1057 replies to this topic

[kmol468]

I fully take on board people's comments, yes the arches are bloody wide and look out of place compared to a standard mini.
But I'm going to stick with them, get it running and then see about adapting it.
I chose it to be wide to help minimise cost and to use standard sierra parts. I thought this would speed up the build but it's still taking ages!
The wheels were chosen to help get the biggest brakes possible. Yes I could have got smaller or a better offset wheel but then using milk bottle top size brakes in a 380bhp motor might cause issues.
As for the arches, I have contacted zcars and others but they aren't big enough. I've bought arches 3 times over (caterham, 6r4 and escort bubble arches) trying to get some that fit - none do.
I've learnt so much doing this and it will get done.
It won't be to everyone's liking but It be to mine.

[rally515]

With 88 followers i think you doing a cracking job mate (im one of those followers )

[CobraV8]

And..... Your opinion is the most important, it is your baby!

[domdee]

Ahhh all the critisism is just jealousy! F@#K EM ALL!
It looks FIT!

[freshairmini]

Such a cool project, hat off to your fabrication skills. Going to be a beast when its finished, but the arches are a little wide lol.

[Artful Dodger]

Ahhh all the critisism is just jealousy! F@#K EM ALL!
It looks FIT!

but no-one is critisizing, this is too awsome. its just the arches. but who am i to talk about having oversized arches

[meetthespeakers]

Very cool project, I just did a quick 2 minute shop of your car for ******* and giggles. Not sure how you tame those arches. But maybe something along these lines, taper, and blend into a side skirt? Basically use your imagination!

 whitemini.jpg   63.32K   95 downloads

[Alex_B]

Very cool project, I just did a quick 2 minute shop of your car for ******* and giggles. Not sure how you tame those arches. But maybe something along these lines, taper, and blend into a side skirt? Basically use your imagination!

 whitemini.jpg   63.32K   95 downloads

looks a bit like a pre war car with running boards on acid!

[meetthespeakers]

I'm just throwing stuff out there. HAHA. Someone else do a chop of it.

[MiniLandy]

I like the idea of side skirts. Done properly, I think it could look pretty good.

[kmol468]

Good photoshop there, I was thinking of adding some side skirts but I didn't want to make things over complicated, with more parts that weren't really required. But I might refine it once I get it running as I have a thought that the air might get under the front arches and destroy them!
Anyhow the head has been looking at me in pieces for ages. So I got my act together and put it back together.
New inlet valve stem seals fitted


New exhaust valve stem seals fitted along with all the exhaust studs now fitted


Valve springs in. (I decided not to go with double valve springs in the end)


Cams in and finished


Next the bottom end rebuild

[paul190181]

What a excellent piece of mechanical work their proper nice job done . Wish I was capable of building and fabricating such a car . And as for the arches I wouldn't worrie what people say they look like , this things just gona have them all in the rear view mirror lol

[mattprinn1997]

Well, I've just read through this entire thing and the transformation is really amazing. Well done mate

[kmol468]

I finally braved the snow and unpacked the engine and took abit of a look at it. It looks sorry for itself but with abit of wire wool it will clean up.
So I got it upside down after removing the dip stick and I'm attacking it from the bottom up.



I've got a whole set of lightened pulleys so I new the small inner crank cog needed to come off.
2 days later, fabricating some little thin pullers and hitting it with a lump hammer and its off



Basically I ending up hitting the big vertical rod.
Needless to say it was on abit tight!



Now I need to order new front seals and gasket.
Then the arp rod bolts, big wing sump, light weight pulleys can be fitted.

After that I will lift it back down before to gets too heavy and start bolting everything together.

[liamcrowley]

Nice to see your mini is nearly finished, it's looking very good!:)

But getting back to the arches, if you do ones like these they mightn't look as wide!
If you bring them further up the body it should make them look bit narrower, I think!

Simple to make and nice nd strong!:)