Alan16v
24-09-2008, 09:21 PM
Hello all
Been using the forum for a while, and finally pulled my socket out of my a**e and start my build diary.
Quick heads up, my first car was a mini, and I still have it, well sort of. Decided that I wanted to tune the mini without having to worry about gearbox failure or paying a few thousand for a box and engine. Love the A series, hate the gearbox. I owned a 16v cavalier a few years back and after a feature of a 16v mini in miniworld, the bug bit.
Took blooming ages to get the project started - a lack of garage tends to hamper this sort of thing. but finally got one last year and started.
Aim was to get a solid shell, rollcage, home designed frame, all to fit under a standard round front. Fuelling by GSXR 1000 throttles (home made), braked by metro 4 pots, coilovers etc etc.
The original mini, stood for 6 years.
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Picture005.jpg
Started to chop the front off and realised the shell was a bit past it and would require some decent body work, didn't want to spent loads of time doing this so decided to start with a shell little more solid and found this on ebay - some may recognise it!!
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar022.jpg
quite like the fact it has a zeemax kit on it, always fancied the body kit
Spent ages chopping up loads of steel tube and my old frame to create this - the tube used is 40mm square and 3mm wall thickness - in relection this is far too OTT for the use and in time I will remake the frame in 30mm box - it is also bloody heavy :? dare not weigh it :( unless curiosity gets the better of me!!
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/PC080082.jpg
this was oct/nov last year and was only the first attempt - need loads of trial fittings and ancillaries to be added to check clearances.
To get the frame in under the round front, I believe you need to loose the donut towers to get the engine back enough, hence I have gone for pivot points rather than retain the top arm points
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar001.jpg
trial fit....... great feeling when it gets in this position
Having owned an XE powered cav and researched loads, decided that the engine is very sensitive to the manifold primary and secondary lengths so dont want to chop it about. Trying to retain the standard exhaust manifold - so far so good - yet to verify the ground clearance, mind.... so watch this space...
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/PC120109.jpg
standard front fits with engine in place
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar020.jpg
and loads of room for the manifold, rad and alternator - maybe :? :?
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar016.jpg
This little lot took me best part of 8 weeks, including sourcing bits and pieces - so quite happy with progression.
Major change in personal circumstance has put a halt on the mini project - so stopped work mid December 2007.
Decided to take a sebatical from work and life in the UK and decided to travel around the world for 6 months - in my early thirties so dont get this chance too often so bye bye to the UK and hello to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Oz, NZ, Chilie, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru....... agggghhhh then the UK......
Came back early June 2008 and straight back to work - what a shock to the system that was :cry: :cry:
Best bit, is my work allows me some free time and have since spent 3 weeks on the mini - .
will update with new photos tomorrow, but progress so far ...
- Cut original intake manifold down to a stub
- Spaced gixxer throttles to suit manifold - may have them positioned so they poke the air filters out of the bonnet 8) - not sure yet :?
- Repositioned engine to allow equal length drive shafts
- Tilted engine back so it sits better, I underestimated the slight compression on the engine mounts :oops:
- remade rear engine mount to avoid it fowling the steering rack
- Modified drivers side frame section to prevent coilover fowling
- Remade top suspension arms - as original idea was causing fowling by tyre
- Fabricated some brackets and remounted the original alternator - this is a big and heavy unit - just too stingy to buy a smaller one as this was practically brand new when engine was removed - however will more than likely change my mind!!!
- Attempted to mount the original radiator - but simply wont work with the original manifold and alternator - but got hold of a different shape one and looks a much better fit - wanted to get a custom one made but a bit pricey at the moment.
- Sad discovery - all the above will not fit in the std round front - so going clubby as not fond of the stretched round front...
- lots more room - but will revisit the standard front when project gets further along and more funds become available.
- Modifed the mini pedal box to accept a cable clutch and single brake cylinder, clutch is very heavy, well more stiff and not too much to do with the way the cable snakes through the engine bay - reckon the clutch is sticky or buggered, will have to wait until I crack open the engine to confirm this one..
- Bought a rover 100 steering column, the one with the two uj joints. I wanted a much more comfortable seating postion and not the typical 'bus' position so remounted original bucket seat, made a custom dash rail and column support. So much more more comfy, and I can stretch my legs fully...
- Trimmed back the original gear shift and rewelded, for info took 135mm out of the length of the lever bar - tightened it all up and I have all 5 forward gears and a reverse - yippppeeeeee :lol: :lol:
- still undecided on whether go for this size rubber - 185 60 13 - will double check rear clearance and then decide....
Been using the forum for a while, and finally pulled my socket out of my a**e and start my build diary.
Quick heads up, my first car was a mini, and I still have it, well sort of. Decided that I wanted to tune the mini without having to worry about gearbox failure or paying a few thousand for a box and engine. Love the A series, hate the gearbox. I owned a 16v cavalier a few years back and after a feature of a 16v mini in miniworld, the bug bit.
Took blooming ages to get the project started - a lack of garage tends to hamper this sort of thing. but finally got one last year and started.
Aim was to get a solid shell, rollcage, home designed frame, all to fit under a standard round front. Fuelling by GSXR 1000 throttles (home made), braked by metro 4 pots, coilovers etc etc.
The original mini, stood for 6 years.
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Picture005.jpg
Started to chop the front off and realised the shell was a bit past it and would require some decent body work, didn't want to spent loads of time doing this so decided to start with a shell little more solid and found this on ebay - some may recognise it!!
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar022.jpg
quite like the fact it has a zeemax kit on it, always fancied the body kit
Spent ages chopping up loads of steel tube and my old frame to create this - the tube used is 40mm square and 3mm wall thickness - in relection this is far too OTT for the use and in time I will remake the frame in 30mm box - it is also bloody heavy :? dare not weigh it :( unless curiosity gets the better of me!!
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/PC080082.jpg
this was oct/nov last year and was only the first attempt - need loads of trial fittings and ancillaries to be added to check clearances.
To get the frame in under the round front, I believe you need to loose the donut towers to get the engine back enough, hence I have gone for pivot points rather than retain the top arm points
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar001.jpg
trial fit....... great feeling when it gets in this position
Having owned an XE powered cav and researched loads, decided that the engine is very sensitive to the manifold primary and secondary lengths so dont want to chop it about. Trying to retain the standard exhaust manifold - so far so good - yet to verify the ground clearance, mind.... so watch this space...
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/PC120109.jpg
standard front fits with engine in place
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar020.jpg
and loads of room for the manifold, rad and alternator - maybe :? :?
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/argr2006/Mini%2016v/Engineframeincar016.jpg
This little lot took me best part of 8 weeks, including sourcing bits and pieces - so quite happy with progression.
Major change in personal circumstance has put a halt on the mini project - so stopped work mid December 2007.
Decided to take a sebatical from work and life in the UK and decided to travel around the world for 6 months - in my early thirties so dont get this chance too often so bye bye to the UK and hello to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Oz, NZ, Chilie, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru....... agggghhhh then the UK......
Came back early June 2008 and straight back to work - what a shock to the system that was :cry: :cry:
Best bit, is my work allows me some free time and have since spent 3 weeks on the mini - .
will update with new photos tomorrow, but progress so far ...
- Cut original intake manifold down to a stub
- Spaced gixxer throttles to suit manifold - may have them positioned so they poke the air filters out of the bonnet 8) - not sure yet :?
- Repositioned engine to allow equal length drive shafts
- Tilted engine back so it sits better, I underestimated the slight compression on the engine mounts :oops:
- remade rear engine mount to avoid it fowling the steering rack
- Modified drivers side frame section to prevent coilover fowling
- Remade top suspension arms - as original idea was causing fowling by tyre
- Fabricated some brackets and remounted the original alternator - this is a big and heavy unit - just too stingy to buy a smaller one as this was practically brand new when engine was removed - however will more than likely change my mind!!!
- Attempted to mount the original radiator - but simply wont work with the original manifold and alternator - but got hold of a different shape one and looks a much better fit - wanted to get a custom one made but a bit pricey at the moment.
- Sad discovery - all the above will not fit in the std round front - so going clubby as not fond of the stretched round front...
- lots more room - but will revisit the standard front when project gets further along and more funds become available.
- Modifed the mini pedal box to accept a cable clutch and single brake cylinder, clutch is very heavy, well more stiff and not too much to do with the way the cable snakes through the engine bay - reckon the clutch is sticky or buggered, will have to wait until I crack open the engine to confirm this one..
- Bought a rover 100 steering column, the one with the two uj joints. I wanted a much more comfortable seating postion and not the typical 'bus' position so remounted original bucket seat, made a custom dash rail and column support. So much more more comfy, and I can stretch my legs fully...
- Trimmed back the original gear shift and rewelded, for info took 135mm out of the length of the lever bar - tightened it all up and I have all 5 forward gears and a reverse - yippppeeeeee :lol: :lol:
- still undecided on whether go for this size rubber - 185 60 13 - will double check rear clearance and then decide....