a trackday at donny on sun, and had to get the car ready for that lol...never enough time is there lol


cheers for the comments.

finally managed to get some welding done, taught meself for 1/2 hour on a bit of scrap n took the plunge and cut the rot out the inner sill n welded the new panel in place. didnt do a too bad job of it for 1st timr tbh i dont think, will get pics up soon.


have also got the block wheeled into place, the whole eng/box assy will fit in between the inner wing positions, which is nice. still gunna need a summat sortin at the front tho i think.

more welding on the body to sort b4 i worry bout that tho. done for xmas?? haha yeah rite