1.8vvc PG1 Mini [Archive] - 16v Mini Club Forums

promazine

14-04-2009, 11:28 PM

Hi everyone,

Have been a member for a while, mainly just reading all i can about the rover K conversion.

The time has come, and i might as well start documenting things now i have started chopping things up - and dangling stupidly sized engines in little holes.

I decided originally to do the conversion using the mini frame, and making it fit the engine. My best mate brad, asked his dad to come and have a look to fire some questions his way - and his dad told us to forget using the mini frame for various reasons we couldnt argue with! Mainly because he has been a mechanic longer than both of us have been alive - and most of his adult life was spent working at rover, with minis, metros and all the rover cars that followed.

He persuaded me to go with a metro/tf subframe, and modify it to fit the car instead.

( this all happened after i cut up my subframe, and cut most of my bulkhead away to fit the engine & pg1 box in, and keeping it all under a standard round nose front. Typical.)

So as it stands now, i have a TF rear subframe now half modified to fit the mini.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00183-20090414-2111.jpg
Thats brad welding the plates where the TF towers were.

The plan is to weld the tops of the mini towers onto these plates and reinforce them with some 2mm stell plate. OR make new towers out of the aformentioned steel plate instead.

To make sure nothing moves, we are going to run brace bars from above to coilovers, down to the front of the subframe, along with 2 mounts from the back of the subframe to the mini floor.

Will this be sufficient?

I figure if i captivate 2 more nuts on the new/mini towers, and bolt either side of the main tower bolt as well as all of the above - it should hold secure? then again - ive not done this before so i havnt really got a clue!

Anyway.... some more pictures of my mini (sorry about the low quality - just about the only thing a blackberry isnt good for!)

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00189-20090414-2233.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00161-20090411-1215.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00165-20090411-1612.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00164-20090411-1612.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00185-20090414-2114.jpg
Brads lovely welding - lets hope its as strong as it is pretty! (looks better in the flesh than it does in the photo)

This weekend was supposed to be used to get the engine in the mini. But as i wasted 2 days on the mini frame, and cutting my bulkhead away - today was the only real progress we made. Basically cutting the towers off the TF frame, and welding 2 plates on where they used to be.

Im hoping to get this done soon(ish) (famous last words eh!)

More photos of progress to come. Its going to be worked on in the evenings after work - so most updates will probably be about this time every night!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE chime in and tell me if im screwing something up - all critisism is welcome! This thing needs to be done right, and more importantly needs to be safe - my missus wants to have a go in it :shock:

chrisg

15-04-2009, 05:48 AM

good stuff 8) always nice to see something a bit different. did brad have very red arms after all that t shirt based welding per chance :wink:

Thelooneytuner

15-04-2009, 06:53 AM

Nicccccce maan :) another pg1 vvc :D. Looking good buddy!

promazine

15-04-2009, 08:55 AM

He is tanned most of the time! Although with all the burns he gets, he also looks a bit diseased too!

I just wish i hadnt cut out my bulkhead first - what a waste of time! now ive got the added headache of relocating my peddle box. I suppose this way i wont have to worry about what steering rack i have to use :)

Can anyone tell me (this is aimed at the metty subframe lot!) what the distance is between the bottom of the main box section of the bulkhead, and the top of the flat plate of the metro subframe ( the plate i pictured above) I know its a long shot, but if i get it wrong, quite a few things will be out of place!

ludsonline

15-04-2009, 09:35 AM

promazine

15-04-2009, 10:21 AM

Looks a really good project m8. with some good ideas.

One thing to remember is to get a low final drive gearbox as running small wheels either 10" with 165/70/10 or 13" with 175/50/13's will give crazy acceleration and a low top speed.

Keep up the updates

Paul

Im on the lookout for a pg1 box with an lsd, and im also getting a diesel box to grab the gearset out of it.

As far as my wheels are concerned - im getting rid of the 10's, and (all being well) ill be chopping out my arches and sticking 15's on instead.

chrisg

15-04-2009, 05:08 PM

be limited with 15's on the back unless you do something funky with teh suspension. 13's just about touch the back of the radius arm :shock:

matt

15-04-2009, 06:10 PM

promazine

15-04-2009, 10:05 PM

Hi mate loverly looking mini. Dont worry about the MGF trailing arms as metro wishbones should fit.

I see your in brum, where about are you located? If you need a hand let me know as ive bodged a K series in mine :lol: .

Its a bit rougher in the flesh! - used to be a track car, so body work aint flashy to say the least. It is light though :D

Im in wythall, about 3 minutes off junction 3 m42. Pop down any evening if you fancy a laugh at some of my bodges :oops: If it wasnt for my mates involvement, id have the engine held in with self tappers :lol:

promazine

16-04-2009, 10:07 PM

Well, last night and tonight were mostly spent standing around smoking, scratching heads - with the odd 5 minutes doing something constructive.

Those odd 5 minutes added up to me designing (if you could call it that!) and cutting out sheet metal to make my own towers for the TF subframe.

Brad welded them up, and all i need to do now is to cut out some lids and weld in the captive nuts i hacked out of my old subframe.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00202-20090415-2013.jpg
My cunning "jig" to keep the tower square :?

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00203-20090415-2058.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00204-20090415-2058.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00206-20090415-2122.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00207-20090415-2122.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00208-20090415-2124.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00211-20090416-2056.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00214-20090416-2057.jpg

Plan for the next few nights is to make the lids for the towers with the captive nuts, get them welded in - then try to line up the subframe as best as possible and tack them on in place so they can be welded up properly. Then ive got to make some plates for the bottom mounting points! I cant wait - i love fabricating :(

cooper_mark

16-04-2009, 11:14 PM

promazine

16-04-2009, 11:27 PM

lol, one of my best mates used to go there - i used to go to woodrush :lol:

cooper_mark

17-04-2009, 11:22 AM

i went there many moons ago.. :oops: :oops:
nice build..... :wink: keep up the good work

promazine

17-04-2009, 05:16 PM

Well, i had a couple of hours down the yard tonight cus i finished work early, and managed to get my towers finished :D

I also unexpectadly managed to line the front subframe up perfectly first time on a wonky stack truck, and on an uneaven concrete floor - although i didnt have the balls to finalise it and weld the towers in place :oops: ive drunk far too much coffee, and smoked far too many ciggies to trust my judgment today - so im leaving it untill ive had a good nights sleep and a little more straight headed.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00215-20090417-1529.jpg
Welding the lids of the towers on

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00216-20090417-1529.jpg
Inside the tower

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00220-20090417-1713.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00221-20090417-1713.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00219-20090417-1712.jpg

promazine

24-04-2009, 06:44 PM

Right, well nothings been done in the physical sense, but ive sorted quite a few things out the past few days.

Will be picking up a metro soon that has all the bits im missing.

I was going to weld the towers onto the subframe the other day, because i had managed to line the thing up perfectly. Luckily - someone with some sense managed to stop me, because they noticed that although it seemed to line up perfectly from where i was mesuring it, it was not in line with the rest of the car :oops:

So to carry on, i need the top and bottom arms, hubs, rack and everything else front end wise to get the subframe "rolling". Once this is done, i think ill be ok to mesure between the centre of the front and rear wheels both sides to get the position correct.

Can anyone confirm of this will suffice?

Once the towers are on properly, i can then stick the engine in temporarily, while i work out exactly where i can put brace bars without getting in the way of other things. All of which means MORE PICTURES!

promazine

12-07-2009, 10:03 PM

Long time since i last posted, lack of time and money both keeping me away from the unit for far to long.

This weekend i have managed to get my subframe pretty much finished, and bolted in with my suspension all bolted up and working :D

Waiting now for a PG1 gearbox mount, some mgf/tf driveshafts and a couple of other thing that i cant remember off the top of my head.

Some pics of the progress....

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00261-20090712-1235.jpg

The towers ended up being cut down so the subframe sat higher in the car,
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00262-20090712-1235.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00263-20090712-1402.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00264-20090712-1402.jpg

Jacked up the car from the subframe to see how much it twisted/pulled away from the car with just the tower bolts in - only moved 3/4mm!
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00265-20090712-1524.jpg

Brad welding up one of the lower floor mounts,
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00267-20090712-1719.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00268-20090712-1738.jpg

Hopefully ill got some more time on it this week - maybe even get the engine in and wired up :confused:

promazine

13-07-2009, 08:21 PM

Spent some more time on the mini tonight, started on the second lower subframe mount, but got sidetracked by a few phone calls, and MarkD, who very kindly delivered my hub extension kits! (thanks again Mark for dropping them off - very nice to meet you indeed :) )

Picked up a pg1 gearbox mount from a friend, and then tried to put the engine in, only to find that the combination of mgtf/mgf/mgzr mounts that im using on the other side of the engine dont line up. I was really excited too - not a great end to the day!

Will have to wait till tomorrow now i suppose :(

promazine

14-07-2009, 10:11 PM

okay then, so today after work i went to pick up the correct combination of engine mounts!

I finished my other floor mount, and brad welded it up for me

THEN I PUT THE ENGINE IN!!!! :D

I know its got to come out again, and to be honest i didnt even bolt it in properly, but its in and it fits - the subframe didnt fall off and the wheels stayed on so its all good!

Was really excited earlier, still now even - an amazing confidence booster seeing it in there. Just got to get the rest of it done now :p

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00271-20090714-1945.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00272-20090714-2016.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00273-20090714-2017.jpg

promazine

17-07-2009, 10:04 AM

A little update, yeaterday i spent reinforcing my floor mounts, and i also decided to fab up 2 more mounts that run flush with the bottom of the subframe rails, straight back under the floor to dirty big thick plates :)

I also lowered in the engine to bolt it up properly and check clearences etc, and found that the gearbox side mount does not line up on the subframe leg. Can someone confirm if it is actually an mgtf leg - or some bar stuard gave me a metro one by accident? if that is the case, then great -ill go get one. If not ive really messed something up elsewhere! the engine side mounts are all mgtf and fit perfectly, so im sure its not them.

gazwad

17-07-2009, 01:24 PM

i'm using the mgf mounts/legs in my metro frame and they bolted up fine, the engine side looks like the correct one but its hard to tell on the gearbox side as both the mgf and metro ones are steel - in fact i thought they were the same, what exactly isnt lining up?

p.s are you using the bottom mount on the sump? - i am and found i needed to add an extra one from the diff housing to subframe to stop the engine twisting up on the mounts, might be worth making one while you're at it...

edit: actually it does look different to my mgf arm (pictures aren't very clear) have a look at the pictures of mine and see what you think- http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4887&page=20

promazine

17-07-2009, 01:47 PM

Yep, from your pictures, your arm is definatley different - looks like that is the problem!

Btw, how did you manage to get your stuff looking so pretty - i started the build intending to clean and paint all parts before fitment, but after about 20 minutes, got too excited and just chucked it on - im currently fooling myself into thinking that im going to strip it when its running to clean it all and paint it then. In reality, that is NEVER going to happen is it?!?

In regards to the second bottom mount, i was wondering about the lack of mounts over that side. I thought about fabbing up a bar to bolt through one of the bell housing bolts on the top of the gearbox to the top of the frame by the bulkhead - but with a "twisting" action, it wouldnt be much good! have you got a pic in your diary of your second mount?

promazine

22-07-2009, 06:33 PM

Not much progress im afraid,
Sorted some new alloys out today, and will be picking them up along with the correct subframe leg in the next few days i think. I also picked up a pair of metro hubs today so i can fit the stub axle extension kit i bought from markd - and finally see if i need to massacre my rear arches o get the metty wheels in!

gazwad

23-07-2009, 08:32 AM

no pics in the diary i'm afraid but i'll try and crawl underneath and take one. there are two bolt holes on the passenger side of the diff housing which are ideal for a mount - i used a second sump mount chopped up with two holes drilled in, bolted to the diff housing then the sump mounting back to the subframe almost a mirrored position of the sump mount, you can see the mgf sump mount on the drivers side and the extra mount on the passenger side here:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z148/gazwad/DSCF0207.jpg
as for making it 'pretty' it wasn't so good first time round but i decided to re-built it all with new bearings, bushes and some engine work so when it was out i thought i might as well sand blast it all and paint it up nice... not worth it on a road car as it just gets dirty again! just chuck some black paint on it to stop rust, chuch it in the car and enjoy driving it!

promazine

23-07-2009, 12:49 PM

just chuck some black paint on it to stop rust, chuch it in the car and enjoy driving it!

Indeed!

When the engines back out of the subframe ill take a look at that area to see if i can copy your mount (if thats ok!) i know i welded some box section round there that bolts to the original lower subframe mounts :rolleyes:

Looking at the gearbox mounting - i really dont like it much to be honest, it allows far too much movement for my liking, i might weld up something a lttle more solid :cool:

And on another note, it seems i have managed to get the subframe so high in the car that im either going to have to get a front end with a HUGE bulg in it, or hack up the engine mounts anyway. Plus point will be i wont be able to fit a rizla between the car and the floor! Its gonna be looooooooow!

promazine

28-07-2009, 01:27 PM

Little update -

Still not picked up the alloys or subframe arm yet, but hopefully getting those tonight. Dont even know what the alloys actually look like close up yet! should be interesting!

I fitted the stub axle extension kit though, and i must say they are very well made pieces of kit :) (no - mark is not paying to say that)

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG00274-20090726-1712.jpg

Wont be able to work on the car much tonight, but tomorrow is a late one at the unti so should have a few piccys then. Hopefully.

matt

28-07-2009, 09:20 PM

Looking good mate. Keep the pics an updates coming.

promazine

25-10-2009, 12:33 PM

Right then!

Nothing worth taking pictures of, as ive only been checking this, lining things up and generally procrastinating the last few months! The new unit we have moved into is an old chicken shed. It still had poo all over the floor too, which we had to clear out before we moved in! Its horrible, it stinks and i hate working down there - so im using that as my excuse!

ANYWAY!, the 14" wheels i got, had 55 profile tyres on, and i was quite pleased to find out that they had the same rolling radius as my mates 15" 40 profile tyres on his renault. So, i whipped off one of his wheels, and tried it on the mini. If i do say so myslef, it looked really cool - kinda like one of those characature (spl?) cars models you can get, just less pronounced.

I am having a small (massive actually) problem. The tyre is rubbing the bracket for my rear beam/trailing arm. There is not enough meat on the bracket to just hack it off, it would be too weak imo. Also id need to re-tub my arches, which would mean chopping and re fixing my roll cage.

I suppose my question is, how do i get round this? Should i add more cost/time/cut knuckles and sweaering to the build by making my own beam/trailing arm set up? Is there any way of extending the trailing arm by an inch, allowing me to sit the beam and inch further back (by chopping up the heel board) OR give up on big wheels cus they "look cool"?

Im going down the yard again tomorrow as ive got a day off work, so ill get a quick picture to illustrate.

promazine

25-10-2009, 12:47 PM

fatlad

25-10-2009, 02:01 PM

you could try making a beam up using metro radius arms as they are longer, personally i would just fit smaller wheels though!
Chris

promazine

25-10-2009, 03:13 PM

Ive been on tinterweb since i posted looking at all sorts of things to sort this, and i cannot get away from the fact that i am going to have to do ALOT of fabrication to the shell, the roll cage, and use different trailing arms and beam to the one i already have.

I really dont think its worth it, ill end up losing the entire boot floor before its finished, and ill be homeless (either ill spend far too much money, or the missus will kick me out cus she cant remember what i look like anymore)

ludsonline

25-10-2009, 05:45 PM

Is your wheel to far back in your arch?. I am using 40mm box section & Metro radius arms and mine if fairly central in the arch..

promazine

25-10-2009, 06:39 PM

Is your wheel to far back in your arch?. I am using 40mm box section & Metro radius arms and mine if fairly central in the arch..

My wheel is central in the arch, but because the wheels i want to fit are so big, the tyre hits the adjustment bracket that holds the radius arm inplace.

Do the metro radius arms have a longer reach? Do they fit in a mini subframe/beam set up?

26-10-2009, 10:17 AM

My wheel is central in the arch, but because the wheels i want to fit are so big, the tyre hits the adjustment bracket that holds the radius arm inplace.

Do the metro radius arms have a longer reach? Do they fit in a mini subframe/beam set up?

What is the wheel/tyre combination size you are using ?

I've got a pair of K series rear arms and when I measured them the pivot shaft to stub axle measurement is identical to the Mini ones give or take a mm (was diffilcut to measure absolutely spot on)

Really the largest tyres you can fit are 195/45-14 for 14s and 185/55-13 for 13s. Others are using 185/60-13s but are using fabricated rear suspension not standard trailing arms :)

Some may say fit moke/Austin 1300 arms as they are longer BUT all these do is push the wheels backwards into the rear of the wheel arch so they aren't really a solution. If you want larger wheels than those above you'll have to fabricate custom rear suspension.

promazine

28-10-2009, 04:27 PM

What is the wheel/tyre combination size you are using ?

I've got a pair of K series rear arms and when I measured them the pivot shaft to stub axle measurement is identical to the Mini ones give or take a mm (was diffilcut to measure absolutely spot on)

Really the largest tyres you can fit are 195/45-14 for 14s and 185/55-13 for 13s. Others are using 185/60-13s but are using fabricated rear suspension not standard trailing arms :)

Some may say fit moke/Austin 1300 arms as they are longer BUT all these do is push the wheels backwards into the rear of the wheel arch so they aren't really a solution. If you want larger wheels than those above you'll have to fabricate custom rear suspension.

I think for practicality, im going to scrap the big wheels idea (maybe save it for another project :))

All the cutting and fabrication needed is just too much to add to an already massive list of things to do!

I should hopefully be getting a set of metro alloys that will do the job fine.

promazine

28-10-2009, 04:46 PM

Today i finished work early, and went to my unit to have a go at working on the mini, and decided i would attempt to fit the lsd in my gearbox. I tried to move the mini - one wheel went one way and the other did something completely different! one of my track rod ends spat its dummy (was realy manky looking when bodged it all together tbh.) Looks like when i smacked the steering arm it was attached to originally, i hit it instead? Anyway, ordered two more and they were delivered and fitted within the hour.

So, onto the gearbox. (I left my phone at home, so i couldnt take any pictures! Sorry!)

When i bought the diff from gazwad (quite a while ago now!) he told me exactly what i needed to do to swap out my diff and main shaft (i think thats what its called!) for the replacement items. Unfortunatley, id been to sleep many times between then and now, and had therefore forgotten most of what he told me. so after a quick search on tinterweb i found this..

http://www.4shared.com/file/144409454/28110ba6/PG1BearingReplacementGuide.html
(had to be a member on the forum to see it, so downloaded it and hosted it on a free site instead)

Followed the instructions, the bits i remembered gazwad told me tied up perfectly with what this guide said, and everything went fine untill i realized i hadnt got any sealant to put the box back together with, so that will have to wait till tomorrow now.

philipbish

03-12-2009, 07:44 PM

just a quick question,the tower bolt boxes what mm steel did you end up using,cheers

promazine

03-12-2009, 08:47 PM

2.5mm, not exactly thick, but im gonna try to add some bracing to them. Saying that, its thicker than the original subframe, and there will be 2 extra subframe mounts, along with the old floor mounts.

ludsonline

21-12-2009, 06:55 AM

Ok, so i stole a picture from griffs build (hope he doesnt mind!)

This is whats happening to me.......

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/Wheel1.jpg

And this is what i "think" i need to do, but im not sure how to do it.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/Wheel2.jpg

Sorry - im not great on paint. :D

Maybe you could run a beam axle of sorts. I am designing a trick one at the moment. Will be the new year before I have any pics though at most of the fabricated bits are at work...

promazine

21-12-2009, 10:39 PM

I think i may have to do something like that if i decide to continue with the 14's, but looking around for decent tyres for those wheels, it seems they are rare a rockin horse shite - and bloody expensive. There are loads for 13's including loads of part worn slicks on ebay, so i will probably just give in and go with metro alloys.

ludsonline

21-12-2009, 10:56 PM

That is the problem with 14's there are no good tyres. Stick with 13's as like you say there are loads of single seater slicks available.....

fatlad

22-02-2010, 12:40 AM

any updates?

promazine

22-02-2010, 06:45 PM

Eeeeerm :oops: Yes and no!

Yes, in that ive been at the unit and looked at it, sometimes for aslong as 15 minutes!

And no, in that apart from washing it just after posting the last time, i havnt touched a bolt on it!

Works been the main culprit for keeping me away, loads of early starts with loads more late finishes - seems every job ive been given the last few months is either up as far as lancaster, or down as far as poole :(
Not really a good excuse, as some of you guys work the same hours, if not more, have kids and still manage to get a couple of hours in every weekend!

I have been spending some time on the bay, and collecting little bits ill need in the future - but no hands on work has been even considered in quite a while.

REALLY need to pull my finger out! - Thanks for the kick :D

promazine

10-04-2010, 11:09 PM

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:DIve done something this weekend!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

No photos except this one to prove it
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff201/Promazine/The%20Mini/New%20Mini%20K%20Series%20Conversion/IMG_0049.jpg

Will get some tomorrow when i go to the unit again - was so busy yesterday and today i completley forgot to get my phone out.

Ive had a bit of a change in direction on my subframe mounting - i think i may have been on crack when i decided to do what i did the last time. I cut all the crossmember off, aswell as most of the bulkhead to get my frame as far back as possible - then welded up my own towers to bolt to the original mounting points.

With the subframe bolted up tight, and on its wheels, myself and my best mate were talking about spring rates for the front, and were standing on the front bar of the subframe bouncing up and down. He noticed that when i bounced, the bits of the crossmember i left with the tower mounting holes in flexed. Quite alot.

Looking at the car without the frame on we noticed that the roll cage mounting points to the bulkhead were directly behind the tower mountings!
Dont know how i missed that before (like i said crack or something) - so this weekend i redesigned the towers with bits of wood, chopped off the rest of the crossmember mountings, and bought some steel. Welded the towers up, and tomorrow ill try and tack them in place.

Ill stop waffling on now, and take some pictures to show what i mean tomorrow - just wanted to tell everyone i actually did something on my car :D