My Vtec Cooper

[Aidstap]

Very interested to see how you get on with the frame, does it still have the same track as the watsons or is it any narrower?

[Oz]

It's narrower but I can't remember exactly how much by, its either 20 or 25mm narrower

[TonyWells]

That's frame looks like a nice but of kit!

How much does it move the engine backwards?

I agree that the k series based frames are able to handle the larger engines better and put the power down without the torque steer.

[Oz]

It actually mounts the whole frame further back and tips the engine forward. The standard K frame has a flat back so limits how far back you mount it, you cant get the towers into the recesses in the bulkhead, the redesigned towers and rear crossmember of this frame gets around this although it needs a small mod to the toeboard for the steering rack

[Oz]

My 3000th post !!

I ended up selling the Clubby Estate a few weeks ago as an unfinished project, I just couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel with two projects, especially as my garage time has been severly limited since us having a baby so I now have to finalise getting the outstanding parts to then feel ready to start cutting off MattG's front end (read the first and second pages of the build to understand that) !!

I'm seriously considering getting a large-input shaft YS1 cable gearbox casing from the US and swapping my gears and LSD into that with a Watsons 3.7 FD. Converting from Hydro to cable gives much more room in front of the gearbox to get a decent rad in and into decent air flow (unlike the Minitec ones that have to tuck the majority of the rad under the wing). As I am keeping a steel front (albeit removeable) I also reckon with a bit of modification I can also retain a decent amount of the inner wings.

This will be the first test of the "skills" learnt at my welding course and I am rather apprehensive as I want to do a good job

I also think this is going to need a dry-build to get everything right then dismantle it all again for paint and then reassembly.

Part of me wants to wimp out and get it done professionally as I forsee it'll be a good few years before she's back on the road if I do it myself ....

[Oz]

I fitted a LHD SPi throttle cable today using an Innovation D to B series throttle bracket, it was designed so that when transplanting a B series in to a D series Civic it allows the D series throttle cable to be used. I got it off ebay. The standard B series cable bracket is too far away from the spindle but the Innovation bracket moves things in to the right place. I tried a few different routes for looping the cable to the bulkhead but the best route I found was looped under the plenum to the bulkhead. The cable has a bit of resistance but its actually not unwelcome

[Oz]

I fitted a LHD SPi throttle cable today using an Innovation D to B series throttle bracket, it was designed so that when transplanting a B series in to a D series Civic it allows the D series throttle cable to be used. I got it off ebay. The standard B series cable bracket is too far away from the spindle but the Innovation bracket moves things in to the right place. I tried a few different routes for looping the cable to the bulkhead but the best route I found was looped under the plenum to the bulkhead. The cable has a bit of resistance but its actually not unwelcome

Hmmm just as an update I ditched the LHD SPi cable as there was too much resistance and occasionally it'd momentarily stick the throttle open when you lifted off. I ended up speaking to Speedy Cables who made up a custom length throttle cable for me. I was panicking about making it too short and I think I over compensated slightly and it would have been ok 6 inches shorter but it loops nicely around the engine bay and gives the best pedal feel and control the car has ever had I just need to arrange some P-clips to support the cable around the engine.

Just for info I based it on the SPi cable but only because I'd already swapped the throttle bracket to the Innovate one to fit the LHD SPi cable but if you were using the standard B series Honda bracketry you'd need to measure the inner and outer cable lengths as the adjuster end sits further away from the throttle linkage.

[Oz]

Thread updated and picture links fixed

[Oz]

I've been asked about the way my front was extended. MattG did it when he was running the 16vMiniShop. He sent me these pictures during the works













EDIT - I found this photo of the car Matt took at 16vMiniShop when it first arrived at his



There's a face that says "Oh blimey what do we do with this one ?!?"

[Oz]

I found RR printout from mapping session with Steve Greenald

[Oz]

I just thought I post up a pic of my new throttle cable and bracket (not the most exciting pic, I know )



Compared to the cut and shut Honda cable that was fitted when conversion was done



This is the Innovate D to B series throttle bracket

[Oz]

Uh oh - I took a deep breath and put an angle grinder to my front end on Saturday - the fitment of the new subframe has begun !



Also a secret package is on its way from Japan

[jsouroufis]

So, what's your plan with the front end? Standard length?

[Oz]

Yes, standard length round nose. In fact it was your posts regarding the internal slave that motivated me to start getting on with fitting the Custom-Minis modified K series subframe I've had for the last few years sitting in the garage gathering dust.

I was stuck with the radiator, I really want to have some form of inner wings but the external slave meant that either the standard rad had to sit along side it or a custom rad over it, both would have to extend under the wing. I was thinking about going for a cable clutch but didn't fancy the mods to get it to work. The internal slave cylinder was the key. I can now move the standard rad in to the airflow and mostly out from under the wing. I have a plan for modifying the inner wings to clear the rad as it will still extending slightly under the wings. Mr-Cooper (who makes the frames) has done this with a cable clutch box so I'm praying that there is enough room with a hydraulic box using an internal slave. The casings don't look very different so fingers crossed !

Like this

[Bennjamini]

I just thought I post up a pic of my new throttle cable and bracket (not the most exciting pic, I know )



Compared to the cut and shut Honda cable that was fitted when conversion was done



This is the Innovate D to B series throttle bracket

Forgive me for asking this on your thread and it's probably been covered somewhere before - but what's the deal with that upright distributor - I see it's allowed room for a brake servo, I could really use that