347 replies to this topic

[evil ewok]

ok cheers for the info mate.

just a quick one, bought something off ebay last night whilst just 'window shopping' so took a little road trip to southampton today to collect my winnings.

1293 block


with steel centre main strap fitted


crank ground 0.02" on both big and small journals




rods with new +0.02" pistons and rings




might see how much it is to get the extra 2 head stud holes drilled and tapped for my 11 stud 12G940, otherwise i think i may be almost ready to start building (once i buy the usual bearings, gaskets etc). will still need to get some parts as i go along and money allows though.

once i find out the size of the dish and work out CR, i may either get head skimmed/block decked or sell pistons and buy flat tops if i want more power but unsure at the minute

[evil ewok]

well after talking to Gary at mini spares yesterday found out the engine parts i bought are infact pre A+ parts and the crank isn't too good for high power/revs due to no fillets at the side of the journals which was added to the A+ cranks. Also the 12G940 head i bought a few years ago as a metro turbo head is actually a mk3 Cooper S head.

So been thinking and decided i'm going to build up the pre A+ 1293 engine with cooper s head and sw5 cam for the '72 clubman and take the A+ '90 cooper carb engine out of the clubman. will then get that machined +0.020", centre main strap etc for this build.

should be pulling out the k series and dropping the allspeed subframe in the next few days and sticking a standard front subby on

[evil ewok]

engine is partially stripped. just need to get the flywheel off so i can split the block and box and remove crank etc. however the flywheel seems to have become stuck and the puller so tight it is now beginning to bend as i tighten it, i don't have much luck with flywheels it seems!

bought a few bits for it at MITP from force racing (unfortunately not a set of black rimmed 3 piece splits )and DSN classics which i'll put on the final build after paint so they don't get ruined and scratched up.

got my front subframe back from blasting at my dads work today so once i have gas for my welder i can start strengthening it to go on the car as well as start/finish off other bits

[evil ewok]

well got the flywheel off and the engine is fully stripped, ready for when i have the money for the machine work, lightening, new parts etc

on placement year job now and been in the machine shop/fabrication bit the last few weeks. been improving my MIG and also started learning TIG (on stainless and titanium) and ARC.
Also had a go on the lathe the other day and decided to make something useful so turned some lumps of Ali i had into these...




don't think they're too bad for a first go on a lathe. not as nice as the owens fabrication ones so may buy some from endaf later.


as they move the subframe up new lower mounts are needed


only cut and bolted in place currently. need to get them welded up when i get my new welder soon


started sorting out gussets as well, still need to bend them a bit to fit properly then lighten them a bit

[evil ewok]

little bit of progress but mostly money spending.


got main gussets bent up ready to drill and weld. still need to make gussets for tie rod mounts

A little something came up on ebay that i couldn't say no to...


Then another part came up a few days later. A miglia spec cylider head, got it off Mark Smith, the miglia driver.








Also came with the race valves, springs and caps

[evil ewok]

bought a new, more powerful welder so been doing a bit more on the mini. haven't got pictures of everything but basically put in smaller diameter tube between main hoop and tube along top of doors, tube from front hoop to footwell tube, new rear legs, rear cross brace, harness bar (most of it) and seat mounts. also ground back and re done the old welds. now some pics

can see the difference between the new and old welders here



welded some cds onto the rear turrets for a rear strut brace/cage cross member.


re doing some old welds


welded up the bolt on tubes. bolts aren't really doing much now so thinking of cutting of the bolt 'tabs' and welding the remains of the bracket straight onto the tubes, what you think?


oh and i now also have an accelerator pedal! starting to actually look like a car again now...


heres a could with a seat in place to show how it finished last night.






going out to carry on in a minute as well so will report any progress later

[MiniLandy]

Although it'll be strong and stiff, this is going to be a really, really heavy mini.

Are you not worried about it being underpowered with the Gay Series?

[evil ewok]

The design is taken from miglia cages so should be around the same weight which is about 650-660kg. with parts i already have and the plans it shouldn't be that far off the power most miglias run and they do 0-60 in around 4-5 secs.
As long as its fun and quicker than the old engine I'll be happy. rather carry a bit more weight and be safe, may just have to go on a diet to counteract it

[MiniLandy]

...and they do 0-60 in around 4-5 secs.

This spec gets debated a lot, and I still don't think it's doable.

It'll still be a laugh and handle well because of the extra stiffness, but I think you'll be wanting more power before long!

[evil ewok]

got the harness bar finished yesterday then started to putting some metal back into the mini other than cage!


but this was counteracted by removing more. wasn't happy with the rear tubbed arches, plus the still had the old cage feet attactched


so this happened


hopefully they will be a bit neater this time. still got the other side to cut out then will stick some fresh metal in. that will have to wait until we have some dry weather again though

also got these laser cut at work today.


had lost one and the other was corroded so the new ones are titanium. no corrosion and saving a few grams. every little helps! haha

[evil ewok]

got one arch re tubbed, still need to finish tidying up welds but still looks neater than the last one.


also found out i've melted the rear dampers a bit....

forgot to remove them before welding the cds tube onto the turrets. whoopsie!

made mounts for the gear lever housing


filled in the n/s inner wing


ground down the inner wing welds and fitted lowered top suspension mounts and dampers


also started making the sides for the bulkhead box, still need quite a bit of adjustment

put a step in the bottom of the box to give more clearance for the pedal box. will then cut an access panel into it for the master cylinder fittings.

[scotty_1987]

keep it going man as ever good work!!

Nathan

[evil ewok]

cheers mate, i'm not 100% happy with everything on the car but good to see someone appreciates it haha

this arrived from uni the other day

the technician machined off the old steering wheel splines and welded on the new removable boss spigot for me

got a little bit done today in between rain showers. still needs finishing but starting to get somewhere


currently waiting on some 7/8" needle roller bearings then i can start making the steering column mount, also had a piece of 40mm dia ali round bar arrive today so i can make a gear knob up at work. waiting for minispares to get some new gear lever yokes in for the linkage then i can work out lengths of linkage rod needed and thread the ends for the uj's i have

[scotty_1987]

the steering wheel is immense mad to get one like it for the giggles haha !!

Nathan

[danwilson]

Damn, I clicked on this thread as I thought it'd be about something a bit saucier!