!972 Clubman

Firstly hello to everyone. i am new to this site and must say its a good one.
:D
Right, i have a 1972 Clubman which i paid £200 for cause it had no engine or gearbox in it. the body is solid apart from the front foot wells but these will be sorted very soon. As a daily run about i also have a 1.8 GTi metro and for a change i would like to put the engine and necessary bits in the mini. :wink:
My first car was a 998cc Mini Parklane, and no matter what anyone one say's you'll always want another after you've parted with it. :)

I'm am on a tight budget as i'm still working as an apprentice so i sadly cannot afford the watsons sub frames and brake conversions which i would ideally like to use.
So can anyone help me on how i would start my conversion, what i need to get and what i should do???...bearing in mind i have a full GTi as a doner car and a clubman shell ready to start working on.

I'm going to try and fit the metro sub frame in the mini but do i have to cut off the towers which bolt to the bulkhead/cross member, and re make some that will fit the mini bulkhead?

How do i get the Shocks to fit? :?

I think my easiest option for the rear is going to be to replace the mini radius arms with the metro ones, so would i be able to run my 14" alloys under the arch's or will they need cutting?

Any help would be much appriciated, and thanks alot for any advice.
Chris. :D

[Geehawk]

Hi

Glad you found us.

I presume you've read the FAQs, there are a few holes in the info there which I'll try and fill.

Mounting a K series frame is mentioned there, ie you have to fabricate rear mounts for the frame either by extending the frame backwards, or by manufacturing sections on the mini to attach to the rear Metro mounts. The top mounts, on the Watsons frame utilise brackets which bolt to the mini damper mounts and the subframe to "clamp" the frame in position.

The tops of the towers are modded to take a short coil spring and adjuster unit. And a damper bolts into more or less its original position. The early Watsons conversion used coil over shocks and I see no reason why with a bit more strengthening you could not go that route.

Basically if you can get the frame to fit yourself, then there is nothing that you cannot make work by using bits from the Metro. My car www.theclubman.co.uk if youve not visited yet :wink: , used this method. I bought the frame, but everything else was pretty much Metro, except for the fuel tank which was injection Mini fitted with the Metro pump.

I'll see if I can find some better pictures which show the frame. Keep an eye on the Vtec conversions that use a Watsons frame as their mounts/suspension is the same.

As for wheels your 14"s should be fine provided they are fitted with 195/45 tyres.

Of course a much better option would be to sell me your Metro, I could do with a nice 1.8 to fit :wink:

BTW where in the country are you??

Graham

[MattG]

just to give you some ideas :

http://www.1gladstone.freeserve.co.uk/k_series/default.htm

not sure if youhave seen that geehawk

Matt

[Geehawk]

Yes took a look at that when I was researching mine. Never really liked the idea of attaching the engine to the body like that. I would imagine the amount of strengthening required would be phenominal.... Then again plenty of cars don't use subframes so I suppose it can be made to work in a Mini.

Graham

[Oz]

The best thing I can say is look at as many pictures of the Watsons Vtec frames to get an idea how they have adapted the metro frame to fit. Also check out the issue of "Keep Your Mini Alive" that has a Vtec conversion article. There are some good pictures of the frame.

Note you'll either have to convert to Watsons coil springs or use coilover dampers.

Why not phone Watsons and see if they can convert your frame at a lower cost as they wouldn't have to source one, must be worth a phone call :)

[BassAddict]

If you fancy making new towers to use the original mini mounts, a mate is doing this at the mo - his pics are at http://www.manchester-minis.cwc.net/members/marc_k-series2.htm , and I'm in the process of making some brackets to attach the original k-series lower mounts to the mini bulkhead - http://www.manchester-minis.cwc.net/members/richardk16-lower_mounts.htm
Hope this helps
Rich

[Geehawk]

Damn, we're a helpful bunch 8)

[BassAddict]

And none of us are doing much at work this afternoon by the looks of it !!!!

[MattG]

lol , it just shows how hybrid is done so different

Matt

i'm from West Cumbria.
I havn't started chopping the mini up yet, so as regards to my 1.8 metro...anythings for sale for the right price!! :lol:

i'd easily settle for an A-series with webbers.

why, are you after one??

[Geehawk]

Did I say sell ??? Damn, I meant give :lol:

Ha Ha....nice try mate. :P

what sort of pistons should i use on a big A-series engine, say a 1380 or summut?

[Minimivic]

When i modded my metro subby to fit the mini, I used old mini tower mounts cut them off and welded them to the metro subframe. When doing this i had to set the frame into the bulkhead by about 25mm.

I tack welded all the bits in place and kept offering it up to the shell untill I was happy with the result, then welded it all up good and strong.

The bottom mounts are easy (good pics on Geehawks site if i remember correctly) they are just plates of 5-6mm steel that are formed to go between the subframe and bodywork.

All you need to do is make sure its all in line and square to the body.

[Oz]

what sort of pistons should i use on a big A-series engine, say a 1380 or summut?

Nah, screw the A-series (not literally, of course :P ) go 1.8 K-series, you know it makes sense !!! :D