22 replies to this topic

[Stuart_b]

hi, my name is stuart and i have a 1989 mini desgine, and am looking to restor the car and change the engine to a 2.0 vauxhaull red top engine.

i ahve had a little look around and i was wondering could some one tell me what is involved to make a vauxhaull redtop fit, i am not scared of welding work and i do like frabicating my own bits.

as well can i make my own front subframe, with using bits of the mini subframe? has anybody got a digram with messurements on?

as i am only 17 and do not have a great deal of money, so i wanted to make as much as possible myself.

thanks

stuart

[Dan]

17? Vauxhall Twin cam re-power in a Mini? Done yourself? Home-made subframe? Insurance premium about £2500, TPFT, dependant on engineers report.



Have a look around our projects section, several of our members have built twin cam engined cars of all different kinds. There are lots of good threads about people's projects with many photos that should help you with lots of what you want to know.

Do you realise how accurately a subframe has to be built? It'll take a bit more than a diagram with measurements on. It controls the suspension alignment and precision is paramount.

[Stuart_b]

hi dan, well i have built my own car allready, i started at 16 building my own car and now i have had it sva'ed and it passed first time, the examiner said it is the best build he has seen.

and yes i do know that the subframe was to spot on, i would make a jig up and tack weld it up messure it and messure and gain and then either do pluse welds so it does not twist or distor or mirror welding.

stuart

[miRon]

16vminiclub.com
but dan is right on the insurance......
unless your planning on a 6 year build...

[Dan]

well i have built my own car allready,

Well done and it sounds good but insurers don't know that and won't care. All they'll hear is that you're 17. Your re-powered Mini won't have an SVA to prove to them that it's safe so they will probably ask for a report on the work if you've done it yourself from scratch. There are several companies making subframes to put all sorts of different engines in Minis and these are an easier, although costly option.

[pariahcreative]

While I agree with the above comments I wouldn't let that put you off.

I think it's great if you have the passion/determination/skill to do it. From what you have said you can do it.

I'd love to see some pictures of the car you built previously too!

And start a project thread about your 16v mini too.

Good luck with it.

Rob

[Stuart_b]

hi, thanks for the comments. i know about insurance for 17 year old boy's as i have two cars which are insured in my name, which is costing a lot of money, but it will come down through. well i hope it does.

well i got my mini last night, and i had a look over it this morning, i have a bit of welding work, and a few pannels, plus i want to deseam the mini.

so my mini is the 3 car which i have but it is the 4 car i have owned.

here is a pic of my kit car, which i built.


thanks

stuart

[Dan]

Looks very nice. Good luck with your project Mini. You will almost certainly need an engineers report for de-seaming too. You might also find some threads about deseaming in our projects or bodywork sections.

I think I have to move this to Mini Chat because it's not really about a specific technical problem.

[william0]

If its hard to insure it, how about putting a 1.3 suzuki swift engine in it? I have heard that the 1.6 vtec is a better option too. you can actually fit them in a standard round nose, and are a bit lighter than a redtop. Parts are easier to get, and the engine parts are very interchangeable with other models of that engine, which means that it is cheap to tune and modify.
Well impressed with your kitcar build and skills tho! how do you afford all this?! I wish i had the money (and a nice warm garage!) to build a kit car when i was 17!

[Stuart_b]

thanks for the comments about my kit car.

what do you mean ny engineers report? is that simiar to sva or vic?

or can a local grarge do it?

or a person how jigs cars do it?

i was not sure where to put the thread so at least it is in the right place now.

stuart

[CharlieBrown]

Please tell me that that’s not your car when your 17, agghhhh, where did I go wrong, all I had was a rubbish 106! Lol.

Looks like a great kit car. I bet its almost as fun building it as driving it…almost ish.

You’ve done an SVA you say, I will have to pick your brain then!

I guess if you can afford a car like that and other cars as well paying a lot for insurance wont be too much of a stretch.

As other have said there are builds on the forum that you will find helpful. Also get your own build diary started and then people will be able to help you if/when you have issues.

Charlie

[Stuart_b]

i have a 2000 plate 1.1 saxo for my daily drive as well.

and i would like to help any one with regards to sva, but if you did not know sva is endding soon and the iva is taking it places soon, the latest you can book a sva is the end of feburay and the last test are in april some time.

stuart

[Jammy]

Nice seats in the MK! They look like Tilletts? Are they fibreglass, I have some lovely CF Fluke Motorsports that would set that car off something lovely!

And yes, slightly jealous that you got to build and drive such a nice car at such a ripe age!

[Stuart_b]

the seats are triton low side fiberglass seats, they are very well made he does other type's

most people throught i was stupid say it would be rubbish, why do you not buy a proper car, and then i showed a picture to them and then they are change there tune to that is great can i have a go or a ride. but as they have all ready slaged it of the answer is no.lol

as well here is a pic off my mini.

Edited by Stuart_b, 22 January 2009 - 04:08 PM.

[sweetser]

sounds nice mate, did you get that car of danny hall?