The Finns Mini

[TheFinn]

So - been trying to get this project started for quite a few years - here's the sorry saga, and some piccies.

The previous mini I had (I had a membership years ago but it lapsed i think) was of no use so i scrapped it, and saved the money up for the frame from Watson's. Got that in early 2005. Then saved again and
bought the Honda - a L Reg Vti 4 door B16 A2 in June 2006 from Bradford.

That was the money spent, so had a bit of fun in it and then finally got the Honda stripped a few months back.

I had been hoping to have sorted out a lock-up by that point but there weren't any going - I live in a flat in Glasgow and the parents garage really isn't big enough.

After getting myself back on this forum, i started getting a bit jealous and had another look at Watson's site. Saw that he had a few cars for sale.

Contacted his good self, and the car I was interest in was sold. He suggested that I get him to fit the frame. As I didn't have a mini any more he also suggested the rather nice blue clubman automatic that he had advertised (still does!) would make a good donor.

So - last month, on the way to collect a Escort RS 1600i for a friend, from Bolton (I run the www.westofscotlandrsoc.com for some mates) I took the B16A2 to Watson's, had a good look round the mini and bought it.

Due to the dodgy trailer we had, it took ages to get from Glasgow to Wakefield, so I didn't have time to discuss the details of the conversion with Geoff before we had to go to Bolton.

So 2 weeks ago, via Leeds where the relatives live, I went to see him again and sort out the details.

In summary (I programme for a living, so this took you longer to read than me to type :0) ), I shall hopefully be getting my 16v Mini at the start of December.

B16A2, Watson's Frame, 13x7 minilite style alloys, Metro GTi callipers and vented discs, brake servo, Mini clocks with rev counter and some large looking arches :0)

Watsons Frame Kit

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0505.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0506.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0507.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0508.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0509.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0510.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0511.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0512.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0513.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0514.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0515.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0516.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0517.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0518.JPG

The Mini Traveller I was intending on using

but sold as I'm no welder and thought the money could be spent better elsewhere.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/miniestate1.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/miniestate2.jpg
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/miniestate3.jpg

The Mini Clubman

this is the new donor car I bought of off Geoff.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/car1%20005.jpg
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/car1%20003.jpg
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/car1%20004.jpg
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/car1%20006.jpg

The Honda

Never took any pictures of the Honda, but needless to say it was ned'ded up the max.

This is the exhaust I took of it. The owner said it was of a Suburu. It have been quite well grafted onto the Honda pipes whatever it's off.

http://www.pacevitch.com/ebay/PICT1442.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/ebay/PICT1444.JPG

The ECU that I dont need and have since sold to a member on here

http://www.pacevitch.com/ebay/PICT1495.JPG

Some bits of loom - as above

http://www.pacevitch.com/ebay/PICT1491.JPG

The wiper motor - etc. etc.

http://www.pacevitch.com/ebay/PICT1461.JPG


Type R rocker I bought

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/rocker.jpg


My previous Mini 30th with a 1275 - now rotting in Kilmarnock due to diddy I sold it too.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/pict0182.jpg[/img]

[TheFinn]

Found the one and only picture I have of the Vti.

It sitting at the back near the garage. That's my dads old MG Midget.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0414.JPG

[TheFinn]

Courtesy of garyshoose, my mini in progress @ Watson's

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/clubby1.jpg

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/clubby2.jpg

Cheers Gary.

[DarrenW]

I see Geoff workshop hasnt changed :lol: :lol: :lol: :oops: :oops:

Starting to take shape, when it is due to hit the road? :D

[TheFinn]

Well, he said about a month, and that was 2 weeks ago, but being realistic I'm reckoning end of the month.

An early Christmas present for myself :D. Really looking forward to the run back to Glasgow.

[garyshoose]

Well drop me an email Stef on your way past Dumfries and let me see it. Oh BTW, watch out for Cumbrias finest between Carlisle and Penrith. They've got a massive crackdown on anything on wheels that passes along their stretch of the M6 at the moment :x

[TheFinn]

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/clubman1.jpg
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/clubman2.jpg

[Abs]

That a really nice looking mini.

[jamesa]

Love it :D

[garyshoose]

Ahhh, coming along very nice. Like the wheels by the way :)

[TheFinn]

That's me got the mini tucked up safely in my garage - it was a white knuckle ride all the way from Wakefield to Glasgow - and in the dark, and the speedo light wasn't working so i had to rely on my cousin in front to make sure I didn't speed past the average speed cameras :0)

Everything is great - the gearbox is certainly a bit noisey but no issues mechanically atall. Felt a bit twitchy, but once I got onto a road I knew it felt fine. The brakes really need to be stomped on to slow you down - Ill need to look into that.

Really looking forward to driving it in the daylight!!

All credit to Geoff - did lots of little bits that I hadn't specified, and for no extra cost. Well happy.

Ill post some photos soon.

[Herman]

Do you mind me asking if you went with the Watson's 3,47 final drive?

[TheFinn]

Yup - got the 3,47. And it bothering me a little the noise it is making - if it is that - still haven't convinced myself.

Had another spin this evening in the dark, and it all starts off fine, a little bit of a whine when you take your foot of the gas, but no issues, and Geoff did admit it was a bit noisey when you took your foot of the gas in the 3rd or 4th, and demonstrated that to me - it was fine, nothing major.

But the noise seems to just get worse as you drive about. It almost sounds like one of the front wheels is rubbing or somit - I keep wondering if maybe its the alternator belt? or maybe the rear drums or... something.

Going to leave in until Sat and have a good nosey round in the daylight, see if it might be something else.

And the steering is really light too - all my previous minis felt quite 'heavy' when turning the wheel. Going to put on my titchy 10inch Mountney and see if that helps things.

Despite the issues - it really is a rocket, pulls in every gear and when the Vtec kicks in...... hey zuse!!

[Allan McD]

when the Vtec kicks in...... hey zuse!!
I thought that when I got my vtec mini then I got a Vauxhall its like (hey zuse!!) all the time :lol:
Allan :wink:

[TheFinn]

I'm not sure I could take any more - The steel steering wheel now has extra dents in it where i was gripping on so hard :shock:

I've never driven a car with both hands at quarter to three since I passed my test :P

[garyshoose]

when the Vtec kicks in...... hey zuse!!
I thought that when I got my vtec mini then I got a Vauxhall its like (hey zuse!!) all the time :lol:
Allan :wink:

Yeh, if i were you Alan id just scrap that wee truck :lol:

[Herman]

Cheers - That's intertesting to know about the FD.

[TheFinn]

Had a good shot in the car today, in the light, and to be honest the final drive noise really isn't that bad and already seems to be toning down - I guess after a 300 mile drive in the dark things seems worse than they are.

The brakes are also performing much better - so all round Im well happy.

Getting a little torque steer when I give the loud peddle plenty - which is fun.

Took some photos of the 'finished' article - but they were in the dark - out enjoying driving it to much in light 8)

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1523.JPG
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1520.JPG

My titchy steering wheel which really does make the car feel better round the corners. Still need to sort out those seats as there killing my back.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1525.JPG

And finally an arty shot :)
http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1526.JPG

So I can become a member now :D

[garyshoose]

Like the arty shot, at least i know which way round my arches go now :lol: Brakes probs just need bedded in. Automatic badge is the cats phanny 8) and the colour is perfect. Meant to ask, what size tyres you got on there?

[TheFinn]

It's 175/70/13 - and what with all the excitement I've completely forgotten the brand :lol:

[FatKev]

can't wait to see this car in the flesh :wink:

[TheFinn]

You will do m8. Sorry to hear about your own going awol.

[mininut]

What are these for in the kit? wheels? do you know what internal thread they are?

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT0518.JPG

[TheFinn]

It's 175/70/13 - and what with all the excitement I've completely forgotten the brand :lol:

Nope - I'm a diddy - Its 175/50/13 - and they are Continentals

[TheFinn]

I believe that these are holding on the huge spacers on the rear - so they would be the same internal thread as standard mini wheel nuts I would guess.

I could be wrong - I didn't actually fit the kit, and haven't had the wheels of yet - but looks like there for the spacers.

[garyshoose]

I believe that these are holding on the huge spacers on the rear - so they would be the same internal thread as standard mini wheel nuts I would guess.

I could be wrong - I didn't actually fit the kit, and haven't had the wheels of yet - but looks like there for the spacers.

They are exactly that Stef. Hold the spacer onto the mini drums.

[TheFinn]

Thought Id add some daylight shots, and a one of the engine bay

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1588.JPG

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1589.JPG

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/PICT1592.JPG

[DarrenW]

Move to the build area 8)

[ludsonline]

Looks really good m8.

[minimad99]

Very, very nice my friend!! i am extreemly envious.

[DarrenW]

But you get a bit warm in the mini, with the cold air feed coming from the radiator air :wink: :lol:

[TheFinn]

Good point, I hadn't noticed.

To be honest being a mini veteran I always run the car with the heating on and the windows down. I guess Ill feel it more in the summer.

Now I've got a large garage to play in courtesy of Kev and Bob off of here I can actually start to tinker.

[BassAddict]

Looks like a nice tidy conversion there fella :) 8)

[BigAndy]

Do you know what offset those wheels are? And are they standard sportspack arches or aftermarket replicas? Cheers

Andy

[TheFinn]

Well the credit all goes to Watsons - I never got the space to do it and decided to bite the bullet and pay him to do it rather than wait for a suitable location to come up - which I have now.

The offset is et38 Compomotives. Geoff mentioned something about them being for a manta!

I don't believe that they are sportspack arches (if they are I would imagine they are replicas), and the front are wider than the rear.

I'm still waiting for my itemised bill from Geoff - if I get it Ill post up the details.

[Ade]

Really nice car! Especially love the engine bay, looks spot on! 8)

[TheFinn]

Ok - so the cars been sitting quietly in the lockup since about November when I took it off the road. The time is getting near for getting it back on the road again - so I decided to do some of the jobs that I felt needed doing after having driven the car.

Namely - tubbing the arches.

So having looked at the various methods, I opted on the highly technical 'bit of wood with a pen taped to it' method to mark out the area that needs a chopping.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/arches3.jpg

Once this was done, and I worked up the bottle, I utilized the chrisg's plasma cutter to trim of the arch lip (you can see that in the photo above), and then gradually worked my way up towards the line.

Using the plasma cutter again I cut out the middle portion of the arch that I was going to fill with my shiney new piece of sheet metal.

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/arches2.jpg

Arty shot of the plasma cutter

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/arches4.jpg

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/arches5.jpg

Having done all this (and tidied it up with a grinder), It then became apparent that the line I had followed was no where near level with the highest part of the arch.

So chrisg created this beautiful tool from an arc welding rod - I'm sure hell be willing to sell some if anyone needs one :lol:

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/arches6.jpg

This did the trick, and after some more cutting - it was time to tack in the sheet.

This is my first attempt at welding since my night school course - so no comments on my snottery welds please - we all have to start somewhere :)

http://www.pacevitch.com/mini/arches7.jpg

Having done all that - I think Ill probably grind them off as Im not very happy with the way I've done the plate.

I decided to go for a lap weld rather than a butt weld on the inner arch, but I think I've changed my mind. None of the guides I found seemed to cover this part.

How have others done it - before I start again (and do the other side)?

[bhphunter]

Nice to see some progress on this car mate

Does this mean youve not stopped butchering that poor old Audi :lol:

Keep the pics coming...


David.

[garyshoose]

Would be worth turreting them too while your at it 8) I've got a spare set of spax coillies you could have for a couple of beers now that the establishment are trying to kurb my drinking habbits :?



BTW, a butt weld on that will be a pain in the peach to keep from warping. I'd just lay it over and tack both sides, then seam weld one side. finish it off with seam sealer (not silicone, it doesnt work).

[TheFinn]

The audi is long gone - a couple of shady chancers from Edinburgh (not because they are from Edinburgh, they were just shady) piled/balanced it on top of about 6 other cars and took it away.

Only gave me £70 because it had no seats - and they just wanted the weight.

The best bit was after they gave me the cash and lifted it, they realised I'd kept the cat :lol:

Cheers for the advice Gary - sounds like a good idea. I was going to turret the arches, so you probably right - and the spax on the rears are ancient - Geoff must have thrown them on when he fitted your subby :0)

[TheFinn]

Thats the mini MOT'd for another year - It failed on emissions, which was worrying as I had no idea how to correct it (and wondered how it got through its MOT before. It was sitting at 5.8% CO when the Max was 4.5%.

So I made up a DTA cable, borrowed my mates laptop and had a play - I was very impressed with the real time info it gives you.

After reading a post from Nial about being able to reduce the fuel map by a percentage across the board, i reduced the map by 15%, and then another 15% to be sure.

Using Chris's ropey ( :wink: ) CO meter we determined that it had indeed dropped.

So, off to the MOT station - the car was idling OK, but giving it some gas showed how lean it was running, which wasnt nice.


Turned out I had turned it so low I could have passed the CAT test too! - it ended up being 1.07% (or .17% - something way too low).

So after the MOT, loaded the old map and tanked it home :0)

The DTA stuff is very cool - so going to play with the some more.

Chris and myself did notice that the MAP sensor had failed, not sure if it is required (answers on a postcard please) - so Ill need to look into that.

[taylor]

well done. im 99% sure you need the MAP as an input sensor or throttle possition for turbo's cars.

which dta ecu are you using?

[DarrenW]

Chris and myself did notice that the MAP sensor had failed, not sure if it is required (answers on a postcard please) - so Ill need to look into that.

Glad you pass the MOT :D

You do NOT need the MAP sensor connected up, it hasnt failed it wont be connected up :D

The DTA setup you will be running will be the same as mine and that runs off the TPS(throttle position sensor).

Happy days :D

If you havent had it mapped, then it is probably worthwhile doing unless you have a wideband gauge to do it yourself whilst driving

[taylor]

thanks darren maybe this subject on tunning could be made a sticky? and add things such as connections, sensors used, maps and tunners?

[garyshoose]

Where d'ya get it MOT'd Steff? Any funny looks of disaproval from the Mot'r?

[TheFinn]

Yeah - when I said failed I meant that the DTA software reported it as failed - I assumed it wasnt connected up.

Im using the S40 PRO (http://www.dtafast.co.uk/S_40_PRO.htm)

I havent had it mapped. But the last rolling road I was on said it was putting out 196Bhp, so I might just leave it :wink:

I went to Mcconechy's in Cummnock as it was close by.

There were no disaproving looks atall - more amazement that there was a Honda engine in a mini. The guy was very good, and keen for me to pass (but not enough that he didnt raise any genuine faults).

And when I whipped out the laptop to flip the map back, the rest of them were all over it. I think it was just a change for them to see something different, and it didnt involve tyres or exhausts.

He was also happy that it had been MOT'd before, as he implied there would be a lot of paper work if it was the first time when modified.

[Oz]

Is it just me that the pics on page 2 dont work for, I just get the red "x" :(

[TheFinn]

I think I tunred off my server last night when I turned off the lights :oops:

Ill turn it back on when I get home after work - the images should then appear (as if by magic).

[chrisg]

Using Chris's ropey ( :wink: ) CO meter . i resemble that accusation! :lol: (gaffer tape engineering at its finest) 0.17 is a bit low, maby we should of left it after the first 15% drop :oops:
hopefully no damage done on the trip to mr MOT man, soon find out on sunday :wink:

[gadget555]

how did you get on ,on the sunday any more up dates pls

[TheFinn]

Some time later....

I bought a bean axle from Watson's about a year ago, and being "between" jobs i thought id make good use of the time and fit it.

I had to remove 3mm from end of one of the plates which are bolted to the car, in the place where the rear of the old subby used to bolt, but it then all matched up fine.

(At this point the photo I meant to take would explain all) On constructing it all together, without any instructions, the swing arms appear to be free to slide side to side within the box piece that holds them, and I can't figure out what would prevent this - I doubt the shockers would prevent this movement. Does anyone know if I should be packing them out either side with washers to prevent the lateral motion?

I also noticed that Geoff hasn't sent me the springs for the Gaz coilovers, hopefully he'll remember I ordered it all that time ago :oops:

I have bolted the bean on, but Ill wait until I know how to prevent the motion before I put the rest on.

Now I need to find some friendly engineering place to drill out the Golf Discs to Mini PCD so I can keep my wheels.

[TheFinn]

Heres a poor diagram of the issues Im having with my beam, and what I think the solution might be.

Any ideas?

http://www.pacevitch.com/images/SwingArm.gif

[richie08]

Hi Stef,

Rather than washers, I woulf have thought there would be some kind of bushes installed there. I'm next around on Tuesday night if you want me to swing by the unit and give you a second opinion?

Richie.

[TheFinn]

I have put the yellow bushes into the ends of the swing arms (as shown nicely lined up in the picture), and have presented it up to the subframe, the ends being located in the 4 small boxed areas. Each boxed area has a bolt going through it holding the swing arm on. The yellow bushes are free to move from sdie to side within the box area - which is my issue.

Thats why i thought the washers might be needed.

http://www.watsonsrally.co.uk/assets/images/s_R_Beam_axle.jpg

[TheFinn]

I spoke to Geoff and washers are indeed needed to stop the lateral motion and set the track width. He also going to send me some springs for the shocks - but in the meantime Ill fit the Spax coil-overs that I forgot I had, kindly supplied by Garyshoose.

I think however,that I will need to fit the turrets I bought for the arches, as someone pointed out, the rear arches weren't meant to hold all the weight of the backend, so Id rather firm that up while everything is out of the boot.

Ill take photos next time Im there.