ChrisRb's build diary

[ChrisRB]

I have a blog running at

http://www.16valver.co.uk

for my Vauxhall conversion.

[ChrisRB]

Cant be arsed to update my website, so i'll just add stuff here.

Small change of plan, got a different shell (much better condition than my original one)

Haven't taken any pics up to now but have been busy getting the engine in etc, so much more to do....

So we went from this ..

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/12.jpg

To this

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/18.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/15.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/17.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/16.jpg

And my working area.

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/19.jpg[/img]

[MattG]

that shell looks really good chris !

Matt

[miniswift]

Hi,

It does make sence to me to go with club man front...
I like your wheels, are they weller wheels?
Gearshift looks bussiness, too.

Good luck with your build.

Cheers
Atchi

[ChrisRB]

I thinks that what the wheels are called, i got them with the shell.

I plan on getting the brake and fuel lines in tomorrow, if the weathers good.
I'll get some more pics up later.

Cheers

[ChrisRB]

Ok so today didn't go to plan, but things never really do.
I did manage to get the Webers put together though.

Are these just not a thing of beauty

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/20.jpg

Looking good...

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/21.jpg

More tomorrow.

[ChrisRB]

Another day in the garage, got the calipers rebuilt today, new pistons and seals, nice......
Also got the seats in, Heres a few pics of hows it coming.

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/22.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/23.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/24.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/25.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/26.jpg

More soon.

[ChrisRB]

Finally got the exhaust fitted today in between football matches.
Its a Janspeed manifold and Maniflow pipe and cans, looks pretty good, IMO....

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/30.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/31.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/29.jpg

Obviously had to heat wrap the manifold.

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/27.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/28.jpg

Spagagetti wiring ready for Astra GTE dash.

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/32.jpg

So, plan for tomorrow is to get rad and fan in, finish the pluming and hopefully fire it up... :lol:

[Geehawk]

Does that system have other silencers in it or just the rear ones?

[STEALTH GT]

Looking good chris, makes mine look a bit ratty!
what rad you gonna use ?

[ChrisRB]

HI, there is one silencer midway down the tunnel and then two more in each pipe under the rear subframe just before the end cans.
Next time its jacked up i'll take a photo.

The bought the rad from MattG (16vminishop) so not sure what its original use was...

http://www.16vminishop.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=110

[Woody]

Looking good ,
I hope the harnesses are fixed to somthing strong enuf and not the rear parcel shelf !!

[ChrisRB]

Nope, there bolted to the parcel shelf at the minute....

[Woody]

I have worked in accident repair workshops all my working life
I have seen a front end smashed mini fitted with buckets and harnesses , the parcel shelf was ripped out and the occupants did not fare well .
I can not believe some poeple fit a safety thing like harnesses and then bolt them to a non structural panel like a parcel shelf , you may as well not bolt them but fasten with velcro !

[ChrisRB]

I think even a non structural panel would be better than velcro, but i think i get what your saying, anyone got any bright ideas where the harnesses should mount too?

On a side note, I got it started today and OH MY GOD its sounds mean.
It took a few cranks to fire up but overall a lot less than i thought..

I'll try and gee some more done tomorrow.

Chris

[BigAndy]

i had mine mounted to the seatbelt points in the C pillars. But my harnesses were a dodgy lenght so had to have them crossing over - ie drivers side harnesses mounted on the passenger side which wasnt ideal as it always felt like you were being pulled across the car. If you've got short enough harnesses u should be able to mount them on the right side.

well done on getting it fired up and running - must feel good. Cant wait for the time when i can get my tb's rumbling

[ChrisRB]

Got cracking with the electrics today, got the MBE ECU wired in, alternator, electric fan and some other bits. Not much to take pics of really but the engine bay does look pretty damn cool....
Actually balls to it, i'm gonna go take a pic for the hell of it...

[ChrisRB]

NICE, IMO....

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/33.jpg

Top side.

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/35.jpg

GRRR..

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/34.jpg

More to come.

[MattG]

god ... XE's do look the part in a clubman ! 8)

Matt

[BigAndy]

Very nice - collect all the loose wires together in convolute or something to hide them out the way, then it will be one of the tidiest vauxhall bays ive seen. None stand out in my memory anyway, so i guess thats cos none have been that impressive to look at. Or it might be cos my heads full of applied linear algebra, and matrix differential calculus :blowup:

[ChrisRB]

Been busy again all weekend in the garage,

Nearly ready to take to MiniSpeed to get the suspension all setup....

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/37.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/38.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/39.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/36.jpg

[ChrisRB]

Was in a bit of a rush when i posted the pics yesterday, so i'll ellaborate alittle on what i got done, although a picture says a thousand words...

Finished off the wiring, got the lights in and the grill on.
Cut the wings and fitted the arches, fitted the front screen and silver strips (which i would like to add was a complete git).
Fitted the wing mirrors to set it off.

Booked into minispeed for geometry, rolling road and MOT Tuesday.
So should drive like a new car after that....

Also got insurance through HIC for £225 fully comp.

Not a bad weekend, nearly the conclussion to 6 months blood, sweet and tears and about 500 man hours in the making....

I'll get some final pics up soon.

[MattG]

looking very good chris, nice to meet you.

Matt

[ChrisRB]

Passed its MOT and now all legal.......

I have changed the exhaust though to get it down 95db for track use.

Took it for a 100 mile round trip yesterday and OH MY GOD it honks
the noise, the speed, the look on peoples faces....
Its an Animal, i'll get some picks up tonight of the final product..

Chris

[bodgeit]

like the engine bay mate. Very nice :D and the rims! like the whole thing alot! simple but effective!

Matt

[BigAndy]

Good work!! And all in time for summer

[ChrisRB]

Finally got round to taking a few more pics.....

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/40.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/41.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/42.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/43.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/44.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/45.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/46.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/47.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/48.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/49.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/50.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/51.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/52.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/53.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/54.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/55.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/56.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/57.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/58.jpg

http://www.16valver.co.uk/mini/59.jpg

Thanks for looking..

Chris

[JoBu]

Its a beauty 8)

Nice work Chris ! :D