FRA Shell + vtec?

Hi

Been reading this board for a while now but here goes my first post! I've been looking at doing a vtec for a while now and once i finish uni in june i will have the time (and hopefully cash) to start the project! The route i am looking at taking is to use the watsons frame + b16a motor and a FRA mini shell with a clubbie front. The reason i want to take this route is that i'll get a mini without the dreaded rust problems and a fair bit lighter too, also the fact that the FRA shell kit is half the price of a heritage one is a bonus.

The question i have is, has anyone got any experience with one of these shells? quality?


http://www.framini.com

he states on the website that people have already put vtec's and other 16v's in one! is there anyone on here thats done it? got one? advice?

i'm looking to get as much info now as i can so i can get straight into it by about july time :D

cheers

Neil :)

[B20GT]

There was one in retro cars with a b16, I'm dubious as to how well the shell will take 250+ HP :? But I had thought of this myself, as the dreaded rust bug is a nightmare :cry:

The bodyshell is reinforced with Kevlar in the areas where major components are mounted. A steel frame is bonded into the roof and doorposts. This has produced a torsionally rigid and structurally
strong bodyshell that is much lighter than the standard steel shell

by the sounds of it i'd say it should be up to the job but i would be interested to hear people's experiences :)

whats the deal with using a donor car to transfer the id? how much of the donor car do i have to use for it to be accepted? as i don't want to end up with a Q plate!

would i need to transfer everything from the donor into the new shell, engine and all, get the identity transfered onto new shell, then do the vtec conversion? because all i'm basically going to be using from the donor is things like switchs, door handles, lights, glass, etc

[B20GT]

All you'd need is the Vin plates etc, register it as a reshell, then register it as a vtec, who's to know exactly what was on the donor to start, it's very hard to find a mini with all origonal parts :lol:

this is true, the fact that it is a 88 jet black now on 10's with mk2 lights and mk1 grille! :lol:

although if i can find a tax free example before june time then i'll use that for obvious reasons! lol

[B20GT]

I see where you are comming from with this lighter shell thing, but I seriously doubt It will be capable of holdin the power, n matter what reienforcement, It's serious stress on mounting points etc, which we weld plates over to strengthen, how can you weld to fibreglass?

mmmm 88 jet black with 10's....you live just down the road from me!

I've got the 71 Aqua blue MK3 S....

Small world! :lol: :lol:

[Colin.ab]

We had a discussion about this a while back have a look here:

http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1649&highlight=#1649

C.ab

cheers for that colin, i hadn't spotted that! some useful in there :)

mrminiuk, i've seen that aqua 's' driving around a few times but i've never seen it parked anywhere (except tesco's! :lol: ) so i didn't realise how local it was! where in aldershot are ya? i'm on church lane east, keep your eye out (and ears! lol) for my 1380GT which will be on the road in the next few weeks :D

B20GT, well like posted above it states the major mounting points are reinforced with kevlar (which if i remember correctly is stronger than steel) but i'm certainly going to see if the guy can provide any evidence to support his claims that it is strong enough for a vtec.

has anyone got a copy of retro cars with the vtec fra mini? i would be interested in reading this article, scan it and email perhaps or i could buy the mag off you??

cheers

Neil

[Colin.ab]

There was a green 16v mini made using a FRA shell, speak to the guy that owns FRA - cant remember his name he told me at the show that the car was build by

Ian Sandwith
Green & White Mini Spares
Duram Road
East Rainton
Houghton-le-Spring
Tyne & Wear

Tel 0191 5840010

The shell does have Kevlar installed, but although the Kevlar may be strong, the surrounding GRP isn’t, and you'd have a job installing a non-mini frame to this shell, as you can see from the photos, there's nothing to attach another frame to.

The photo of the white mini at Stonleigh also had GRP doors that were very flimsy.

If you want a rust free shell try buying a low milage automatic with a blown gearbox as they always go in the end.

I paid £30 for mine from a wanted add in Loot & Friday Add

C.ab

Neil

I'm in Grosvenor Road, behind the chinese!

The joys of a garage and off street parking...I can usually be found in the Railway on friday nights!


Gazza

[Colin.ab]

How about one of these?

http://www.minimania.com/web/item/MMFG1000/invDetail.cfm

C.ab

I must drive past your place every day!, usually see a hornet/elf parked outside or an italian job, they yours? not seen them lately though

never been in the railway, usually end up in town somewhere (Hogshead mainly)

offstreet parking defo is a must in aldershot, glad i've got space for 2 on my drive + 1 in my lockup down in tices meadow! if my car was left on the road you could gauratee there would be extra dents in it within a week! lol

colin, thats a bit out of my price range! looks nice apart from the arches!

Guilty on both counts...hornet has just been sold on e-bay and the italian job is in for a new front end and a re-spray.

Driving round in a M*tro at the mo...til the valvers finished!

Luckily just got a company van so the M*tro ont get used much!

Gaz

nice, i'll keep my eye out for this valver then! sounds interesting, are you making the frame yourself? what runnig gear will you be using?



Neil

Building my own frame.

Installing into a MK2 Cooper just to p*ss off the purists! I'm using a single cam D16 engine and box out of a Rover 416Gsi
it only has 118bhp as standard, but thats enough in a Mini, but with a few mods by my friendly engine man we reckon on 140 ponies on twin webers (still trying to suss the dizzy yet but I have a cunning plan)...and we still have the option of turboing it!

You'll see it easy enough, I'm spraying it as a Britax Cooper...like my pic
<-----

Gaz

[evilernie]

Anyone spoken to John at FRA recently? I have been trying to get hold of him but haven't maaged it through either email or mobile??

a friend of mine recieved an email from him not long ago, quite interesting reading, this was his reply and should answer a few of the above questions, also looks like his new project is aimed towards a vtec/k series install.

The FRA was originally developed for racing the shell has been proven over 13 years on the road and in competition. The floor pan / bulkhead design has been in use for over 20 years in kit cars using Mini donor parts. The shell is constructed from GRP the floor pan and bulkhead has been redesigned for additional strength, the shell uses foam filled box sections, Kevlar reinforcements in stress areas roll cage fixing points, subframe mounts and rear beam mounts, a steel frame is bonded in A B post round the roof. This gives a strong rigid light weight shell, the body weighs about 90 kg the shipping weight for the full kit is around 120kg.
The shell is supplied with subframe mounts drilled for Mini subframe, steering rack, rear beam fitted. Building the kit is as any body work on hand built cars the panels doors, front end, and boot lid require time and effort to achieve the correct trim lines.
One project we are working on is a kit using K series Metro as donor, the kit will be supplied with all brackets to fit the subframe rear radius arms on our beam, Rear roll cage, full GRP lightweight doors round nose front stretched to suit. The price is yet to be confirmed but will be around £2500 and will be available March 04.


cheers

Neil

[PaulAmes]

That sounds like a bloody good starting point - might have to get me one of these for my next one. Ummmm No rust!